Jenna McPhee

M.A. Student, Geography & Regional Development

B.S. 2003, Meteorology, The Pennsylvania State University

Phone: (520) 429-3332
E-mail: jcm1@email.arizona.edu

Harvill Building, Box #2
Tucson, AZ 85721-0076
USA

Curriculum Vitae

Research

I have broad research interests in the field of applied climatology and global change. My primary interests surround the causes and impacts of climate variability with a focus on the spatial and temporal differences in climate across the Western U.S., particularly at the local level. I am interested in local-scale climate variability and how climate patterns and predictors (teleconnections) interact with topography, land cover, and storm track variability to create the local variations in climate. My Masters thesis focuses on downscaling of climate predictions for local applications. Essentially, I am evaluating a method for downscaling large-scale seasonal climate forecasts in order to make them useful and effective at the local level. I will also be examining the related scale issues linking the climate divisions to stations in the West. The research on downscaling climate outlooks is a direct outcome from a partnership developed between the Applied Climate for Environment and Society lab group, CLIMAS, and the National Weather Service. We hope to provide various stakeholders in the region with downscaled seasonal climate products that will aid in applications at the local level such as decision support and management.

Project Involvement

• Arizona historical drought research for CLIMAS and the Arizona Drought Task Force (2003-2004)
• Downscaling 3-month precipitation outlooks for local applications in partnership with the National Weather Service (2004-2005)