Introduction

Martha Shulski directs the High Plains Regional Climate Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and is an assistant professor of applied climate science in UNL's School of Natural Resources since August 2009.

Education:

  • B.S., Meteorology, Department of Marine, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, 1996.
  • M.S., Agricultural Meteorology, Department of Agronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1998.
  • Ph.D., Soil Science/Climatology, Soil, Water, and Climate Department, University of Minnesota, 2002.

Examples of Current Research:

My research focuses on the understanding of climate variability and change, particularly at the regional level. In an area such as the Great Plains, the variability in our climate even from year to year is inherently high and this can have significant impacts to agriculture, water resources, and the associated seasonal planning activities. In addition, extreme weather events such as flooding and heat waves can create added stress on the environment and society, particularly when the timing coincides with a key point in the growing season, for example. By analyzing historical data we can get an idea of the full range of past weather events (from the normal to the extreme) and answer key questions such as, What caused the event? and What were the impacts to various sectors? Through the incorporation of regional climate model output we can assess future climate scenarios, which will allow for enhanced decision-making capabilities and reduced risk for regional stakeholders. Prior to coming to UNL in August of 2009, I researched the same topics, though my regional area of interest was Alaska and the Arctic - an area experiencing rapid environmental change.

Examples of Past Research:

  • Climate variability and change for high latitude regions
  • Alaska regional climatology
  • Extreme events and impacts

Examples of Outreach Programs

  • Public education on climate change and variability
  • Primary and secondary education on weather, climate, and climate change

Teaching

  • Applied Climate Science capstone course [planned]

Selected Publications:

  • Shulski M., J. Walsh, E. Stevens, and R. Thoman, 2009. Diagnosis of extended cold season temperature anomalies in Alaska. Monthly Weather Review, In press.
  • Wendler G., and M. Shulski, 2009. A century of climate change for Fairbanks, Alaska. Arctic, 62 (3): 295-300.
  • Klein, D., and M. Shulski. 2009. Lichen recovery following heavy grazing by reindeer delayed by climate warming, Ambio, 38, 11-16.
  • Shulski, M., and H. M. Mogil. 2009. Alaska's weather and climate, Weatherwise, Jan/Feb, 2009.
  • Shulski, M. and G. Wendler. 2007. The Climate of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK: University of Alaska Press, 216 pp.
  • Wendler G., B. Hartmann, C. Wyatt, M.D. Shulski, and H. Stone, 2005. Midsummer energy balance for the ice covered southern seas, Boundary Layer Meteorology, 117:131-148.
  • Shulski M.D., and M.W. Seeley, 2004. Application of snowfall and wind statistics to snow transport modeling for snowdrift control in Minnesota. Journal of Applied Meteorology, 43:1711-1721.

Web/e-mail addresses:

Martha Shulski

Martha Shulski

Source

The article on the left is from Water Current, Spring 2010, Vol. 42, No. 2.

Water Current is the quarterly newsletter of the UNL Nebraska Water Center. In each issue, we feature at least two faculty or staff who work on water-related issues.