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July 17, 2025

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

Ecosystem Eco Notes

Research Team Receives $1.4 Million to Predict How the Environment Impacts Human Behavior

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University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Horn Point Laboratory Professor Raleigh Hood and a group of researchers from 3 other institutions throughout the United States have been awarded a $1.4 million grant by the National Science Foundation (NSF).  The 4-year project will develop a coupled modeling system to represent and simulate the complex interrelationships between humans and the environment.  Solving human issues depends, to a great extent, on understanding the interdependence of humans and the environment.

We have a much greater understanding about how the environment responds to human decisions than about how humans respond to a changing environment and how these responses drive decision-making.  Human behaviors drive changes in transportation, land use, water quality, and ultimately living resources, such as fish habitat and seagrass growth.  To date, we do not have the ability to predict how human-induced changes in the environment feed back and impact humans.  “Computer simulation modeling is a powerful tool that allows us to predict how humans are impacting Chesapeake Bay water quality both now and far into the future,” shared Dr. Hood.

Coupled modeling allows us to predict the effect of two subjects on one another and an overall system.  This project will develop a coupled modeling system that is capable of representing and simulating the complex interrelationships among socio-economic activity, transportation, land use, land cover, and water quality with two-way feedbacks between humans and the environment.  “We currently have the computational tools we need to predict how human-induced nutrient pollution impacts water quality and living resources in Chesapeake Bay.  The revolutionary thing about this project is that it will develop new tools that allow us to predict how degraded water quality impacts human decisions and actions aimed at restoring Chesapeake Bay,” said Hood.

Horn Point Laboratory Professor Raleigh Hood

Hood and his team will use this modeling system to predict how socio-economic changes and policy decisions in the Chesapeake Bay watershed impact water quality. And, how changes in water quality, such as changes in the size of “dead zones”, in the Chesapeake Bay influence human behavior and decision-making.  These predictions will be based on examination of multiple plausible future scenarios that build on various realizations of land uses, including smart growth versus business as usual, in the context of climate change.  Examination of several scenarios will allow the team to determine how environmental degradation can potentially impact different communities and how they can drive different policies and actions for land use, transportation, and land cover.  All of the scenarios will be run in the context of climate change to account for impacts on future efforts to restore Chesapeake Bay.

Humans have impacted water quality and living resources across the country, what is learned in this project will be applicable to other regions.  Hood summarized the project by stating, “This effort will bring together academic scientists and managers to create new, state of the art computational tools that will help us restore Chesapeake Bay.”

The Horn Point Laboratory, located on more than 800 acres on the banks of the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, has advanced society’s understanding of the world’s estuarine and ocean ecosystems. Horn Point scientists are widely respected for their interdisciplinary programs in oceanography, water quality, restoration of sea grasses, marshes and shellfish and for expertise in ecosystem modeling. With ongoing research programs spanning from the estuarine waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the open waters of the world’s oceans, Horn Point is a national leader in applying environmental research and discovery to solve society’s most pressing environmental problems.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

A globally eminent research and graduate institution focused on advancing scientific knowledge of the environment, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science provides sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment and prepares future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu

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Collaborative Program by UMCES and ShoreRivers Expands Environmental Education

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ShoreRivers partnered with University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s (UMCES) Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) to create a five-day professional development summer workshop for 14 teachers, ranging from third grade through high school, from across the Eastern Shore, the start of a yearlong experience aimed at growing environmental education.

Teachers and trainers met virtually for a five-day professional development summer workshop, the start of a yearlong experience aimed at growing environmental education.

Teachers and trainers met virtually during July and August. The Meaningful Watershed Environmental Experience (MWEE) Academy, developed by Horn Point Laboratory faculty, graduate students, and Outdoor Education Specialist, was supported by a grant from Chesapeake Bay Trust and funding from the Fullwood Foundation. This initial week-long teacher engagement experience was designed to lay the foundation for a year-long MWEE Academy supporting teachers integrating Chesapeake Bay-focused issue investigations within existing curriculum following the MWEE framework: outdoor learning where students learn to ask questions, discover the answers, and create solutions to local environmental issues.

Originally scheduled to be a hands-on-experiential, week-long event, Point Laboratory’s Environmental Education Specialist Bryan Gomes and faculty member Judy O’Neil collaborated with ShoreRiver’s Director of Education Suzanne Sullivan and ShoreRivers staff member Rebecca Murphy to produce a virtual workshop.  To foster familiarity and cohesiveness between the 14 participating teachers and the program’s leaders, a MWEE Academy Yearbook was created in which each participant shared the best piece of advice, favorite place to travel, and what “environmentalism” means to them.

