Michael A. Rawlins

Associate Director, Climate System Research Center
Extension Associate Professor, Department of Geosciences
College of Natural Sciences
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

My research advances understanding of the hydrology and biogeochemistry of arctic environments. I am interested in how climate processes influence terrestrial water and carbon cycles and the ways in which warming, permafrost thaw, and hydrological cycle intensification are impacting life across the northern high latitudes. My research engagements in recent years have resulted in synthetic publications that leverage in situ observations, numerical models, and remote sensing data. Through this work I seek to advance knowledge of water, energy, and carbon cycling across the earth’s land, atmosphere, and ocean domains. Most recently I have investigated recent and potential future change in the Arctic’s freshwater cycle and its connections with warming across the region. My research has helped build on the prevailing the theory that the Arctic’s freshwater cycle will accelerate or “intensify” as an expected manifestation of climate warming. In recent years my research has focused principally on advancing knowledge of how a warming climate is impacting permafrost and, in turn, the export of carbon and other nutrients from river systems of the northern high latitudes.

Other research interests include the application of climate model projections at regional scales, including the Northeast US and North America. This thread of my research program involves the use of high-resolution regional climate models (RCMs) which can account for important local influences on climate. Applying these tools I sought to better understand impacts to forests and agriculture, coastal and marine resources, and human health.

As Associate Director of the Climate System Research Center, I assist members of the CSRC, the co-located Northeast Adaptation and Climate Science Center (NECASC), visiting faculty, and guests in the use of printers, internet connections, and other office hardware. I also develop and maintain the CSRC web pages, email lists, and corridor climate animations display. I am also UMass member representative to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

My roles and responsibilities include a significant outreach component.  A subset of the products of media engagement can be found on my outreach page.