UAH - Earth System Science Center (ESSC) - News - ��

UAH researchers’ climate study quantifies Urban Heat Island warming effects related to population density for the first time

2025-05-02T08:08:21-05:00

A new research study from ��, a part of The University of Alabama System, addresses the question, how much have urban areas warmed from the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect?

UAH’s Dr. Josh Wurman earns spot in National Storm Chasing Hall of Fame

2025-04-09T08:17:28-05:00

Dr. Josh Wurman, a researcher at �� (UAH), was recently named to the National Storm Chasing Hall of Fame (NSCHoF).

Fighting fire with science: UAH and NASA forge groundbreaking fire management collaboration in South Alabama

2025-03-24T08:17:28-05:00

Researchers from �� (UAH), part of The University of Alabama System, have partnered with the Alabama Forestry Commission and NASA’s FireSense initiative to study prescribed burns in the Geneva State Forest in South Alabama.

UAH secures $5M for groundbreaking radar instrumentation and hail research

2025-02-25T11:17:28-06:00

The Flexible Array of Radars and Mesonets (FARM) team, part of the Severe Weather Institute – Radar & Lightning Laboratories (SWIRLL) at ��’s (UAH) Earth System and Science Center (ESSC), has been awarded three grants totaling $5 million to support critical instruments and one of the most ambitious hail studies ever conducted.

UAH scientists help unveil dynamic gamma-ray emissions in tropical thunderclouds

2024-12-06T08:17:28-06:00

Researchers from the Earth System Science Center (ESSC) at �� (UAH) have partnered with atmospheric scientists from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) to make groundbreaking discoveries about gamma-ray emissions from thunderstorms.

UAH atmospheric researchers find disadvantaged urban populations are subject to greater heat stress, poor air quality

2024-11-21T08:17:28-06:00

Researchers at �� (UAH) have employed a NASA open-source program to reveal that disadvantaged populations may be subject to greater heat stress and poor air quality.

UAH Earth Systems Science Center computer scientists partner with IBM on AI hardware installation

2024-11-18T10:28:03-06:00

Computer scientists in the Earth Systems Science Center (ESSC) at �� (UAH) have coordinated with the IBM Research AI Hardware Center to acquire and install a collection of high-performance computing hardware to enable advanced AI-powered research. The new system will include IBM prototype Artificial Intelligence Unit (AIU) computer chips called IBM Spyre that are designed for AI, enabling more efficient processing of AI models, training, and other data-intensive tasks. IBM expects the computing cluster to be delivered and installed in December 2024 in Robert “Bud” Cramer Research Hall, also known as the National Space Science and Technology Center.

Dr. Robert Lindquist, UAH Vice President for Research and Economic Development, will represent UAH at the IBM Research AI Hardware Forum in New York on November 18, 2024. He will deliver a joint plenary talk with Priya Nagpurkar, IBM Vice President of Hybrid Cloud and AI Platform Research, to highlight how UAH plans to use the AIU cluster to accelerate AI use in research performed at UAH.

Researchers will primarily use the cluster of IBM Spyre chips to support ongoing efforts to develop downstream applications of AI foundation models that use scientific data. Foundation models are large AI models that are pre-trained on massive datasets and become a “foundation” for future analysis. The models can be tailored to specific scientific domains and fine-tuned for various applications, making them effective at reducing the time, effort, and cost required to analyze these datasets. As a result, the models offer scientists new, expedient means of using data in many ways, such as increasing precision in weather forecasts, enhancing climate models, or monitoring natural disasters.

UAH computer scientists Dr. Sujit Roy, Dr. Amy Lin, and Iksha Gurung have guided coordination efforts with IBM Research along with UAH Atmospheric and Earth Science professor Dr. Udaysankar Nair. For the past two years, they have worked with NASA’s Interagency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (IMPACT) to forge a partnership with IBM Research to develop foundation models for science, including models for geospatial Earth observations and weather and climate. Led by Dr. Roy, the foundation model development team within IMPACT worked closely with IBM researchers to build the models. Dr. Lin offered guidance on how to scale the models for high-performance computing, while Dr. Nair’s scientific perspective helped verify that model outputs were scientifically valid.

