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Latest Posts

AIM/MCRN Summer School: Week 6

August 2, 2020

 [...]

AIM/MCRN Summer School: Week 5

July 26, 2020

 [...]

Professor Christopher K.R.T. Jones — Recipient of the 2020 MPE Prize


Professor Chris Jones is the Bill Guthridge Distinguished Professor in Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Director of the Mathematics and Climate Research Network (MCRN). The 2020 MPE Prize recognizes Professor Jones for his many significant contributions to climate science and the mathematics of planet Earth.

Categories

Author Archives: Hans Kaper

Post

AIM/MCRN Summer School: Week 6

General
Posted on August 2, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

June 22-July 31, 2020 This was the final week of the summer school.  The pressure was on: presentations were to be given on Thursday afternoon, and final reports from the subgroups were due on Friday, 1 p.m. Presentations Most of the … Continue reading →

Tagged Energy; Climate Change; Dynamical Systems; Game Theory. | Leave a reply
Post

AIM/MCRN Summer School: Week 5

General
Posted on July 26, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

June 22-July 31, 2020 In last week’s blog post, we mentioned that the participants in the summer school had identified fifteen research questions, which had been organized under five “umbrellas”: Diseases and the Environment, Impacts of Behavior, Incorporation of Data, … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School: Week 4

General
Posted on July 19, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

June 22-July 31, 2020 This was the week where the rubber hit the road. Having established five “umbrella groups,” each focused on a particular theme, and grouped fifteen projects under the various umbrellas, it was time to get to work … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School: Week 3

General
Posted on July 10, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

June 22-July 31, 2020 This week we delved into data.  Primed by the Alessandro Vespignani’s video presentation, we addressed the main topic of the summer school:Integrating observational data into mathematical models through Data Assimilation (DA). Data Assimilation Our leader Chris started the … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School, June 22-July 31, 2020 — Week 2

General
Posted on July 3, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

We are approaching the end of week 2 — a short 4-day week because of the 4thof July holiday. Here is a summary of the past few days. This week, the focus was on modeling the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, modeling stands … Continue reading →

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Post

A Case for Online Workshops

General
Posted on June 29, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

by Yemeen Ayub “But you can’t do that, … , Mr. President?“ We were tasked with roleplaying as scientists who were having a stern conversation with policy-makers. Everyone is grinning at the humor of calling each other Sir, Ma’m, or … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School, June 22-July 31, 2020 — Day 5, Week 1

General
Posted on June 26, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The last day of the week was devoted to several exercises and some self-reflection. Anonymous polling was part of each exercise. First exercise: Think about questions that you would like us to address, given what we have heard during the … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School, June 22-July 31, 2020 — Day 4

General
Posted on June 25, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Today we heard from experts (morning) and practitioners (afternoon).  The experts were Codilia McGehee (MD/PhD, U Minnesota), Jack O’Brian (biomath, stat, Bowdoin College), Pauline van den Driessche (math epidemiology, U Victoria), Jianhong Wu (math epidemiology, York U). The practitioners were Andrew … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School, June 22-July 31, 2020 — Day 3

General
Posted on June 24, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The theme for the third day was modeling and simulation, with emphasis on COVID-19.   In the morning, we discussed the report “Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID-19 mortality and healthcare demand” by the Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team, March … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School, June 22-July 31, 2020 — Day 2

General
Posted on June 23, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Today, we began our quest for questions.   Report on the SIAM News articles Since few of the participants in the Summer School are familiar with the dynamics of infectious diseases and pandemics like COVID-19, it made sense to start our … Continue reading →

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AIM/MCRN Summer School, June 22-July 31, 2020 — Day 1

General
Posted on June 22, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

This is the first day of the Summer School on “Dynamics, Data, and COVID-19.” The Summer School is organized by the American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) in San Jose, California, and the Mathematics and Climate Research Network (MCRN), with support … Continue reading →

