Physics professor to deliver on climate prediction
PROFESSOR of Applied Atmosphere Physics, at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies, Dr Anthony Chen, will deliver his inaugural lecture on Wednesday, May 29, at 5:30 pm in the New Chemistry Lecture Theatre, UWI, Mona.
The lecture entitled “Circular-like on a High, Towards a Clearer View of Climate and God’s Glory”, will discuss elements of applied research in the areas of renewable sources of energy, climate change, climate variability and applications of climate predictions.
Professor Chen was educated at Boston College, Harvard University in Maryland and the UWI, where he received his PhD in 1972. He was appointed lecturer at UWI in 1968, senior lecturer in 1977 and professor in 2001.
He is a fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society and was an Associate Member of the International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.
Although trained in upper atmospheric physics, Professor Chen has been working in the field of renewable sources of energy since 1978 and in climate studies since 1994. He is now engaged in studies of the dynamics of inter-annual climate variability in the Caribbean, climate predictions and socio-economic applications of climate predictions. He has received grants for research in these areas, the most recent being to study the link between climate and dengue fever, assessment of related impacts, and strategies for adaptation to climate change.
Climate prediction, as differentiated from weather or day-by-day prediction, is a relatively new science and it is anticipated to become as routine as weather prediction within a decade. It will be important in many sectors, including water management, agriculture, health and the insurance industry.