Dr. Roy predicts that the AIU chip installation will facilitate significant advances in on-campus foundation model research. “With the new hardware, we can accelerate our experimentation on foundation model architecture. The AIU chips provide more efficient computation for experiments and scaling compared to our currently available computing resources.” Dr. Roy notes that, “Designing, training, and testing a foundation model can take nearly a year, so the enhanced processing power of the AIU chips can help condense that timeline.”

UAH researchers anticipate that the computing system will be up and running soon after installation, and they look forward to testing its capabilities. “The level of success we can attain all boils down to how well the system can accelerate what we’re already doing,” says Gurung. “Ultimately we aim to build and deploy inference services on top of the models, allowing users to make real-time projections.”

IBM is also interested in how UAH will apply these new computational tools in analyzing Earth science data and how well the chips will perform in this capacity. Significant energy is required to power the chips that analyze dozens of terabytes of satellite data to build foundation models. Initial tests have shown that running the geospatial model on the IBM Spyre cluster will enable major efficiency gains and save an estimated 23 kW of power a year, the equivalent energy consumption of 20 U.S. homes and 85 tons of carbon emissions.

"The new cluster at UAH will enable researchers to tune and test not only new applications for these AI foundation models, but also the performance of the IBM Spyre AIU accelerators,” said Jeff Burns, director of the IBM Research AI Hardware Center. “We’re looking forward to seeing how the AIU chips can speed up AI workflows in this exciting field and ultimately lead to more efficient model deployment.”

In the future, the hardware may be used in other capacities at UAH. “We hope to be able to integrate this computing system into educational opportunities at UAH,” says Dr. Nair.

“Foundation model research is at the intersection of AI and education.”

Transforming Earth Science: Dr. Jun Wang, 2024 AGU Joanne Simpson Medal Winner

2024-11-04T14:14:48-06:00

Dr. Jun Wang, a University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) alumni and leading scientist at the University of Iowa, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Joanne Simpson Medal for his exceptional contributions to Earth and space science. This honor reflects Wang's significant achievements in remote sensing and atmospheric research. He will receive the medal at the AGU’s annual meeting and will be inducted into the AGU College of Fellows in early December 2024 in Washington, D.C.

The AGU Joanne Simpson Medal celebrates mid-career scientists who have made transformative scientific advances and demonstrated leadership in their fields. This medal highlights Wang’s groundbreaking work in the remote sensing of aerosols and fires, particularly through the development of advanced satellite algorithms.

Wang completed his Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science at UAH’s Department of Atmospheric and Earth Sciences (AES) in 2005. The program at UAH is very rigorous," Wang mentions. "But it equips you with everything you need to advance your career in research and leadership within the scientific community." During his time at UAH, he was also actively involved in numerous projects at the Earth System Science Center (ESSC), working closely with professors and researchers. This experience played a crucial role in shaping his career, providing him with the training and mentorship that laid the groundwork for his future work.

During his doctoral studies at UAH, Wang focused on the study of fire emissions and their impact on air quality and climate. This research was conducted in collaboration with faculty members from the AES Department and the ESSC, including Dr. Sundar Christopher, Professor and King-McDonald Eminent Scholar Chair in Atmospheric and Earth Science. These collaborations were instrumental in Wang's development as a scientist, providing him with opportunities to work on cutting-edge research and engage with a network of experts in atmospheric science. The ESSC provided a unique environment for interdisciplinary research, where working on various projects allowed him to gain invaluable experience in satellite data analysis and atmospheric modeling.

After completing his Ph.D., Wang furthered his research through a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, followed by faculty positions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and, since 2016, at the University of Iowa. His continued connection with the UAH ESSC remains strong, as he frequently collaborates with former mentors and colleagues on research projects and proposals.

Wang's recent work includes pioneering satellite missions and developing algorithms for passive sensing of aerosol layer height and fire combustion efficiency. His efforts in mapping aerosol plume height using the NASA DSCOVR satellite have provided new insights into aerosol dynamics and their environmental impacts.

Dr. Jun Wang Photo Credit: University of Iowa

Wang's receipt of the Joanne Simpson Medal reflects his exceptional dedication and innovative contributions to the field of atmospheric sciences. As he continues his work at the University of Iowa, Wang's journey serves as an inspiration to future generations of researchers.