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Post

A Tale of Two Crises

General
Posted on May 21, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Consider the current coronavirus crisis. In December 2019, it became apparent that Covid-19 was threatening public health in a major way.  Several mathematical models predicted how the virus would spread, and that a worldwide pandemic was a distinct possibility.  Data … Continue reading →

Tagged Climate Change | Leave a reply
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Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic to Guide Our Response to the Climate Crisis

General
Posted on May 7, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Countries’ responses to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have ranged from swift, decisive, and forward-thinking to delayed, contradictory, and reactionary.  What can these global responses teach us about what is needed to act on climate change in an effective and equitable … Continue reading →

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Post

Postdoc and PhD Positions at University of Göttingen

General
Posted on May 1, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The newly founded group ‘Computational Geoscience’ at the Geoscience Centre at University of Göttingen invites applications for the following positions: Postdoc Position for Data-intensive Methods for the Geosciences  You received your PhD on a geoscientific topic with a strong methodology focus … Continue reading →

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Webinar Series in Mathematics of Planet Earth: Analysis and Modelling

General
Posted on May 1, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

We are pleased to invite you to take part to a new series of weekly webinars designed to give the opportunity to early career researchers, PhD students and Post-Docs, working on topics related to Mathematics of Planet Earth,  to share their work with researchers at all levels in the … Continue reading →

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Post

April 22, 2020 — 50 years of Earth Day

General
Posted on April 17, 2020 by Hans Kaper | Reply

On April 22, 1970, Earth Day was born.  Twenty million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest environmental ignorance and demand a new way … Continue reading →

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Post

Four reasons why the fight against climate change is likely to fail

Climate Change
Posted on March 15, 2014 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Democrats in the Senate stayed up all night talking about the perils of climate change. But while there’s hope that technology, changing consumer and business practices or new policies could finally turn the tide and slow or reverse climate change, there are also good reasons to think those efforts will fail. Continue reading →

Tagged Climate Change | Leave a reply
Post

Moving toward a long-term collaboration around MPE

General
Posted on December 18, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

MPE2013 was launched at the winter meeting of the Canadian Mathematical Society in Montreal on December 7, 2013. Now, at the end of 2013, more than 140 partners are affiliated with MPE2013. “Mathematics of Planet Earth” needs to continue, and this is why MPE2013 will morph into MPE on January 1, 2014. Continue reading →

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Post

Wimpy Hurricane Season a Surprise — And a Puzzle for Statisticians

Atmosphere, Extreme Events, Meteorology, Statistics
Posted on December 2, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

It was a hurricane season almost without hurricanes. There were just two, Humberto and Ingrid, and both were relatively wimpy, Category 1 storms. That made the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, which ended Saturday, the least active in more than 30 years — for reasons that remain puzzling. Continue reading →

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Post

Ocean Plankton and Ordinary Differential Equations

Biogeochemistry, Dynamical Systems
Posted on November 26, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Ocean Plamkton As applied mathematicians we love differential equations. So, if you are looking for an interesting set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with relevance for Planet Earth, you might take a look at the so-called NPZ model of biogeochemistry. Continue reading →

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Post

“Mathematics and Climate” — A New Text

Climate Modeling, Mathematics, Statistics
Posted on November 12, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Today, allow me to indulge in a bit of self-promotion on the occasion of the publication by the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) of a new textbook, “Mathematics and Climate,” co-authored by your friendly MPE Blogmaster, Hans Kaper, and my colleague, Hans Engler, at Georgetown University. Continue reading →

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Post

Mathematics, Sustainability, and a Bridge to Decision Support

General
Posted on November 6, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The November issue of The College Mathematics Journal is a special theme issue supporting the Mathematics of Planet Earth initiative, MPE 2013. The issue is freely available to all. Of special interest is a guest editorial by Mary Lou Zeeman (Bowdoin College). It is a call to arms for the mathematics community to identify and engage, at a deeply intellectual level, with the mathematical challenges associated with decision making for sustainability. Continue reading →