Teachers participated in three days of introduction to the MWEE process to develop skills associated with Environmental Literacy and to learn how to use the Environmental Literacy Model (ELM) to develop inquiry-based investigative learning modules.

The final two days involved a more in depth-dive into current research on the Chesapeake Bay being carried out by UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory researchers, starting with an overview of research and environmental science education and a virtual introduction to campus. Science presentations were shared by faculty and graduate students included: Microplastic pollution in the environment;sustainability in the Bay: the role of oyster aquaculture; using oysters for engineering breakwaters for erosion control,harmful algal blooms and water quality,investigating effects of low-oxygen zones on plankton, and the use of drone technology for assessing water quality. Presentations included pre-recorded demonstrations by researchers in the field, following CoVID-19 safety protocols, combined with live virtual presentations.

Christine Knauss, PhD candidate at HPL, shares with teachers the prevalence, challenges, and dangers of plastic pollution to marine animals, the environment, and humans.

The next step in this year-long MWEE Academy experience involves teachers working in collaboration with ShoreRivers and UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory to construct their own environmental education modules designed specifically for their class grade level and school community environmental issues. The development of Meaningful Watershed Environmental Experiences for the Chesapeake Bay region will help schools satisfy the state of Maryland mandate for environmental literacy and compliance with environmental literacy (e-lit) standards. The Chesapeake Bay Trust grant also includes funding for the teachers to visit Horn Point Laboratory’s Environmental Education Center for hand-on experience and funds for the teachers to initiate an environmental community action activity at their school, to help share their newly gained knowledge on pressing environmental issues in the Chesapeake Bay that would be of concern for their local region.

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Research Team Receives $10M to Transform Shellfish Farming with Smart Technology

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University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) researcher Matt Gray and a group of University of Maryland researchers and institutions throughout the U.S. received a $10 million grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to bring advanced technology to the domestic shellfish aquaculture industry, with a specific focus on improving bottom-culture of oysters. The five-year project seeks to develop an autonomous underwater vehicle that can help with management of crops, improve understanding of lease conditions, and do all of this will having a low environmental impact.

Matt Gray

“We believe oyster crops could be better managed and tracked with underwater vehicles equipped with sensors that also have environmental sensing capabilities,” said Matt Gray, an ecophysiologist working on sustainable fisheries at UMCES’ Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Maryland. “This might sound far-fetched until one learns about how terrestrial farmers can track crop growth and harvest crops while they are far from the field using satellites and computer-controlled tractors.”

Oysters have a long and treasured history in the Chesapeake Bay region, and the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly in Maryland. Gray’s role in this project is to help understand how technology can improve production, as well as explore how technology makes production more ecologically sustainable or even beneficial to the environment. At the Horn Point Laboratory, his work is to broaden the base of knowledge and provide relevant information to help inform stakeholder, management, and policy in Maryland and elsewhere.

“While the wild fisheries are at historic lows, the aquaculture industry is growing rapidly in Maryland and there is a lot of excitement and interest in seeing it grow. Oysters, including those being grown in farms, improve the environment, so the expansion of the industry will also benefit the Bay’s health,” said Gray.

The team, led by Professor Miao Yu of UMD’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, will develop novel technologies and a sustainable management framework to help farmers tap the economic potential and environmental benefits of shellfish aquaculture, which until now has been bottlenecked by outdated tools and methods.

“Aquaculture of shellfish such as oysters, mussels, and scallops provides a sustainable, environmentally beneficial source of high-protein food, as well a way to grow the economy in rural coastal areas,” said Yu, who will lead the multi-institutional team of engineers, biologists, computer scientists, economists, and educators. “Up to this point, we haven’t really explored this industry’s potential because it still relies on antiquated technologies—in some cases, tools that go back hundreds of years.

“By developing and incorporating advanced technologies into shellfish farming, including the use of underwater drone monitoring and smart harvesting, we can bring about a major boost in production,” Yu said.

Aquaculture of shellfish is perhaps the most ecologically sustainable form of aquaculture, as well as an important driver of coastal economy. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has ranked the U.S. high for potential industry growth of this high-quality and nutritious protein source, but the industry lacks the basic technological advancement found in today’s digital, automated world.

