Seminars & Colloquia
Following are upcoming seminars, workshops and other events of interest to GISS staff and to our research partners. Please note that due to security regulations, as described elsewhere on this page, presentations on the GISS premises are not open to the general public.
Events marked "Virtual Only" are presented on-line for remote attendance only. Please consult with the event contact/host for connection details.
This event listing was last updated 2020-08-13. All times shown are New York City local.
- Tuesday, August 11, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Virtual Only
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Topic: A story of firn and ice: Measuring firn densification with phase-sensitive radar
- Speaker: Elizabeth Case (LDEO)
- More info: Abstract
- Host: Craig Rye
Sea Level Rise Seminar
Speaker: Elizabeth Case (LDEO)
Title: A story of firn and ice: Measuring firn densification with phase-sensitive radar
This is an on-line, virtual presentation only. Please consult with event host Craig Rye for connection details.
Abstract:
Firn densification models inform altimetry-derived mass balance estimates on ice sheets, which inform sea-level-rise contributions from ice sheets. However, predictions made by current densification models indicate key uncertainties. For example, they disagree on the dependence of density and densification on accumulation rates. Observations of densification required to test these models are rare, partly because in situ methods for measuring englacial strain are time consuming and expensive. Moreover, shallow measurements may confound strain due to densification with strain due to ice-sheet flow. Here we show phase-sensitive radio-echo sounder (pRES) systems, typically deployed to measure sub-shelf melting or ice-sheet flow, can be used to measure densification and test firn models. We present two complementary methods for extracting density and densification information from pRES data and a third method for comparing model and radar measurements. Each method makes different assumptions about the density structure and state, and the availability of independent measurements. pRES-measured profiles from ice rises in the Weddell Sea Sector, West Antarctica, are consistent with measured density and a physics-based densification model. Due to their minimal logistic requirements, new pRES systems like autonomous pRES, could be inexpensively deployed to monitor firn densification. Existing phase-sensitive radar data may contain densification information even in cases when surveys primarily targeted other processes.
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- Thursday, August 13, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon — Virtual Only
- CCRI Summer Intern Presentations 1
- Host: Rosalba Giarratano
- Thursday, August 13, 2020
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. — Virtual Only
- CCRI Summer Intern Presentations 2
- Host: Rosalba Giarratano
- Friday, August 14, 2020
- 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — Virtual Only
- CCRI Summer Intern Round Table
- Host: Rosalba Giarratano
- Tuesday, August 18, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Virtual Only
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Topic: Extreme Rainfall Events of Bangladesh: How are they changing over time and are they predictable?
- Speaker: Nachiketa Acharya (Columbia/LDEO)
- More info: Abstract
- Host: Craig Rye
Sea Level Rise Seminar
Speaker: Nachiketa Acharya (Columbia/LDEO)
Title: Extreme Rainfall Events of Bangladesh: How are they changing over time and are they predictable?
This is an on-line, virtual presentation only. Please consult with event host Craig Rye for connection details.
Abstract:
Bangladesh, a low-lying delta nation of 160 million people with more than 130 rivers, is very vulnerable to sea level rises as the average altitude is less than 10m above sea level. This country experiences nearly yearly disasters of one kind or another — such as tropical cyclones, storm surges, coastal erosion, floods, and droughts -- causing heavy loss of life and endangering development activities. This year, Bangladesh has been especially affected by the pre-monsoon Cyclone Amphan and excessive monsoon rain which triggered severe flooding and landslides, affecting millions of people. This situation is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the public health crisis collides with climatic disasters.
This talk will explore the questions: How are extreme/excessive rainfall patterns changing over time? Are these events predictable? In this talk, I will first explain the recent changes, trends, and fluctuations of extreme rainfall indices based on the ETCCDI. The return levels of such extreme events are also estimated using Generalized extreme value distributions (GEV). To address the second question, I will then discuss the recent development of a systematic general objective approach called NextGen (Next Generation), a forecasting system for Bangladesh which was developed as a part of the Columbia World Project, Adapting Agriculture to Climate Today, for Tomorrow (ACToday).
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- Tuesday, August 25, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Virtual Only
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Samantha Buzzard (Georgia Tech)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Monday, August 31, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Virtual Only
- Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
- More info: Abstract, Web Link
- Host: Michael J. Way
Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
This is an on-line, virtual presentation only. Please consult with event host Michael J. Way for connection details.
Abstract:
On-line conference to discuss Venus research either submitted or published in the previous 12 months. The conference will take place over 4 days, but only 2 hours per day. This will allow live simultaneous participation from scientists in Europe, the USA and East Asia.
