Faculty

William Gutowski

Professor
Synoptic Meteorology, Global Climate Change

3021 Agronomy
Dept. of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
515-294-5632
Email: gutowski@iastate.edu

Education
BS, Yale, Astronomy and Physics, 1976
PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Meteorology, 1984

Research
Dr. Gutowski's research concentrates on the role of atmospheric dynamics in climate. Central focuses are the dynamics of the hydrologic cycle and regional climate. Because processes on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales are important for both of these, his research program entails a variety of modeling and data analysis approaches. His work includes regional modeling of African, Arctic and East Asian climates and has significant collaboration with scientists in these regions. Much of his work is through the Regional Climate Modeling Laboratory (PIRCS), which he coordinates with Dr. Eugene Takle and Dr. Ray Arritt (Agronomy Department).

Courses
Meteorology 452/552
Physics of Climate:  Exploration of the fundamental physical principles that govern climate systems of the earth and other planets.  Emphasis on coupled, nonlinear-system interactions of physical processes, starting with fairly simple 0- and 1-dimensional analytical and numerical models.  Virtual classroom environment for linking with students at other universities, in part through lab sessions on climate modeling.   Further sessions on the observed, seasonally evolving weather patterns that form climates, to complement theory development.

Meteorology 454
Dynamic Meteorology II: Planetary boundary layer, linear perturbation theory, atmospheric wave motions, baroclinic and convective instability, mesoscale circulations.

Meteorology 404/504
Global Change: Recent changes in global biogeochemical cycles and climate; models of future changes in the climate system; impacts of global change on agriculture, water resources and human health; ethical issues of global environmental change.
(Cross-listed with Agron, Env S, EnSci)

Active Research Grants
Gutowski, W. J., R. W. Arritt, E. S. Takle, 2005: Collaborative Research: The North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP): Using Multiple GCMs and RCMs to Simulate Future Climates and their Uncertainty.  National Science Foundation. [A multi-institutional, multi-agency grant; L. Mearns (NCAR), lead PI]

Maslowski, W., J. Cassano, W. Gutowski, D. Lettenmaier, 2007: Collaborative Research: Towards Advanced Understanding and Predictive Capability of Climate Change in the Arctic using a High-Resolution Regional Arctic Climate System Model, Department of Energy.
      
Gutowski, W.J., J.M. Prusa and P.K. Smolarkiewicz, 2008: Collaborative Research: Continuous Dynamic Grid Adaptation in a Global Atmospheric Model: Application and Refinement, Department of Energy.

Roads, J.O., H. Juang, J. McGinley, C. J. Anderson, R. Arritt, E. S. Takle, W. Gutowski and R. Leung, 2007:  Multi-RCM Ensemble Downscaling of NCEP CFS Seasonal Forecasts (MRED):  A Multi-Institution Collaborative Proposal, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Selected Refereed Publications
Schwartz, H. G., A. C. Clark, G. E. Dickey, G. C. Eads, R. E. Gallamore, G. Giuliano, W. J. Gutowski, R. H. Iwasaki, K. H. Jacob, T. R. Karl, R. J. Lempert, L. Paiewonsky, S. G. H. Philander, C. R. Zeppie, 2008: The Potential Impacts of Climate Change on U.S. Transportation, Transportation Research Board Special Report 290, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC, 218 pp.

CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Product 3-1, 2008:  Climate Models: An Assessment of Strengths and Limitations. [David Bader, Curtis Covey, William Gutowski, Isaac Held, National, Kenneth Kunkel, Ronald Miller, Robin Tokmakian, Minghua Zhang, Lead Authors].  Department of Energy, Washington, D.C., USA, 217 pp.

CCSP Synthesis and Assessment Product 3-3, 2008: Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate. Regions of Focus:  North America, Hawaii, Caribbean, and U.S. Pacific Islands. A Report by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research. [Thomas R. Karl, Gerald A. Meehl, Christopher D. Miller, Susan J. Hassol, Anne M. Waple, and William L. Murray (eds.)]. Department of Commerce, NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, Washington, D.C., USA, 164 pp.

Abiodun, B.J., J.M. Prusa and W.J. Gutowski, 2008: Implementation of a Non-hydrostatic, Adaptive-Grid Dynamics Core in CAM3.  Part I: Comparison of Dynamics Cores in Aqua-Planet Simulations.  Clim. Dynamics [DOI 10.1007/s00382-008-0381-y].

Abiodun, B.J., W.J. Gutowski and J.M. Prusa, 2008: Implementation of a Non-hydrostatic, Adaptive-Grid Dynamics Core in CAM3.  Part II: Dynamical Influences on ITCZ Behavior and Tropical Precipitation. Clim. Dynamics [DOI 10.1007/s00382-008-0382-x].

Boberg, F., P. Berg, P. Thejll, W. J. Gutowski, J. H. Christensen, 2008: Late 21st century changes in European PRUDENCE precipitation intensities. Clim. Dynamics [10.1007/s00382-008-0446-y].

Abiodun, B. J., J. Pal, E. A. Afiesimama, W. J. Gutowski and A. Adedoyin, 2007: Simulation of West Africa monsoon using the RegCM3.  Part II: Impact of deforestation and desertification.  Theor. Appl. Clim. [DOI: 10.1007/s00704-007-0333-1].

Gutowski, W. J., K. A. Kozak, R. W. Arritt, J. H. Christensen, J. Patton and E. S. Takle, 2007: A possible constraint on regional precipitation intensity changes under global warming. J. Hydrometeor.. 8, 1382-1396 [DOI: 10.1175/2007JHM817.1].

Gutowski, W. J., H. Wei, C. J. Vörösmarty and B. M. Fekete, 2007: Influence of Arctic Wetlands on Arctic Atmospheric Circulation. J. Climate, 20, 4243-4254 [DOI: 10.1175/JCLI4243.1].

Lee, D.-K., W. J. Gutowski, H.-S, Kang and C.-J. Kim, 2007: Intercomparison of precipitation simulated by regional climate models over East Asia in 1997 and 1998.  Adv. Atmos. Sci. 24, 539-554.

Person, M., P. Roy, H. Wright, W. J. Gutowski, Jr., E. Ito, T. Winter, D. Rosenberry and D. Cohen, 2007: Hydrologic Response of the Crow Wing Watershed, Minnesota to Mid-Holocene Climate Change.  GSA Bulletin, 119, 363-376 (doi:  10.1130/B26003.1).

Takle, E. S., J. Roads, B. Rockel, W. J. Gutowski, R. W. Arritt, I. Meinke, C. G.  Jones and A. Zadra, 2007: Transferability intercomparison:  An opportunity for new insight on the global water cycle and energy budget.  Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc. 88, 375-384 [DOI:10.1175/BAMS-88-3-375].
   Supplement:  pp. S1-S4 [DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-88-3-Takle].

White, D., L. Hinzman, L. Alessa, J. Cassano, M. Chambers, K. Falkner, J. Francis, W. J. Gutowski, M. Holland, M. Holmes, H, Huntington, D. Kane, A. Kliskey, C. Lee, J. McClelland, B. Peterson, S. Rupp, F. Straneo, M. Steele, R. Woodgate, D. Yang, K. Yoshikawa, T. Zhang, 2007:  The Arctic Freshwater System: Changes and Impacts. J. Geophys. Res. - Biogeosciences, 112, G04S54, doi:10.1029/2006JG000353.

Publications

Invited Presentations

Pictures from my family's stay in South Africa (July 2001 - January 2002) during my sabbatical at the University of Cape Town.