Undergraduate Research: An Archive - 2022 Program

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE THESIS TITLE Neural Network-based Model to Describe 2-dimensional Tropical Cyclone Wind Fields ADVISER Gabriel Vecchi, Professor of Geosciences and the High Meadows Environmental Institute Ryan Eusebi ’22 COMPUTER SCIENCE Certificate in Environmental Studies Many existing studies have demonstrated the power of machine learning-based models for geoscience and environmental models, especially those that attempt to predict or describe geophysical fluid events. However, very little research has used machine learning models to describe or predict 2-dimensional hurricane wind fields, which would benefit from fast and accurate modeling. My research demonstrated how a simple deep neural network using a small subset of easy to forecast parameters could be capable of describing 2-dimensional tropical cyclone wind fields for storms simulated in a high-resolution atmospheric model. The average absolute value error of the network across the grid of windspeeds for a given storm is about 2.1 meters per second (m/s) for tropical storms and 2.6 m/s for hurricanes. These figures outperform common parametric models such as the Holland vortex model by a factor of 2-3 depending on how intense the storm is. The network also works well when applied to a variety of climate scenarios, and it tends to recover most of the important structural and climatological features of tropical cyclones. I presented analyses of the neural network model to explain the patterns the neural network is learning and how accurate those learned relationships were. 5
THESIS TITLE Natural Halogenated Methane Production in Mangrove Ecosystems ADVISER Satish Myneni, Professor of Geosciences Katryna Niva ’22 CHEMISTRY Certificate in Environmental Studies; Senior Thesis <strong>Research</strong> Funding Awardee As sea-level rise, extreme weather and groundwater overuse accelerate the encroachment of seawater into freshwater coastal areas, it is important to understand the resulting shifts in soil chemistry. Previous research has found that as freshwater wetlands face increased marine influence, there is a corresponding uptick in the emission of halomethane, which degrades the Earth’s ozone layer. This correlation — which is associated with the overlap of high levels of both organic carbon and the halogens within seawater — prompted my research into mangrove forests. These forests are exceptional in their ability to sequester immense levels of organic carbon (despite inhabiting a saline environment), to retain contaminants in protection of local communities, and to stabilize coastal sediments. I examined soil samples collected across varying depths and locations within two Panamanian mangrove forests in order to understand the current rate and intensity of halomethane emission, and to ultimately project how further exposure to seawater may impact this emission rate. CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 6
Page 1 and 2: MAY 2022 Undergraduate Research: An
Page 3 and 4: Undergraduate Research: An Archive
Page 5: Index of Student Research by Catego
Page 9 and 10: THESIS TITLE Deploying Deep Learnin
Page 11 and 12: Sean Crites ’22 ECOLOGY AND EVOLU
Page 13 and 14: Madison Hamilton ’22 ECOLOGY AND
Page 15 and 16: Hannah Reynolds ’22 ANTHROPOLOGY
Page 17 and 18: Bryan To ’22 ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIO
Page 19 and 20: Emily Cruz ’22 CIVIL AND ENVIRONM
Page 21 and 22: Pooja Parmar ’22 ECONOMICS Certif
Page 23 and 24: Ruth Schultz ’22 INDEPENDENT LING
Page 25 and 26: Aria Buchanan ’22 ECOLOGY AND EVO
Page 27 and 28: Emily Yu ’22 ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIO
Page 29 and 30: Connor Larson ’22 OPERATIONS RESE
Page 31 and 32: Claire Wayner ’22 CIVIL AND ENVIR
Page 33 and 34: THESIS TITLE Towards a Walkable Per
Page 35 and 36: Jeffrey Barzach ’22 CHEMISTRY Sen
Page 37 and 38: Katherine Irelan ’22 ECOLOGY AND
Page 40: High Meadows Environmental Institut

Undergraduate Research: An Archive - 2022 Program

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