Robert E. Davis
Professor · Ph.D. University of Delaware, 1988.
Contact Information
- Office: Clark Hall 386-B
- 434-924-0579
- red3u@virginia.edu
The climate at any one location is determined by the temporal progression of synoptic-scale weather events. My research focuses on the temporal and spatial variability of these synoptic-scale systems and their impact upon various environmental parameters, such as air-quality and human health. Current research involves examining how weather and climate influence severe cases of respiratory distress, which can be related to both pollutants and aeroallergens as well as short-term changes in weather conditions.
I also investigate the linkages between synoptic-scale and smaller spatial scale phenomena. This research has resulted in climatologies of deep-water waves, stability and long-range transport of pollutants, and severe weather. Finally, I am actively involved in the examination of climate change and variability in the context of synoptic-scale circulation.
Recent Publications
Hondula, D. and R.E. Davis, Climatology of Winter Transition Days for the Contiguous United States. Forthcoming in Theoretical and Applied Climatology, DOI 10.1007/s00704-010-0278-7.
Davis, R.E., C.P. Normile, L. Sitka, D.M. Hondula, D.B. Knight, S.D. Gawtry, and P.J. Stenger (2010). A Comparison of Trajectory and Air Mass Approaches to Examine Ozone Variability. Atmospheric Environment 44, 64–74, DOI:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2009.09.038.
Knight, D.B. and R.E. Davis (2009). Contribution of Tropical Cyclones to Extreme Rainfall Events in the Southeastern United States. Journal of Geophysical Research—Atmospheres, 114, D23102, DOIi:10.1029/2009JD012511,
Hondula, D.M., L. Sitka, R.E. Davis, D.B. Knight, S.D. Gawtry, M.L. Deaton, T.R. Lee, C.P. Normile, and P.J. Stenger (2009). A Back-Trajectory and Air Mass Climatology for the Northern Shenandoah Valley, USA. International Journal of Climatology, DOI: 10.1002/joc.1896.
Strong, C. and R.E. Davis (2008). Variability in the Position and Strength of Winter Jet Stream Cores Related to Northern Hemisphere Teleconnections. Journal of Climate, 21, 584-592
Strong, C. and R.E. Davis, Winter Jet Stream Trends over the Northern Hemisphere (2007). Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 133: 2109–2115, DOI: 10.1002/qj.171.
Knight, D.B. and R.E. Davis, Climatology of Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in the Southeastern United States (2007). Physical Geography, 28, 126-147.
Michaels, P.J., P.C. Knappenberger, and R.E. Davis (2007). Reply to Comment by K. Emanuel on "Sea-surface Temperatures and Tropical Cyclones in the Atlantic Basin." Geophysical Research Letters, 34, doi:10.1029/2006GL025757.
Michaels, P.J., P.C. Knappenberger, and R.E. Davis (2006). Sea-surface Temperatures and Tropical Cyclones in the Atlantic Basin. Geophysical Research Letters, 33, L09708, doi:10.1029/2006GL025757, 2006.
Strong, C. and R.E. Davis (2006). Variability in the Altitude of Fast Upper Tropospheric Winds over the Northern Hemisphere during Winter. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres), 111, D10106, doi:10.1029/2005JD006497.
Strong, C. and R.E. Davis (2006). Temperature-related Trends in the Vertical Position of the Summer Upper Tropospheric Surface of Maximum Wind over the Northern Hemisphere. International Journal of Climatology, 26, DOI: 10.1002/joc.1344.
Research
Bimeteorology and bioclimatology:
Synoptic climatology:
Air quality:
Teaching
EVSC 1300—Earth's Weather and Climate (each spring semester)
(add course description)
EVSC 3300—Atmosphere and Weather (even-numbered fall semesters)
EVSC 4470—Introduction to Climatological Analysis (irregular)
EVSC 4XXX—Synoptic Climatology (irregular)
EVSC 4XXX—Climate Change (even-numbered fall semesters)
EVAT 5410—Atmospheric Dynamics (odd-numbered fall semesters)
EVAT 5300—Environmental Climatology (irregular)
EVAT 7XXX—Multivariate Statistical Analysis in the Atmospheric Sciences (irregular)
Graduate Students
Stephan D. Gawtry, Ph.D. candidate
David Hondula, Ph.D. candidate
Luke Sitka, "TITLE," 2010, Master of Science
David Hondula, "Title," 2009, Master of Science
David B. Knight, “The Contribution of Tropical Cyclones to Extreme Rainfall Events in the Southeastern United States, 2009, Master of Science
Courtenay Strong, “Climatology of Northern Hemisphere Jet Streams: 1958–2004,” 2005, Doctor of Philosophy
Nicole Kordziel, “Climatological Comparison of High Ozone Days in Two Eastern North American Urban Corridors, 1980–2000,” 2005, Master of Science (co-adviser with Jose Fuentes)
Oliver Frauenfeld, “Northern Hemisphere Circulation Variability and the Pacific Ocean,” 2003, Doctor of Philosophy