Fellow Profile Page

Zachary Espinosa

  • Program Year: 3
  • Academic Institution: University of Washington
  • Field of Study: Atmospheric and Climate Science
  • Academic Advisor: Cecilia Bitz
  • Practicum(s):
    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2023)
  • Degree(s):
    M.S. Applied and Engineering Physics, Stanford University, 2021; B.S. Computer Science, Stanford University, 2020
  • Personal URL: https://zacespinosa.github.io/

Summary of Research

Trends in surface air temperature are larger in the Arctic than any other region on Earth - a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. Unprecedented Arctic warming has coincided with a dramatic decrease in perennial sea ice extent. In my current research, I aim to understand trends in interannual variability of sea ice extent in a warming climate. Characterizing trends in Arctic variability is vital to evaluating forecasting systems, interpreting observations, and attributing future weather events to anthropogenic drivers. My research is conducted using a combination of global climate models, observations, and theory.

Publications

Espinosa, Zachary I., Edward Blanchard-Wrigglesworth, and Cecilia M. Bitz. "Understanding the drivers and predictability of record low Antarctic sea ice in austral winter 2023." Communications Earth & Environment 5.1 (2024): 723.

Espinosa, Zachary I., and Mark D. Zelinka. "The shortwave cloud‐SST feedback amplifies multi‐decadal Pacific sea surface temperature trends: Implications for observed cooling." Geophysical Research Letters 51.18 (2024): e2024GL111039.

BlanchardWrigglesworth, Edward, et al. "The largest ever recorded heatwave ”Characteristics and attribution of the Antarctic heatwave of March 2022." Geophysical Research Letters 50.17 (2023): e2023GL104910.

Espinosa, Z. I., Sheshadri, A., Cain, G. R., Gerber, E. P., & DallaSanta, K. J. (2022). Machine learning gravity wave parameterization generalizes to capture the QBO and response to increased CO2. Geophysical Research Letters, 49, e2022GL098174. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL098174

Awards

1) Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Scholar (09/2021 - Present)

2) Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP) Fellow (09/2021 - Present)

3) The GEM National Consortium Graduate Fellow (06/2021 - Present)