Ballard data science Research
My climate research efforts have historically focused on polar regions. I have used remote sensing and in situ field observations to retrieve cloud occurrence and examine the surface energy budget in stable boundary layers. I have also used advanced modeling and machine learning techniques to simulate the energy and isotopic content of the near-surface snow. I have improved stable water isotope climate interpretation on different time scales. I also use the surface energy and mass budgets, local meteorology, and near-surface snow processes to further our understanding of how the stable water isotope record represents present day climate, either locally or regionally.
My geoengineering efforts are focused on finding equitable and sustainable interventions to human-induced climate change. These interventions must be sustainable, cost-effective, and include all stakeholders in their design. I favor surface-based solutions because they are typically easier to monitor for benefits, externalities, and any unintended consequences.
Key fields of interest: Surface energy budget, Stable boundary layer, Snow pack processes, Clouds, Polar meteorology, Stable water isotope, Paleoclimate, Geoengineering, Numerical modeling, Mountain meteorology, Avalanches, Education, Equity.
My geoengineering efforts are focused on finding equitable and sustainable interventions to human-induced climate change. These interventions must be sustainable, cost-effective, and include all stakeholders in their design. I favor surface-based solutions because they are typically easier to monitor for benefits, externalities, and any unintended consequences.
Key fields of interest: Surface energy budget, Stable boundary layer, Snow pack processes, Clouds, Polar meteorology, Stable water isotope, Paleoclimate, Geoengineering, Numerical modeling, Mountain meteorology, Avalanches, Education, Equity.
PUBLICATIONS
Town, M., Steen-Larsen, H. C., Wahl, S., Faber, A.-K., Behrens, M., Jones, T., and Sveinbjornsdottir, A., 2024: Post-depositional modification on seasonal-to-interannual timescales alters the deuterium excess signals in summer snow layers in Greenland, EGUsphere [preprint], https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2462.
Dietrich, L., Steen-Larsen, H. C., Wahl, S., Jones, T. R., Town, M. S., and Werner, M., 2023: Snow-atmosphere humidity exchange at the ice sheet surface alters annual mean climate signals in ice core records, Geophysical Research Letters, https://doi.org/accepted.
Rowe, P.M., V.P. Walden, R.E. Brandt, M.S. Town, S.R. Hudson, and S. Neshyba, 2021: Evaluation of Temperature-Dependent Complex Refractive Indices of Supercooled Liquid Water Using Downwelling Radiance and In-Situ Cloud Measurements at South Pole. J. Geophys. Res.: Atmospheres, 127, e2021JD035182. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD035182.
Town, M.S., 2018: Avalanche science and safety practices in a high school classroom. The Avalanche Review, 37.1, 14-17.
Warren, S.G., and M.S. Town, 2011: Antarctica. Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather. Oxford University Press, 63-71.
Genthon, C., M. S. Town, D. Six, V. Favier, S. Argentini, and A. Pellegrini (2010), Meteorological atmospheric boundary layer measurements and ECMWF analyses during summer at Dome C, Antarctica,J. Geophys. Res.,115, D05104,doi:10.1029/2009JD012741.
Froyland, H.K., N. Untersteiner, M.S. Town, and S.G. Warren, 2010: Evaporation and precipitation over Arctic sea ice in summer during the International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D15104, doi:10.1029/2009JD012769.
Town, M.S., Walden, V.P., 2009: Surface energy budget over the South Pole and turbulent heat fluxes as a function of an empirical bulk Richardson number. J. Geophys. Res., 114, D22107, doi:10.1029/2009JD011888.
Town, M.S., 2009: Training Scientists to Manage. Science, 326, 5956, DOI: 10.1126/science.326.5956.1062-a.
Town, M.S., S.G. Warren, V.P. Walden, and E.D. Waddington, 2008: Effect of atmospheric water vapor on modification of stable isotopes in near-surface snow on ice sheets. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D24303, doi:10.1029/2008JD009852.
Town, M.S., E.D. Waddington, V.P. Walden, and S.G. Warren, 2008: Temperatures, heating rates, and vapour pressures in the near-surface snow at the South Pole. J. Glaciology, 54, 487-498.