Along with improving the efficiency of aquaculture industries, increasing technological advancements can be beneficial to wild fish populations and the continuing effort to increase the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

“Oysters—including those being grown in farms—improve the environment, so the expansion of the industry will also benefit the Chesapeake Bay’s health,” said Gray. “We’re excited to see how technology can improve production while at the same time making that production more ecologically sustainable or even beneficial to the environment.”

“Drone-based technologies for crop surveying and early disease detection. Vision-guided crop cultivation. GPS-guided harvesting. These technologies exist for land agriculture; why shouldn’t they for shellfish aquaculture, too?” said Clark School Professor Yang Tao, a collaborator on the grant. “It’s a great opportunity for us to help the coastal communities of the U.S. and Maryland, including the Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and Chesapeake.”

Current practices and technologies used in shellfish farming have many shortcomings. For example, harvesting of bottom-culture shellfish relies on dredging, in which machinery drags a net across the bottom of an ocean, bay, or other body of water to scrape up and collect buried shellfish. The process is highly imprecise and can be ecologically catastrophic by damaging reefs, which are important habitats for oysters and other aquatic species.

By synthesizing recent advances in the fields of robotics, agricultural automation, computer vision, sensing and imaging, and artificial intelligence, the team will develop new, smart technologies and a management framework to help enhance productivity and profitability for both farmers and coastal economies while better protecting fragile aquatic ecosystems.

“In land agriculture, tractor operators use visual cues such as rows of crops to achieve precise harvesting; however, there are no geo-visual cues available for shellfish farmers. This, coupled with the inaccuracy of naval GPS, leads to disorganized and wasteful dredging paths,” said Tao. “A smart dredging process that incorporates available, modern technologies such as real-time, high-precision GPS, underwater imaging and sonar positioning, and advanced environmental sensing would help—and these are solutions within reach.”

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Impacts of Ocean Warming, Sea-Level Rise, and Coastline Management for Chesapeake Bay

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The recently published work of two oceanographers at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) displays how ocean warming, sea level rise, and the hardening of shorelines will lead to increased storm surges for Baltimore and other parts of the upper Chesapeake Bay.

The research article by HPL Professor Ming Li and Assistant Research Scientist Fan Zhang was made available in a publication from AGU (American Geophysical Union).

HPL Professor Ming Li and Assistant Research Scientist Fan Zhang.

Using the climate model projections to drive regional atmosphere‐ocean models, Li and Zhang investigated how ocean warming, sea level rise, and coastline management affect storm surge in the semi enclosed Chesapeake Bay. The results: Warmer ocean surface produces stronger storms and leads to higher storm surge throughout the Chesapeake Bay. In addition, the hardening of shorelines will further raise the peak surge height in areas such as Baltimore, which reside in the upper parts of the Chesapeake.

“Although ocean warming and sea level rise are global phenomena, what local people do with coastline management could make a big difference to storm surge and flooding in a semi-enclosed Bay like the Chesapeake Bay,” said Ming Li.

The scientists used Hurricane Isabel (2003) as a case study, showing projections of climatic conditions for 2050 and 2100. While ocean warming is shown to be the main driver of storm surge amplification in the future climate, energy budget analysis also shows that allowing flooding over low‐lying areas leads to a significant energy loss and reduction in the storm surge height in the estuary.

AGU graphic

The research notes the challenges involved in managing coastal inundation risk in the Chesapeake Bay due to its long and convoluted coastlines. Given the large difference in the storm surge height between soft and hard shorelines, coastal communities around the Bay need to explore different mitigation and adaptation strategies to deal with coastal inundation.

For example, allowing for the low‐lying coastal plains of Maryland’s Eastern Shore to be flooded – and assisting the affected coastal communities in elevating their houses and/or migrating to higher grounds – could significantly reduce the storm surge at the metropolitan cities located further upstream.

“By retreating from low-lying rural areas, surge height in Baltimore and Washington, D.C could be reduced by 1.5 feet. The coastal communities around the Chesapeake Bay need to engage in discussions about how to collectively mitigate the flood risk,” said Li. “A potential cost-effective management strategy might be to assist low-lying rural communities to relocate rather than building higher seawalls around the cities.”

It was also noted that while sea level rise will add to the total water level, it only has a moderate effect on the storm surge height itself.