UAH Senior Madison Holland Takes Flight with NASA’s SARP Summer Internship

2024-10-22T12:50:15-05:00

Madison Holland is a senior at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and has demonstrated a profound passion for atmospheric and earth sciences. She is currently pursuing her bachelor's in Atmospheric and Earth Science with a meteorology concentration and minors in natural disasters and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She also works part-time in the NASA’s Airborne Data Management Group (ADMG) which is part of UAH’s Laboratory for Applied Science within the Earth System Science Center (ESSC). This past summer, Holland participated in NASA's prestigious Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), where she was immersed in real-world research, collecting atmospheric chemistry data, and gaining interdisciplinary experience.

Her team conducted research using a combination of NASA satellite and aircraft data. One of the highlights of her experience was her first research flight aboard the Dynamic Aviation B200, a small, highly specialized aircraft used by both NASA and the military. She explains that they flew at the hottest time of day, making the ride bumpy due to the heat coming off the ground. Onboard, Holland and two other students collected air samples using canisters attached to tubes outside the plane. One of her most memorable moments involved collecting data over Baltimore, Maryland. "I opened a can right before we flew over the collapsed bridge to see if there had been any changes in CO2 levels since the collapse," she said, illustrating the real-world applications of her work.

The plane was equipped with instruments to measure formaldehyde, water vapor, and CO2 concentrations. Holland and her team had the unique experience of watching pollution levels rise in real-time as they flew over rush hour traffic and large landfills. She shares that even though she learned these things in class, it was so different when she was up there seeing the data unfold before her eyes.

Photo description: Madison Holland collecting aircraft data during her SARP internship

Photo credit: Madison Holland

The experience of collecting data didn't stop with the airborne research. Holland also participated in ground-truthing missions, collaborating with scientists and engineers from Johns Hopkins University to measure pollutants in Baltimore. She rode in a mobile observatory, a van outfitted with complex instruments designed to monitor air quality. As they drove through rural and urban areas, Holland recorded data on various pollutants, including CO2 and methane, while noting traffic and environmental conditions that could influence the readings.

Although atmospheric chemistry wasn't her primary interest, she found the experience deeply enriching. Before SARP, her academic interests aligned more with physical oceanography and large-scale weather patterns like El Niño and La Niña. However, the internship broadened her horizons, giving her insight into new areas of science she hadn't previously considered.

Throughout her time in the program, Holland also attended optional coding lessons, which proved helpful for her research project. While coding wasn't mandatory, she found it essential for visualizing large datasets, especially for satellite data analysis. "Even though it wasn't directly related to my major, I still learned a lot," she said. "SARP showed me just how interconnected all of these scientific fields really are."

Photo description: Madison Holland collecting aircraft data during her SARP internship Photo credit: Madison Holland

At the end of the summer, Holland presented her research at NASA's Langley Research Center, concluding an intensive but rewarding few weeks. She credited much of her success to the mentorship and collaborative environment fostered within SARP. Her research mentor, Dr. Guanyu Huang, who coincidentally is also a UAH alumnus, made the connection even more meaningful. Despite their different backgrounds, Holland and Dr. Huang shared a passion for atmospheric research, which made for an excellent collaboration.

Holland's role in supporting NASA’s ADMG involves organizing and sharing data collected from airborne research projects like those from NASA SARP. By curating contextual metadata and promoting the open dissemination of these datasets, Holland’s contributions help ensure that NASA's data reaches a broad audience - from scientists conducting atmospheric and climate research to educators incorporating real-world data into their classes. This work also supports NASA's mission to advance scientific knowledge about Earth systems, making it easier for researchers to collaborate across disciplines and for the public to stay informed about climate-related issues.

As Holland looks ahead to her future, she feels well-prepared for whatever comes next, whether it's continuing her work in meteorology or exploring new paths in atmospheric science. Through SARP and her work with ADMG, she has gained invaluable experiences and new skills; we look forward to seeing where her path takes her.

UAH becomes the largest mobile radar facility in the U.S. with the addition of the FARM to its deployable weather research fleet

2024-09-12T07:53:07-05:00

With the addition of the Flexible Array of Radars and Mesonets (FARM) team to its deployable weather research fleet, the Severe Weather Institute – Radar and Lightning Laboratories (SWIRLL) at UAH will be the largest and most comprehensive mobile radar and observing facility in the U.S.

UAH - Earth System Science Center (ESSC) - News - ��������