Michael Schlesinger
Encyclopedia
Dr. Michael Earl Schlesinger is a Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and director of the Climate Research Group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received his Ph.D. (meteorology
) in 1976 from the University of California, Los Angeles
.
Michael Schlesinger is an expert in the modeling, simulation and analysis of climate
and climate change
, with interests in simulating and understanding the climates of the geologic past and possible future climates resulting from increased concentrations of greenhouse gas
es and human-made aerosol
s.
He has been instrumental in developing a range of simple and complex climate models, which have been used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
and the Energy Modeling Forum
. His research currently focuses on: (1) simulating and understanding the effects on climate of a human-induced melting of the Greenland
ice sheet
; (2) simulating and understanding the coupled climate-chemistry system, including the influences of the Sun
- both irradiance and energetic electron precipitation - and volcano
es; (3) understanding and reducing the uncertainty in the estimation of climate sensitivity and climate feedbacks; and (4) performing integrative assessment of climate change
, including further development of the robust adaptive decision strategy for mitigating and adapting to human-induced climate change.
He is known for his work on oscillations in the global climate system, on estimating the climate sensitivity, and on seasonal climate change.
He has edited four books, most recently Human-induced climate change: An interdisciplinary assessment (Cambridge University Press). He regularly appears in the media.
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
) in 1976 from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
.
Michael Schlesinger is an expert in the modeling, simulation and analysis of climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
and climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, with interests in simulating and understanding the climates of the geologic past and possible future climates resulting from increased concentrations of greenhouse gas
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
es and human-made aerosol
Aerosol
Technically, an aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. In general conversation, aerosol usually refers to an aerosol spray can or the output of such a can...
s.
He has been instrumental in developing a range of simple and complex climate models, which have been used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific intergovernmental body which provides comprehensive assessments of current scientific, technical and socio-economic information worldwide about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and...
and the Energy Modeling Forum
Energy Modeling Forum
The Energy Modeling Forum is a structured forum for discussing important issues in energy and the environment. The EMF was established in 1976 at Stanford University. The EMF works through a series of ad hoc working groups, each focussing on a particular corporate or policy decision...
. His research currently focuses on: (1) simulating and understanding the effects on climate of a human-induced melting of the Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
ice sheet
Ice sheet
An ice sheet is a mass of glacier ice that covers surrounding terrain and is greater than 50,000 km² , thus also known as continental glacier...
; (2) simulating and understanding the coupled climate-chemistry system, including the influences of the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
- both irradiance and energetic electron precipitation - and volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
es; (3) understanding and reducing the uncertainty in the estimation of climate sensitivity and climate feedbacks; and (4) performing integrative assessment of climate change
Integrated assessment modelling
Integrated assessment modelling is a type of scientific modelling that is increasingly common in the environmental sciences and environmental policy analysis. The modelling is integrated because environmental problems do not respect the borders between academic disciplines. Integrated assessment...
, including further development of the robust adaptive decision strategy for mitigating and adapting to human-induced climate change.
He is known for his work on oscillations in the global climate system, on estimating the climate sensitivity, and on seasonal climate change.
He has edited four books, most recently Human-induced climate change: An interdisciplinary assessment (Cambridge University Press). He regularly appears in the media.