HORN POINT LABORATORY
From the banks of the Choptank River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, scientists engage in  world-renowned research in oceanography, water quality,  restoration of sea grasses,  marshes and shellfish, and expertise in ecosystem modeling. www.umces.edu/hpl

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Meet the Scientists Behind the Science at Horn Point Laboratory’s Science Bytes

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The Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) returns with two opportunities to attend its Science Bytes programming in March and April. The gatherings, held at Piazza Italian Market in downtown Easton, MD, offer an up-close opportunity to listen and ask questions about the types of research and environmental science happening at the Cambridge, MD-based lab.

Associate Professor Jamie Pierson

Associate Professor Jamie Pierson will present “The Role of Plankton in understanding climate change” on March 26 from 6 – 7:30pm. Assistant Professor Matt Gray will present “The historic role of oysters and new approaches to leverage their benefits to the Bay” on April 14 from 6 – 7:30pm.

These gatherings are designed to share science relevant to our communities in a casual (and delicious!) setting. HPL Lab Director Mike Roman will interview both professors regarding their respective research while attendees enjoy Italian treats from Piazza Italian Market’s wide selection of wine, beer, and antipasto.

Assistant Professor Matt Gray

Tickets are $35/ person. To register visit https://www.umces.edu/events or contact Carin Starr at [email protected], 410-221-8408.

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu

Don’t miss the latest! You can subscribe to The Chestertown Spy‘s free Daily Intelligence Report here

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Horn Point Laboratory’s Incredible Open House – Save the Date!

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Flying drones over maps of the Chesapeake Bay.

Family friendly and free, join the fun, Saturday, October 12 from 11am to 4pm at the Horn Point Laboratory’s annual Open House umces.hpl/openhouse, located just outside Cambridge.

Explore environmental science through exhibits and hands-on activities.  Board the research vessel RACHEL CARSON and explore oyster farming at the boat basin.  Visit the East Coast’s largest oyster hatchery to learn about the iconic oyster from baby spat to restoration sanctuaries.  Games and free t-shirts for the kids and food and ice cream for all provided by Ruritans and Maiden Maryland.  This is a great family event with something for all ages, so plan to spend some time at the Horn Point Lab’s Open House and learn about the amazing world of marine scientists.

“This is the best day of the year for the community to learn about the science of the Bay. Everyone at the lab is on deck to explain their research with activities and displays that make it easy to understand,” said Horn Point Laboratory Director, Mike Roman.

• Fly a drone over a digital map of the Chesapeake Bay.
• Play in a digital sand box to create shorelines and model weather’s impact around the Bay with laser imaging.
• See an animation of the travels of oyster larvae as they move from the reef where they spawned to their new, permanent home reef.
• Match up a DNA sequence to microscopic creatures important to the food chain.
• Observe and learn about sturgeon whose ancestors date to the Jurassic period
• Build a healthy marsh and learn who are our best partners in this effort.
• Meet and talk to graduate students about their environmental career goals.
• At the children’s activity booth, create eco-friendly animals that live in our waters. Play games that teach fun facts about the Bay. Go on a scavenger hunt through the exhibits to learn how the Bay’s lasting health starts with each of us making a cleaner environment today.

Dive into Science & see the Bay the Horn Point way, learn about cutting edge research faculty and graduate students conduct in the Chesapeake Bay and across the world’s oceans.

FREE! Directions to the Horn Point Laboratory

2020 Horns Point Road, Cambridge, MD 21613.

Questions?  Contact Carin Starr 410-221-8408 or [email protected]

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SWMS Outreach Event for Young Women at Horn Point Laboratory

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Horn Point Lab SWMS co-chairs: Anna Windle, Hannah Morrissette, Lexy McCarty.

The Society for Women in Marine Science (SWMS) chapter at Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) invite young women in grades 6th-12th to join us for SWMS Saturday: Supporting Future Women Scientists. Participants will be exposed to STEM resources, role models, and inspiring activities. SWMS Saturday is a free 3 ½ hour event at Horn Point Laboratory (2020 Horns Point Rd, Cambridge, MD 21613) on Saturday, September 14 from 8:30-12pm. Girls will rotate through activities led by local researchers throughout the morning, with each activity representing a different STEM field. The event will be an opportunity to develop mentorships with female scientists and help prepare girls for futures in STEM.

