Research Projects

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

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

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

An overhead view shows white surf crashing along a dark sandy coastline backed by green vegetation.

Estimating coastal erosion rates on Hawai‘i Island to inform setbacks

PI: Ryan L. Perroy, Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Rose Hart, Tropical Conservation Biology & Environmental Science, UH Hilo
Collaborators: Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo; Charles Fletcher, Professor of Geology & Geophysics, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016

Graphic showing where sewers versus on-site disposal systems are located

Assessing the vulnerability of coastal wastewater infrastructure to climate change

PI: Daniele Spirandelli, Asst. Professor of Coastal Policy & Community Development, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Theresa Dean, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, UH Mānoa
Collaborators: Roger Babcock, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UH Mānoa; Suwan Shen, Assistant Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, UH Mānoa
Funded: FY2016

Brown coastal waters swirl along a steep cliff coastline.

Understanding future sediment transport to coastal waters and coral reef ecosystems in West Maui

PI: Kirsten Oleson, Asst. Professor of Ecological Economics, UH Mānoa
Collaborator: John Stock, Research Geologist, USGS
Funded: FY2015

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

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

RESEARCH