Town, M.S., V.P. Walden and S.G. Warren, 2007: Cloud cover over the South Pole from visual observations, satellite retrievals, and surface-based infrared radiation measurements. J. Climate, 20, 544-559.
Town, M.S., V.P. Walden, and S.G. Warren, 2005: Spectral and broadband longwave downwelling radiative fluxes, cloud radiative forcing and fractional cloud cover over the South Pole. J. Climate,18, 4235-4252.
Pippin, M., S. Bertman, T. Thornberry, M.S. Town, M. A. Carroll, and S. Sillman, 2001: Seasonal variations of PAN, PPN, and O3 at the upper Midwest PROPHET site. J. Geophys. Res., 106, D20, 24 451-24 463.
Cooper, O.R., J.L. Moody, T.D. Thornberry, M.S. Town, and M.A. Carroll, 2001: PROPHET 1998 meteorological overview and air-mass classification. J. Geophys. Res., 106, D20, 24 289-24 299.
Dietrich, L., Steen-Larsen, H. C., Wahl, S., Jones, T. R., Town, M. S., and Werner, M., 2023: Snow-atmosphere humidity exchange at the ice sheet surface alters annual mean climate signals in ice core records, Geophysical Research Letters, https://doi.org/accepted.
Rowe, P.M., V.P. Walden, R.E. Brandt, M.S. Town, S.R. Hudson, and S. Neshyba, 2021: Evaluation of Temperature-Dependent Complex Refractive Indices of Supercooled Liquid Water Using Downwelling Radiance and In-Situ Cloud Measurements at South Pole. J. Geophys. Res.: Atmospheres, 127, e2021JD035182. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JD035182.
Town, M.S., 2018: Avalanche science and safety practices in a high school classroom. The Avalanche Review, 37.1, 14-17.
Warren, S.G., and M.S. Town, 2011: Antarctica. Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather. Oxford University Press, 63-71.
Genthon, C., M. S. Town, D. Six, V. Favier, S. Argentini, and A. Pellegrini (2010), Meteorological atmospheric boundary layer measurements and ECMWF analyses during summer at Dome C, Antarctica,J. Geophys. Res.,115, D05104,doi:10.1029/2009JD012741.
Froyland, H.K., N. Untersteiner, M.S. Town, and S.G. Warren, 2010: Evaporation and precipitation over Arctic sea ice in summer during the International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958. J. Geophys. Res., 115, D15104, doi:10.1029/2009JD012769.
Town, M.S., Walden, V.P., 2009: Surface energy budget over the South Pole and turbulent heat fluxes as a function of an empirical bulk Richardson number. J. Geophys. Res., 114, D22107, doi:10.1029/2009JD011888.
Town, M.S., 2009: Training Scientists to Manage. Science, 326, 5956, DOI: 10.1126/science.326.5956.1062-a.
Town, M.S., S.G. Warren, V.P. Walden, and E.D. Waddington, 2008: Effect of atmospheric water vapor on modification of stable isotopes in near-surface snow on ice sheets. J. Geophys. Res., 113, D24303, doi:10.1029/2008JD009852.
Town, M.S., E.D. Waddington, V.P. Walden, and S.G. Warren, 2008: Temperatures, heating rates, and vapour pressures in the near-surface snow at the South Pole. J. Glaciology, 54, 487-498.
Town, M.S., V.P. Walden and S.G. Warren, 2007: Cloud cover over the South Pole from visual observations, satellite retrievals, and surface-based infrared radiation measurements. J. Climate, 20, 544-559.
Town, M.S., V.P. Walden, and S.G. Warren, 2005: Spectral and broadband longwave downwelling radiative fluxes, cloud radiative forcing and fractional cloud cover over the South Pole. J. Climate,18, 4235-4252.
Pippin, M., S. Bertman, T. Thornberry, M.S. Town, M. A. Carroll, and S. Sillman, 2001: Seasonal variations of PAN, PPN, and O3 at the upper Midwest PROPHET site. J. Geophys. Res., 106, D20, 24 451-24 463.
Cooper, O.R., J.L. Moody, T.D. Thornberry, M.S. Town, and M.A. Carroll, 2001: PROPHET 1998 meteorological overview and air-mass classification. J. Geophys. Res., 106, D20, 24 289-24 299.