STEM activities will include a mini bio blitz where participants will learn about biodiversity in our region and learn how to use a variety of tools and techniques to positively identify species. Participants will also conduct an oyster dissection to understand the internal components of an oyster and how they interrelate. Students will also learn how wind drives surface currents and how water moves throughout a system through a current modeling and ecosystem connectivity activity.

The SWMS Saturday event is a component of a larger SWMS symposium occurring on Friday, September 13th. This is the first Delmarva SWMS Symposium and is hosted by graduate students at the Horn Point Lab, University of Delaware, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Its purpose is to connect future leaders in the marine science field, to learn from established scientists via mentoring opportunities and panel discussions, and to disseminate research happening in the Delmarva region.

For more information and to register for the FREE SWMS Saturday outreach event on September 14th: https://science.umces.edu/swms-hpl/events/delmarva-symposium-2019/swms-saturday-supporting-future-women-scientists/

More information on the Delmarva SWMS symposium on September 13th can be found on the Horn Point Lab SWMS website: https://science.umces.edu/swms-hpl/events/delmarva-symposium-2019/

Questions can also be addressed to Anna Windle (443-907-0498 or [email protected])

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Celebrate Heroes of Conservation with the Horn Point Laboratory

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The Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) invites you to join their 7th annual Chesapeake Champion celebration.  The Hutchison Brothers are this year’s Chesapeake Champion.The event takes place Thursday, May 30 from 5 to 7 pm at the Waterfowl Building, 40 S. Harrison St., Easton.  Proceeds benefit the research of HPL graduate students and faculty.

Imbibe! Savor delicious hors d’oeuvres, sip a Chesapeake Champion cocktail with old friends and new acquaintances while you explore inspired demonstrations by HPL graduate students and celebrate the Hutchison Brothers.

“The Horn Point Laboratory is delighted to honor the Hutchison Brothers for their innovative agricultural practices benefiting water quality and soil health. They have been leaders in sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship while maintaining a successful business,” said Mike Roman, Horn Point Laboratory Director.

The Hutchison Brothers are true Champions of the Chesapeake.  They are farming advocates respected by farmers and environmentalists alike.  For four generations and 250 man years the Hutchison family has farmed their land. Today, the family’s farming operations are run by 3 of 5 brothers who farmed together, Bobby, Richard, and David, along with Bobby’s son, Travis, and Richard’s son, Kyle.  Their father, Earl, was a founding board member of Talbot County’s Soil Conservation District.  The family was inducted into the Governor’s Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2005.  Bobby is member emeriti of the Harry Hughes Agro-Ecology Center.

Hutchison Brothers family members working the farm today. Left to right; Kyle (Richard’s son), David, Richard, Bobby, and Travis (Bobby’s son).

Travis says, “Environmental stewardship has been the key to pass on the farm from generation to generation.  It is critical to success when a family wants the farm to continue.”  The Hutchison’s apply innovative conservation practices and the latest technology to their farming business.  Their outlook is, “to be a farmer you have to be an optimist – always plan for a good year, if you plan for a disaster you will get one.”Today the family farms about 3,400 acres in Talbot and Caroline counties.  They continue to explore new technologies and sustainable practices to leave the land better than they found it.

Past Chesapeake Champions include; Amy Haines the first recipient in 2013, followed by John E. (Chip) Akridge in 2014, C. Albert Pritchett in 2015, Alice and Jordan Lloyd in 2016, Jim Brighton in 2017, and Jerry Harris in 2018.

The Horn Point Laboratory (HPL) is an environmental research facility of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). The Lab is located on 880 acres on the banks of the Choptank River, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. UMCES is the only institution within the University System of Maryland focused entirely on advanced environmental research and graduate studies. Its research primarily focuses on the Chesapeake Bay and restoring coastal health.

Mark your calendar and join us Thursday, May 30th to honor the Hutchison Brothers, 2019 Chesapeake Champion, and celebrate their leadership for sustainable agriculture and it benefits for a healthier Bay.

Tickets are $50/ person.  Sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information, visit www.umces.edu/events/chesapeake-champion-2019 or contact Carin Starr at [email protected], 410-221-8408.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Climate of North American Cities Will Shift Hundreds of Miles in One Generation

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In one generation, the climate experienced in many North American cities is projected to change to that of locations hundreds of miles away—or to a new climate unlike any found in North America today. Maryland cities like Baltimore, Salisbury, Frederick and Waldorf are projected to feel more like Mississippi—hotter (by about 9 degrees ) and more humid—by the 21st century.