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Post

Not on the Test: The Pleasures and Uses of Mathematics

Public Event
Posted on November 5, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply
Inez Fung

On Wednesday, November 6, Inez Fung will deliver a public lecture at the Berkeley City College Auditorium on the topic “Verifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions” as part of their series Not on the Test: The Pleasures and Uses of Mathematics. Continue reading →

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Post

Changing our Clocks

Energy, General
Posted on October 28, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

This Sunday, most of the United States and Canada changes from Daylight Saving Time (DST) to Standard Time: at 2:00 a.m. local time, clocks fall back to 1:00 a.m. Continue reading →

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Post

Mathematics and Climate Research Network

Climate, Mathematics, Workshop Report
Posted on October 22, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The “Mathematics and Climate Research Network” (http://www.mathclimate.org/, MCRN) held its annual meeting, October 7-12 in North Carolina.

The MCRN is a virtual organization. It brings together leading researchers across the US to study the mathematics that underlies climate science. Research is done collaboratively in focus groups over the Internet, and researchers get together once a year at the annual meeting to explore new ideas and set the agenda for upcoming activities. Continue reading →

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Post

Deriving the Navier-Stokes Equations from Molecular Dynamics: A Case Study for Dimension Reduction

Dimension Reduction, Ecology, Mathematics
Posted on October 8, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

In today’s blog, I will go into one of the issues in mathematical ecology mentioned in yesterday’s blog reporting on the MBI workshop on “Sustainability and Complex Systems.” The issue came up in the discussion sessions, where the question was asked how one could apply dimension-reduction techniques to individual-based models (IBMs) and derive more manageable descriptions of ecological systems. Continue reading →

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Post

MBI Workshop “Sustainability and Complex Systems”

Complex Systems, Ecology, Workshop Report
Posted on October 7, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

During the week of September 16-20, 2013, I attended a workshop on “Sustainability and Complex Systems” at the Mathematical Biosciences Institute at Ohio State. This was the first of three workshops on the theme “Ecosystem Dynamics and Management,” organized under the umbrella of MPE2013. Continue reading →

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Post

DIMACS/CCICADA Workshop on Urban Planning for Climate Events

Sustainability, Workshop Announcement
Posted on September 11, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

As part of the workshop cluster on Sustainable Human Environments, a preworkshop on urban planning for climate events will be sponsored by DIMACS/CCICADA as part of the Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013+ program. Continue reading →

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Post

AGU Releases Revised Position Statement on Climate Change

Climate Change
Posted on September 3, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) recently released a revised version of its position statement on climate change. Continue reading →

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Post

How Vegetation Competes for Rainfall in Dry Regions

Biosphere, Mathematics, Patterns
Posted on September 2, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The greater the plant density in a given area, the greater the amount of rainwater that seeps into the ground. This is due to a higher presence of dense roots and organic matter in the soil. Since water is a limited resource in many dry ecosystems, such as semi-arid environments and semi-deserts, there is a benefit to vegetation to adapt by forming closer networks with little space between plants. Continue reading →

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Post

MPE2013+ Workshop at ASU, January 7-10, 2014

Climate, Climate Change, Energy, Natural Disasters, Resource Management, Sustainability, Workshop Announcement
Posted on August 21, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

A workshop “Mathematics of Planet Earth: Challenges and Opportunities” will be held at Arizona State University, January 7-10, 2014. The workshop aims to expose students and junior researchers to the challenges facing our planet, the role of the mathematical sciences in addressing those challenges, and the opportunities to get involved in the effort. Continue reading →

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Post

Extreme Events

Extreme Events, Probability, Statistics, Weather
Posted on August 20, 2013 by Hans Kaper | 1 comment

Weather extremes capture the public’s attention and are often used as arguments in the debate about climate change. The concern that extreme events may be changing in frequency and intensity as a result of human influences on climate is real, but the notion of extreme events depends to a large degree on the system under consideration, including its vulnerability, resiliency, and capacity for adaptation and mitigation. Continue reading →

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Post

Summer Break

General
Posted on July 15, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The MPE2013 Daily Blog is taking a summer break. The next post is scheduled for August 15, 2013.

