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Richard Palmer

NE CASC Principal Investigator
NE CASC Founding University Director
Professor Emeritus
UMass Amherst

Research Interests

My goal is to determine the impacts of climate change on the hydrology of river systems and the ecological and human services that these systems provide.  Of primary importance is the impact of climate change on the timing and volume of seasonal and annual streamflows, as well as its likely impacts on the frequency and magnitude of floods and droughts.  Our research focuses on how to translate these changes in hydrology to impacts on water temperature, ecological system services, hydropower production, flood control, water supply, recreation, and navigation.

Expertise

  •  Water resources
  • Streamflow
  • Stream temperature
  • Stream health
  • Water supply systems
  • Decision analysis

Education

Ph.D.: Environmental Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, 1979
M.S.: Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 1973
B.S.: Civil Engineering, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, 1972

Experience

Professor and Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, March 2008 to present
Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 1990 to March 2008
Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 1985 to September 1990
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 1979 to September 1985

Publications

Slowing the Flow for Climate Resilience: Reducing Vulnerability to Extreme Flood and Drought EventsChanging River Flood Timing in the Northeastern and Upper Midwest United States: Weakening of Seasonality over Time?Hydrological extremes across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in a changing climate
2020 Annual ReportFinal Report: Reconnecting Floodplains and Restoring Green Space as a Management Strategy to Minimize Risk and Increase Resilience in the Context of Climate and Landscape ChangeResilient MA: Climate Change Clearinghouse for the CommonwealthThe Connecticut River Flow Restoration Study: A watershed-scale assessment of the potential for flow restoration through dam re-operationConnecticut River Flow Restoration Study STUDY OVERVIEWIncorporating Streamflow Forecasts with Aggregate Drought Indices for the Management of Water Supply2018 Annual ReportAssessing a Regression-Based Regionalization Approach to Ungauged Sites with Various Hydrologic Models in a Forested Catchment in the Northeastern United States2017 Annual ReportA hierarchical Bayesian model for regionalized seasonal forecasts: Application to low flows in the northeastern United StatesQuantifying uncertainty in future floods and drought conditions in the Northeastern United States using regionally downscaled climate projectionsRestoring Floodplains in the Connecticut River Basin: A Flood Management Strategy2016 Anual ReportThe Effects of Climate Change on Seasonal Snowpack and the Hydrology of the Northeastern and Upper Midwest, U.S.Quantifying relative uncertainties in the detection and attribution of human-induced climate change on winter streamflowRegional climate change projections of streamflow characteristics in the Northeast and Midwest U.S.Regional flood frequency analysis using spatial proximity and basin characteristics: Quantile regression vs. parameter regression techniqueUse of a nonstationary copula to predict future bivariate low flow frequency in the Connecticut river basinSpecialized Tools2015 Annual ReportEvaluating the Performance of Multiple Alternative Operating Rules under Climate Change: A Case Study of New York CityTrend and Variability in Observed Hydrological Extremes in the United States2014 Annual ReportManaging for Floodplains and Aquatic Species: A Framework for Multi- Objective Reservoir OperationsManaging for Floodplains and Aquatic Species: A Framework for Multiobjective Reservoir OperationsReservoir Management Optimization for Basin-Wide Ecological Restoration in the Connecticut RiverSeasonal Hydroclimatic Forecasts as Innovations and the Challenges of Adoption by Water ManagersSustainable Water Management Using Environmental Flows in the Connecticut River,\textquotedblrightValue of Forecasts in Reservoir Operations Management2013 Annual ReportBringing People, Data, and Models Together - Addressing Impacts of Climate Change on Stream TemperatureBringing People, Data, and Models Together - Addressing Impacts of Climate Change on Stream TemperatureIntegrating Climate Forecasts and Reforecast Products into Reservoir Operations ManagementModeling the Impact of Climate Change on Hydropower Operations in the Connecticut River BasinReservoir Management Optimization for Basin-Wide Ecological Restoration in the Connecticut RiverSubdaily Hydropower Optimization for Relicensing in the Connecticut River2012 Annual ReportDecision Support System for Optimizing Reservoir Operations Using Ensemble Streamflow PredictionsEvaluating Water Demands under Climate Change and Transitions in the Urban EnvironmentOptimal Drought Management Using Sampling Stochastic Dynamic Programming with a Hedging RuleClimate change impacts on water management in the Puget Sound region, Washington State, USAImpacts of Future Climate Conditions and Forecasted Population Growth on Water Supply Systems in the Puget Sound Region
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