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- Tuesday, September 1, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Virtual Only
- Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
- More info: Abstract, Web Link
- Host: Michael J. Way
Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
This is an on-line, virtual presentation only. Please consult with event host Michael J. Way for connection details.
Abstract:
On-line conference to discuss Venus research either submitted or published in the previous 12 months. The conference will take place over 4 days, but only 2 hours per day. This will allow live simultaneous participation from scientists in Europe, the USA and East Asia.
[ Close ]
- Tuesday, September 1, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Robert Hailberg (NOAA)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Wednesday, September 2, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Virtual Only
- Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
- More info: Abstract, Web Link
- Host: Michael J. Way
Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
This is an on-line, virtual presentation only. Please consult with event host Michael J. Way for connection details.
Abstract:
On-line conference to discuss Venus research either submitted or published in the previous 12 months. The conference will take place over 4 days, but only 2 hours per day. This will allow live simultaneous participation from scientists in Europe, the USA and East Asia.
[ Close ]
- Wednesday, September 2, 2020
- 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. — Virtual Only
- GISS Lunch Seminar
- Topic: Stochastic parameterization in kilometer-scale deep convection simulations
- Speaker: McKenna W. Stanford (Univ. Utah)
- Host: Clara Orbe
- Thursday, September 3, 2020
- 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. — Virtual Only
- Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
- More info: Abstract, Web Link
- Host: Michael J. Way
Venus Science Today (Virtual Conference)
This is an on-line, virtual presentation only. Please consult with event host Michael J. Way for connection details.
Abstract:
On-line conference to discuss Venus research either submitted or published in the previous 12 months. The conference will take place over 4 days, but only 2 hours per day. This will allow live simultaneous participation from scientists in Europe, the USA and East Asia.
[ Close ]
- Tuesday, September 15, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: David Holland (NYU)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Tuesday, September 22, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Shanice Baily and Una Miller (Columbia/LDEO)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Tuesday, September 29, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Rebecca Jackson (Rutgers)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Tuesday, October 6, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Michael Oppenheimer (Princeton)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Monday, October 12, 2020
- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Virtual Only
- 19th AeroCom / 8th Aerosat Workshop
- More info: Web Link
- Host: Kostas Tsigaridis
- Tuesday, October 13, 2020
- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Virtual Only
- 19th AeroCom / 8th Aerosat Workshop
- More info: Web Link
- Host: Kostas Tsigaridis
- Tuesday, October 13, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Alex Robel (Georgia Tech)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Wednesday, October 14, 2020
- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Virtual Only
- 19th AeroCom / 8th Aerosat Workshop
- More info: Web Link
- Host: Kostas Tsigaridis
- Thursday, October 15, 2020
- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Virtual Only
- 19th AeroCom / 8th Aerosat Workshop
- More info: Web Link
- Host: Kostas Tsigaridis
- Friday, October 16, 2020
- 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. — Virtual Only
- 19th AeroCom / 8th Aerosat Workshop
- More info: Web Link
- Host: Kostas Tsigaridis
- Tuesday, October 20, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Jing Xiao (Rutgers)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Tuesday, October 27, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Robin Bell (Columbia/LDEO)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Tuesday, November 3, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Laure Zanna (NYU)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Tuesday, November 10, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Alan Blumberg (Jupiter)
- Host: Craig Rye
- Tuesday, December 1, 2020
- 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. — Virtual Only
- Sea Level Rise Seminar
- Speaker: Peter Sheng (Univ. Florida)
- Host: Craig Rye
Special Events
Upcoming special events (co-)organized by NASA/GISS staff include:
Venus Science Today, 2020
An on-line only mini conference: Aug.31-Sep. 3, 2020.
+ Read More
19th AeroCom / 8th Aerosat Workshop
An on-line only workshop: Oct. 12-16, 2020.
+ Go to Website
+ Past Meetings & Workshops
Security Note
Federal regulations require that visitors to NASA/GISS arrange in advance for a building pass. Persons attending a GISS seminar or colloquium should contact the event host at least two days in advance of the event for assistance. Please include your affiliation in your e-mail.
Due to implementation of the REAL ID Act (2005), a state driver's license or identification card is currently (as of spring 2020) required for admittance to the GISS premises, which is considered a federal facility. However, if you have a state-issued license or ID that is not considered REAL-ID compliant, you are urged to obtain one before entrance regulations change, which is expected to occur in October 2020.
Persons who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents and who may be planning a visit to GISS require that special arrangements be made. Please co-ordinate with your GISS host on this at least three weeks before your visit.
All visitors can expect to have their bags searched upon entry to GISS. This may include having to answer questions about personal items, including any medication the visitor may be carrying.