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Post

AGU Science Policy Conference, Washington, DC, June 24-26

Climate Change, Conference Report, Geophysics
Posted on July 9, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The American Geophysical Union held its 2nd Annual Science Policy Conference in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, June 24-26. Continue reading →

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Post

President Barack Obama’s remarks on climate change at Georgetown University

Climate Change, Public Event
Posted on June 26, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

It was important for me to speak directly to your generation, because the decisions that we make now and in the years ahead will have a profound impact on the world that all of you inherit. Continue reading →

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Post

MPE2013 Public Lecture — Jane Wang, Fields Institute, June 21, 2013

Public Event
Posted on June 17, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

MPE2013 Public Lecture — Jane Wang, Fields Institute, June 21, 2013. Continue reading →

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Post

2013 SIAM Conference on Mathematical and Computational Issues in the Geosciences

Conference Announcement, Geophysics
Posted on June 11, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The 2013 SIAM Conference on Mathematical and Computational Issues in the Geosciences will be held in Padua, Italy, June 17-20. Continue reading →

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Post

Schedule Change

General
Posted on June 10, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Starting June 10, the MPE2013 Daily Blog will appear Monday through Friday.

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Post

Opinion Article in Today’s Washington Post

Climate, General
Posted on June 8, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

In a recent op-ed for The Post, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) offered up a reheated stew of isolated factoids and sweeping generalizations about climate science to defend the destructive status quo. Continue reading →

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Post

Ode to Cinderella Science

Carbon Cycle, Climate Change
Posted on June 4, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Looking back, the “Keeling curve” of CO${}_2$ concentrations ranks among the most significant achievements of twentieth-century science. Continue reading →

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Post

SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems, Snowbird, May 19-23

Climate, Conference Report, Mathematics
Posted on May 28, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The SIAM Activity Group on Dynamical Systems (SIAG/DS) held its biennial meeting (DS13) at the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Snowbird, Utah, May 19-23, 2013. Continue reading →

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Post

BIRS Workshop — “Non-Gaussian Multivariate Statistical Models and their Applications”

Statistics, Workshop Report
Posted on May 24, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

A diverse group of 42 scholars from 15 countries converged this week at BIRS for a workshop on “Non-Gaussian Multivariate Statistical Models and their Applications.” Continue reading →

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Post

Measuring Carbon Footprints

Atmosphere, Climate Change
Posted on May 21, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Releasing a ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has quite a different effect on the global average temperature than releasing a ton of methane. Have you ever wondered how the effects of different greenhouse gases are compared? Continue reading →

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Post

Report: The Mathematical Sciences in 2025

General, Mathematics, Statistics
Posted on May 17, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The full report on The Mathematical Sciences in 2025 from the National Academies Press is now available for download. Continue reading →

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Post

2013 SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems

Climate, Conference Announcement, Energy, Mathematics, Sustainability, Weather
Posted on May 15, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The 2013 SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems (DS13) will be held at the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, Snowbird, Utah, May 19-23. Continue reading →

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Post

SIAM News — Examining the Dynamics of Ocean Mixing

Climate, Ocean
Posted on May 12, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

“The science is clear,” climate scientist Emily Shuckburgh told an audience of nearly 800 people at San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts on March 4. Continue reading →

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Post

Workshop “Major and Neglected Diseases in Africa,” May 6-10, 2013

Disease Modeling, Epidemiology, Public Health, Workshop Announcement
Posted on May 11, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

A workshop on “Major and Neglected Diseases in Africa” was held at the University of Ottawa, May 6-10, 2013. Continue reading →

