Presented on October 25, 2023, by

Dr. Steven Businger
Professor of Atmospheric Sciences
School of Ocean and Earth Sciences
University of Hawaii at Manoa

ABSTRACT

This talk will present preliminary results regarding, i) the role of the large scale weather pattern – e.g., the role of the subtropical high and Hurricane Dora, ii) the mesoscale weather pattern – e.g., the role of the orography in the generation of hurricane force winds, iii) the climatology of downslope windstorms in Hawaii, and iv) the role of climate change in setting the stage for the firestorm. There will be time at the end for a discussion of what actions we might take in SOEST and UHM to support the State is preventing future firestorms.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Dr. Steven Businger is Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Hawaii. For the past 30 years Dr. Businger has been active in researching the evolution and structure of destructive atmospheric storms, resulting in fundamental contributions to our understanding of the formation of storm systems in cold air streams and in the tropics (e.g., kona lows and tropical cyclones). Dr. Businger has also made pioneering contributions to the development of GPS meteorology, long-range lightning detection, and autonomous constant-level balloons. To date he has over 100 peer-reviewed journal publications, published 2 academic textbooks, and seven book chapters. Dr. Businger was elected Fellow of the American Meteorological Society (AMS) in 2010. He is an AMS Certified Consulting Meteorologist, and in 2011 Professor Businger received the UH Mānoa Chancellor’s Citation for Meritorious Teaching.