A new study and interactive web application from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science aim to help the public understand how climate change may impact the lives of a large portion of the population of the United States, including Marylanders.

“Under current high emissions the average urban dweller is going to have to drive more than 500 miles to the south to find a climate like that expected in their home city by 2080,” said study author Matt Fitzpatrick of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. “Not only is climate changing, but climates that don’t presently exist in North America will be prevalent in a lot of urban areas.”

Search the interactive climate map for your city at www.umces.edu/futureurbanclimates 

The study found that by the 2080s, the climate of North American urban areas will feel substantially different, and in many cases completely unlike contemporary climates found anywhere in the western hemisphere north of the equator. If emissions continue unabated throughout the 21st century, the climate of North American urban areas will become, on average, most like the contemporary climate of locations about 500 miles away and mainly to the south.

The climate of cities in the northeast will tend to feel more like the humid subtropical climates typical of parts of the Midwest or southeastern U.S. today—warmer and wetter in all seasons. For instance, Washington, D.C. will feel more like northern Mississippi. The climates of western cities are expected to become more like those of the desert Southwest or southern California—warmer in all seasons, with changes in the amount and seasonal distribution of precipitation. San Francisco’s climate will resemble that of Los Angeles.

“Within the lifetime of children living today, the climate of many regions is projected to change from the familiar to conditions unlike those experienced in the same place by their parents, grandparents, or perhaps any generation in millennia,” he said.

Climate-analog mapping is a statistical technique that matches the expected future climate at one location—your city of residence, for instance—with the current climate of another familiar location to provide a place-based understanding of climate change. Scientists analyzed 540 urban areas, mapping the similarity between that city’s future climate expected by the 2080s and contemporary climate in the western hemisphere north of the equator using 12 measures of climate, including minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation during the four seasons.

The study also mapped climate differences under two emission trajectories: unmitigated emissions, the scenario most in line with what might be expected given current policies and the speed of global action, and mitigated emissions, which assumes policies are put in place to limit emissions, such as the Paris Agreement.

“We can use this technique to translate a future forecast into something we can better conceptualize and link to our own experiences,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s my hope that people have that ‘wow’ moment, and it sinks in for the first time the scale of the changes we’re expecting in a single generation.”

The paper, “Contemporary climatic analogs for 540 North American urban areas in the late 21st century,” by Matt Fitzpatrick of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Robert Dunn of North Carolina State University, is published in Nature Communications on February 12.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science leads the way toward better management of Maryland’s natural resources and the protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. From a network of laboratories located across the state, UMCES scientists provide sound evidence and advice to help state and national leaders manage the environment, and prepare future scientists to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. www.umces.edu

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Horn Point Laboratory Offers Science Seminars for Local Residents

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The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers are the lifeblood of the Eastern Shore. While many easily recognize the natural beauty Bay country offers, the Horn Point Laboratory is offering “Science After Hours with Horn Point Laboratory,” to make the science of the Chesapeake Bay as accessible as its beauty.

“Science After Hours with Horn Point Laboratory” will be held on November 15 and December 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the St. Michaels Branch of the Talbot Co. Library, located at 106 Freemont Street, St. Michaels MD 21663.

Register on line:  https://www.umces.edu/science-after-hours-november, or contact Carin Starr, [email protected] or 410-221-8408.

Dr. Patricia Glibert (left) and Dr. Victoria Coles

Programs include:

Thursday, November 15:
Dr. Patricia Glibert; “Nutrient Pollution and Water Quality – global insight & local perspective ”
This talk will explore nutrient pollution and algal blooms – lessons from around the world, the recent Florida red tide and blooms in the Bay.

Monday, December 3:
Dr. Victoria Coles; “Changing Chesapeake: What’s in store for the Eastern Shore”

This interactive talk will go back in time over the past century using local weather stations to learn how our weather has been changing – and what models predict for the future.”

Free and open to the public the forty-five-minute talks will shed light into the mysteries of the Bay and highlight Horn Point Laboratory’s research working to improve the health of the Bay and coastal waters globally.  Questions and participation by the audience are encouraged.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The Horn Point Laboratory is part of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, the University System of Maryland’s environmental research institution. UMCES researchers are helping improve our scientific understanding of Maryland, the region and the world through five research centers – Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in Solomons, Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, Horn Point Laboratory in Cambridge, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology in Baltimore, and the Maryland Sea Grant College in College Park. www.umces.edu

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.