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Post

Management of Variability and Uncertainty in Energy Systems

Energy, Uncertainty Quantification
Posted on May 8, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

An interesting collection of web videos from the Energy Systems Week at the Isaac Newton Institute. Continue reading →

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Post

Fields Institute — Focus Program on Commodities, Energy, and Environmental Finance

Climate, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, Uncertainty Quantification, Workshop Announcement
Posted on May 7, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Commodities and energy markets continue to grow in activity and influence. Because of the growing concern about environmental issues inherent to the production and consumption of energy, quantitative insights into these marketplaces are crucial for sustainable development and policy making with respect to climate change. Continue reading →

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Post

Data Visualization and Infographics

Data Visualization, General
Posted on April 30, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Infographics (short for Information Graphics) are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. They are intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. If done right, they enhance our visual system’s ability to see patterns and trends. Continue reading →

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Post

How to Reconcile the Growing Extent of Antarctic Sea Ice with Global Warming?

Climate Change, Cryosphere
Posted on April 23, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

It is well known that sea ice has a significant influence on the Earth’s climate system. While global warming causes Arctic sea ice to melt at a measurable and significant rate, sea ice surrounding Antarctica has actually expanded, with record extent in 2010. How can this somewhat paradoxical behavior be reconciled with global warming? Continue reading →

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Post

Arctic Sea Ice and Cold Weather

Cryosphere, General, Weather
Posted on April 16, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Could the cold weather experienced in northern Eurasia this winter be related to the decrease in Arctic sea ice? This question is currently being debated in the media in Europe. This post shows some weather maps and links to several relevant blogs and articles. Continue reading →

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Post

Our blog is on spring break. We’ll be back on Monday, April 1.

General
Posted on March 27, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply
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Post

The Mathematics of Sustainability

General, Sustainable Development
Posted on March 24, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Assuring a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren is, arguably, the greatest challenge facing humanity and raises a plethora of scientific and mathemat- ical challenges. In the language of the Brundtland Report World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, it means leaving for future generations the same options we have for how we want to live our lives. However, operationalizing that concept is easier said than done. Continue reading →

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Post

How Good is the Milankovitch Theory?

Paleoclimate
Posted on March 20, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

In 1941, the Serbian mathematician Milutin Milankovitch (1879–1958) suggested that past glacial cycles might be correlated to cyclical changes in the insolation (the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth from the Sun). Continue reading →

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Post

Physics of Climate

Climate, General
Posted on March 19, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

The American Physical Society (APS) now has a Topical Group on the Physics of Climate (GPC). Continue reading →

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Post

SISC Special Issue

General
Posted on March 8, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

In recognition of Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013, the SIAM Journal on Scientific Computing (SISC) has dedicated a special issue to Planet Earth and Big Data. Continue reading →

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Post

mpe2013.org

General
Posted on March 3, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

MPE2013 Web Site Continue reading →

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Letting a Thousand MPEs Bloom

General
Posted on March 1, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

MPE2013 is a success. It is has generated enthusiasm all over the world, and it is giving mathematics more visibility than we could have hoped for. Continue reading →

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Post

Henbury Conservation Project

Carbon Cycle
Posted on February 26, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply
Henbury Conservation Project

The interesting “Henbury Conservation Project” was brought to my attention by Ian Noble at the JSPS Symposium on “Climate Change.” Thanks, Ian, for a very good presentation on “Land and Our Responses to Climate Change.” -HGK Continue reading →

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Post

Report: JSPS Symposium on “Climate Change”

Climate Change, Conference Report
Posted on February 25, 2013 by Hans Kaper | 1 comment
JSPS

On Friday, February 23, 2013, I attended a Symposium on “Climate Change,” organized by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and co-sponsored by the AAAS, NAS, NASA, NOAA and NSF. The symposium was held at the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC. Continue reading →

1 Reply
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2013 AARMS Mathematical Biology Workshop

Biology, Mathematics, Workshop Announcement
Posted on February 21, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

