RESEARCH

Research Projects

RESEARCH PROJECTS

PI-CASC supports research that generates actionable climate science within several key focus areas defined by regional stakeholder needs.

Wind-swept waves tumble towards a rocky shoreline.

Near-term climate projections to inform adaptation in the Hawaiian Islands

PI: Thomas Giambelluca, Professor of Geography, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Han Tseng, Department of Geography, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2017
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Student takes core of conifer

Kilo Lani: Reconstructing historical climate patterns in Hawai‘i using traditional knowledge and dendrology

PI: Rosie Alegado, Assistant Researcher, Oceanography/Sea Grant Program, UH Mānoa
Collaborators: Axel Timmermann, Professor of Oceanography, UH Mānoa/IPRC; Puakea Nogelmeier, Professor, Kawaihu‘elani Center for Hawaiian Language
Funded: FY2016
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A satellite image of the rectangular ring of Majuro Atoll in the midst of a blue sea.

Collecting elevation data to understand climate change effects in the Marshall Islands

PI: Jeffrey Danielson , Physical Geographer, USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS)
Co-Is: Monica Palaseanu-Lovejoy, Research Geographer, USGS Eastern Geographic Science Center; Cindy Thatcher, Research Biologist, Cooperative Data Acquisition, NGPO; Dean Gesch, Research Scientist, USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center; Matthew Barbee, Biologist, UH Mānoa; Romina King, Asst. Professor of Geography, University of Guam; Maria Kottermair, GIS specialist, University of Guam
Funded: FY2016
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Ocean water floods over a lawn and into a house along a low shoreline.

Simulating and projecting future impacts of sea-level rise on Majuro Atoll

PI: Charles Fletcher, Professor of Earth Sciences, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016
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Forecasting climate and land use/cover change impacts on freshwater ecosystem services in Maui

Forecasting climate and land use/cover change impacts on freshwater ecosystem services in Maui

PI: Christopher Lepczyk, Dept. Natural Resources & Environmental Mgmt, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Kirsten Oleson, NREM, UH Mānoa
Co-Is: Steven Gray, NREM, UH Mānoa; Yin-Phan Tsang, NREM, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2015
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An underwater view shows coral-covered rocks, some brown or purple-y, but many spots of branching, skeletal white coral.

Assessing the sustainability of culturally important marine sites in Guam and CNMI

PI: Laurie Raymundo, Professor of Marine Biology, University of Guam
Co-PI: Jeffrey Maynard, Marine Applied Research Center
Funded: FY2015
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Scenic lush coastline

Projecting the frequency and impact of future coastal fooding and inundation events in the Pacific Islands

PI: Philip Thompson, Assoc. Director of UH Sea Level center, UH Mānoa
Co-Is: Matthew J. Widlansky, International Pacific Research Center, UH Mānoa; Janet M. Becker, Professor of Geology, UH Mānoa; Mark A. Merrifield, Professor of Oceanography, UH Mānoa; John J. Marra, Regional Climate Services Director, NOAA
Funded: FY2015
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Waves splash against a railed cement wall that bears a "Caution: Sidewalk closed" sign.

Multi-year sea level predictions for the Pacific Ocean

PI: Axel Timmermann, International Pacific Research Center, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Matthew Widlansky, International Pacific Research Center, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2015
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View across high-elevation slopes with clouds intruding between foreground bushes and background volcanic crests.

Cloud water interception in Hawai‘i – Part 2: Mapping exchange of water between clouds and vegetation

PI: Yuqing Wang, Professor of Meteorology/IPRC, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2015
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A rocky stream bed sits between overgrown banks with high green hills in the background

Modeling the response of Hawaiʻi streams to future rainfall conditions

PI: Maoya Bassiouni, Hydrologist, USGS Pacific Islands Water Science Center
Funded: FY2014
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High surf pounds an eroded shoreline, undercutting a bluff beneath houses.

Forecasting beach loss from sea-level rise on the island of Kauaʻi

PI: Charles Fletcher, Professor of Earth Sciences, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2014
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A glowing sun sinks behind a cloudbank with mountains peeking out of the cloud layer in the midground.

Measurement of ENSO-related climate conditions and ecosystem responses in Hawaiʻi

PI: Thomas Giambelluca, Professor of Geography, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Shelley Crausbay, Lead Scientist, Conservation Science Partners
Funded: FY2014
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A native shrub overhangs a rocky stream

Assessing the potential effects of climate change on vegetation in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

PI: Jim Jacobi, Biologist, USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center
Funded: FY2014
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A student poses against a steeply sloping landscape with blowing mist.

Predicting the effects of climate change: ecosystem drivers in the tropical subalpine shrubland

PI: Don Drake, Professor of Botany, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Alison Ainsworth, Department of Botany, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2013
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Scenic underwater scene with a coral landscape

Projections of future coral reef communities in DOI-managed coastal areas in the Hawaiian Islands

PI: Erik Franklin, Associate Researcher, HIMB, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Rob Toonen , Researcher, HIMB, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2013
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