Purdue Weather Experts

May 4, 2004

Flood anniversary approaches; Purdue climatologists ponder future

With temperatures beginning to warm, it's time to start wondering about extreme weather. Will the floods of last summer repeat themselves? What will the wet season be like this year, and for years to come?

"Long-term weather trends in Indiana have become increasingly variable," said Paul Shepson, a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences in Purdue University's School of Science. "It has become difficult to predict the future from the trends of the past."

To address this issue, scientists from many disciplines have banded together to form the Purdue Climate Change Research Center. The interdisciplinary group can comment on what the shifting climate means, both for the river levels in your area and crop yields in coming years. More information on the center can be found online.

Experts on weather-related topics include:

• Richard H. Grant, professor of agricultural meteorology in the School of Agriculture, can speak on how the variability in temperature and precipitation has changed over time and how this relates to crop yields. (765) 494-8048, rgrant@purdue.edu

• Matthew Huber, assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences in the School of Science, is an El Nino expert who can talk about the history of climate change and how our perception of where the climate is headed has changed over the past quarter-century. (765) 494-9531, huberm@purdue.edu

• Paul B. Shepson, professor of earth and atmospheric sciences in the School of Science, can discuss the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, particularly those that are of greatest concern, and where they come from. (765) 494-7441, pshepson@purdue.edu

• Gilbert L. Rochon, vice president of information technology, is an expert on satellite and remote sensing of climate data. He can speak on issues related to sea level change and its effect on Great Plains weather. (765) 496-2274, rochon@purdue.edu

• Robert (Jeff) Trapp, associate professor of earth and atmospheric sciences in the School of Science, can speak on the effect climate change may have on severe weather events such as thunderstorms and tornadoes. (765) 496-6661, jtrapp@purdue.edu

• Ronald F. Turco, professor and director of Purdue's Environmental Sciences and Engineering Institute, can discuss how changes in climate could affect fertilizer efficiency, plant growth, water quality and the leaching of nutrients from the soil. (765) 496-3209, rturco@purdue.edu