We are pleased to announce the 2013 AARMS Mathematical Biology Workshop to be held at Memorial University of Newfoundland, July 27-29, 2013, in St John’s, Newfoundland. Registration closes on May 17, 2013 and abstracts should be submitted by June 30, 2013. Continue reading →

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Post

Earth from Space

General
Posted on February 18, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Perhaps you’ve seen this already, but it’s pretty amazing, and features some well-known faces: Earth from Space Sean Crowell Mathematics and Climate Research Network (MCRN) sean.m.crowell@gmail.com

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Workshop on “Mathematics of climate change, related hazards and risks”

Climate, Conference Announcement, Natural Disasters, Risk Analysis
Posted on February 16, 2013 by Hans Kaper | 1 comment

A 5-day workshop on “Mathematics of climate change, related hazards and risks” will be held at the Centro de Investigación en Matemáticas (CIMAT) in Guanajuato, Mexico, July 29-August 2, 2013. This workshop, organized as part of the global program Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013 (MPE2013), is a satellite workshop associated with the 2013 Mathematical Congress of the Americas (MCA). Continue reading →

1 Reply
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Mathematics and Climate

Climate Modeling, Mathematics
Posted on February 8, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

What is the role of mathematics in climate science? Climate science, like meteorology, is largely a branch of physics; as such, it certainly uses the language of mathematics. But could mathematics provide more than the language for scientific discourse? Continue reading →

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Post

Recommended Reading

Climate Change, Complex Systems, General, Social Systems, Sustainability
Posted on February 2, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Earlier this week, I had the good fortune to attend a talk here in Washington, DC, by former Vice-President Al Gore on “The Future, Six Drivers of Global Change.” This is the title of his latest book, which had just appeared. The talk was sponsored by my favorite bookstore, “Politics and Prose.” Continue reading →

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Presidential Inauguration 2013

General, Political Systems, Public Event
Posted on January 22, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply
Mathematics of Planet Earth 2013

Like four years ago, my good friend David Levermore (U Maryland) and I joined the crowd that gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC, yesterday to be part of the inauguration of President Barack Obama. It was a great … Continue reading →

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The Discovery of Global Warming

General
Posted on January 19, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply
Joesph Fourier Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier (1768-1830), French mathematician and natural philosopher, did groundbreaking work in mathematics and the theory of heat. He was the first to propose that the Earth's atmosphere acts to raise the planet's temperature.

“As a dam built across a river causes a local deepening of the stream, so our atmosphere, thrown as a barrier across the terrestrial rays, produces a local heightening of the temperature at the Earth’s surface.” Thus in 1862 John … Continue reading →

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Global Warming — Recommended Reading

Climate Change, General
Posted on January 17, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply
Global Warming Global Warming -- Science Meets Politics

Global warming, one of the most important science issues of the 21st century, challenges the very structure of our society. It touches on economics, sociology, geopolitics, local politics, and individuals’ choice of lifestyle. For those interested in learning more about … Continue reading →

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Post

Mathematician stepping on thin ice

Conference Report, Cryosphere, General, Public Event
Posted on January 12, 2013 by Hans Kaper | 3 comments
Ken Golden Mathematician at work - Ken Golden in Antarctica

From the U~T San Diego, Saturday January 12, 2013 With a resume of scientific discoveries, and a track record of harrowing Antarctic adventures, University of Utah mathematician Ken Golden has stepped out of the ivory tower and onto thin ice. … Continue reading →

3 Replies
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MPE2013, Antarctica, and the Porter Lecture

Conference Announcement, Cryosphere, Public Event
Posted on January 2, 2013 by Hans Kaper | Reply

Welcome to the MPE2013 Blog! During the coming year we intend to bring you information about the themes of MPE2013: mathematics (including statistics), climate, sustainability and the state of the planet. Some posts will report news items of general interest, … Continue reading →

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