The number of thunderstorms in Alaska may triple by later this century because of climate change, increasing the risks of widespread flash flooding, landslides, and lightning-induced wildfires.

Gretchen Mullendore has been selected to lead the Mesoscale & Microscale Meteorology Laboratory (MMM) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). Mullendore, who currently serves as a professor and chair of the atmospheric sciences department at the University of North Dakota (UND), will join NCAR January 18, 2021.

With wildfires becoming a growing threat, the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is supporting a major, university-led initiative to better forecast the destructive events.

CSU will collaborate with NCAR to create a high-resolution version of an Earth system model used by scientists around the world. The National Science Foundation will fund the nearly $5 million, five-year “EarthWorks”project.  

As hurricane season starts to peak, NCAR and UCAR scientists are closely watching the potential for strong winds, torrential rains, and widespread flooding.