Research Projects

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

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
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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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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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Underwater view of spreading and branching corals

Coral adaptation and acclimatization to global change

PI: Robert Toonen, Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, UH Mānoa
Co-PI: Chris Jury, Department of Oceanography & HIMB, 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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Image shows dense, lush tropical trees and bushes

Developing an agroforestry dashboard for the Marshall Islands

PI: Maria Haws, Assoc. Professor of Aquaculture, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2014
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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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Changing Hawaiian seascapes and their management implications

PI: Noelani Puniwai, Affiliate Faculty, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2014
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A measuring tape runs off through trees.

Archipelago-wide demography of Hawaiʻi’s most abundant, but declining, native tree

PI: Kasey Barton, Associate Professor of Botany, UH Mānoa
Co-I: Tiffany Knight, iDiv German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research
Funded: FY2013
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A boxy instrument sits near a coral outcrop on the rocky sea bottom.

Real-time observations of benthic ocean chemistry on two coral reefs in west Hawaiʻi

PI: Steven Colbert, Assistant Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Co-PI: Jim Beets, Professor of Marine Science, UH Hilo
Funded: FY2013
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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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