Annarita Mariotti | Envisioning a Next Generation of U.S. Climate Predictions and Projections

Dr. Annarita Mariotti

Climate Program Office, NOAA

Monday, March 11, 2024, 2 PM ET

Abstract:

In the face of a changing climate, the understanding, predictions and projections of natural and human systems are increasingly crucial to prepare and cope with extremes and cascading hazards, determine unexpected feedbacks and potential tipping points, inform long-term adaptation strategies, and guide mitigation approaches. Increasingly complex socio-economic systems require enhanced predictive information to support advanced practices. Such new predictive challenges drive the need to fully capitalize on ambitious scientific and technological opportunities. These include the unrealized potential for very high-resolution modeling of global-to-local Earth system processes across timescales, a reduction of model biases, enhanced integration of human systems and the Earth Systems, better quantification of predictability and uncertainties; expedited science-to-service pathways and co-production of actionable information with stakeholders. Enabling technological opportunities include exascale computing, advanced data storage, novel observations and powerful data analytics, including artificial intelligence and machine learning. This talk will illustrate personal perspectives on challenges and opportunities to accelerate progress on U.S. climate predictions and projections, and a vision for a national approach grounded in climate science that builds on the strengths of the U.S. modeling community and agency goals.

Biosketch:

Dr. Annarita Mariotti is an interdisciplinary Earth systems scientist with a career spanning science, policy, diplomacy and management. Annarita is currently the Senior Advisor and Scientist at NOAA’s Climate Program Office and a Special Advisor for Climate Mitigation as part of the NOAA Office of the Chief Scientist. Annarita spent 2.5 years at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy on detail from NOAA. Her work advanced policy for meteorological services, climate science, modeling, and predictions contributing to the US Global Change Research Program and the development of the Interagency Council for Advancing Meteorological Services (ICAMS). Prior to that, Annarita developed and directed the NOAA Modeling, Analysis, Predictions and Projections (MAPP) Program of the Climate Program Office, a multi-million dollar 100+ investigators per year flagship climate research program. Under her leadership, the program established the North American Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME) seasonal climate prediction system, and achieved many successes in the areas of drought, climate projections, and sub-seasonal forecasts. Annarita’s climate and Earth system science career spans 20 years and institutions across Europe, USA and Asia. She has 60+ research papers in peer-reviewed journals, book chapters and technical reports. She is also a Visiting Associate Professor at the Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Webinar:

Event site: https://go.umd.edu/mariotti

Zoom Webinar: https://go.umd.edu/mariottiwebinar

Zoom Meeting ID: 930 7542 3542
Zoom password: essic

US Toll: +13017158592
Global call-in numbers: https://umd.zoom.us/u/aMElEpvNu

For IT assistance:
Cazzy Medley: cazzy@umd.edu

Resources:

Seminar schedule & archive: https://go.umd.edu/essicseminar

Seminar Google calendar: https://go.umd.edu/essicseminarcalendar

Seminar recordings on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ESSICUMD