NOAA GFDL - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics LaboratoryGFDL - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

 

Keith W. Dixon

research meteorologist
Team Lead – Empirical Statistical Downscaling Team
Deputy Division Head of the GFDL Marine Ecosystems & Downscaling Division
Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
US Department of Commerce
Princeton, New Jersey USA

contact info:

email: Keith.Dixonatnoaa.gov

postal address:
Keith Dixon
NOAA / GFDL
201 Forrestal Road
Princeton, NJ 08540-6649
USA

[ Keith Dixon, NOAA/OAR/GFDL ]

 

climate research activities @ NOAA/OAR/GFDL

GFDL’s Empirical Statistical Downscaling (ESD) Research Team’s efforts:

GFDL ESD TEAM WEB PAGE describing our team’s efforts to systematically evaluate the performance characteristics of Empirical Statistical Downscaling methods.

SELECT JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS:

  • Lanzante JR, KW Dixon, MJ Nath, CE Whitlock, and D Adams-Smith (2018): Some Pitfalls in Statistical Downscaling of Future Climate. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. DOI: 0.1175/BAMS-D-17-0046.1.
  • Dixon KW, JR Lanzante, MJ Nath MJ, K. Hayhoe, A Stoner, A Radhakrishnan, V Balaji V, CF Gaitán (2016): Evaluating the stationarity assumption in statistically downscaled climate projections: is past performance an indicator of future results? Climatic Change. DOI:10.1007/s10584-016-1598-0

These two papers serve as foundational work and as case studies of how one can evaluate key aspects of bias correction and statistical downscaling method performance using a perfect model framework. The basic (and often overlooked) question being whether and to what extent bias correction and statistical downscaling skill degrades when applied to future scenarios. The eye-opening (to some) answer illustrated in these journal articles is, It can matter a lot, but also can vary geographically, seasonally, and with the magnitude of the change being projected. And the differences can be large enough to alter conclusions being drawn for adaptation planning purposes.

Some other publications…

  • Le Roy, B., K. W. Dixon, and D. Adams-Smith (2024): High-resolution urban climate simulations for heat and health applications in Philadelphia. Urban Climate, 57, 102114, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uclim.2024.102114.
  • Wootten, A. M., K. W. Dixon, D. J. Adams‐Smith, and R. A. McPherson, 2024: False springs and spring phenology: Propagating effects of downscaling technique and training data. Intl Journal of Climatology, joc.8438, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.8438.
  • Drenkard, EJ, C. Stock, AC Ross, KW Dixon and Coauthors (2021): Next-generation regional ocean projections for living marine resource management in a changing climate. ICES Journal of Marine Science, DOI: 10.1093/icesjms/fsab100.
  • Ross, AC, CA Stock, D Adams-Smith, KW Dixon, KL Findell, VS Saba, and B Vogt, (2021): Anthropogenic Influences on Extreme Annual Streamflow into Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna River. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 102(1), DOI:10.1175/BAMS-D-20-0129.1.
  • Wootten, AM, KW Dixon, DJ Adams‐Smith, and RA McPherson (2021): Statistically downscaled precipitation sensitivity to gridded observation data and downscaling technique. Int J Climatol, DOI: 10.1002/joc.6716.

 SOME PAST CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

  • 2024 European Meteorological Society Meeting (Sept 2024) Questions Arising While Co-producing Climate Projection Information Relevant to Philadelphia Public Health Extreme Heat Interests, Keith W Dixon, D Adams-Smith, B. Le Roy, and N. Zenes. [Abstract  & Supporting Materials]
  • 2024 American Meteorological Society Meeting (Jan 2024) For the Heat Index, It’s about Both the Heat and the Humidity … and about Choices in Calculation Methodologies, Keith W Dixon, D Adams-Nath, N. Zenes, and J Lanzante. [Abstract; Video @ ~46:00 of session]
  • 2023 American Meteorological Society Meeting (Jan 2023) On the Representation of the Urban Heat Island in Climate Data Products used in Heat and Health Studies, Keith W Dixon, B. Le Roy, D Adams-Nath, and JR Lanzante [Abstract]
  • 2020 American Meteorological Society Meeting (Jan 2020) Matching Statistically Downscaled Climate Projections to Northeastern U.S. Heat Application Sensitivities, Keith W Dixon, D Adams-Smith, and J Lanzante, E Mecray [Abstract  & Recorded Presentation]
  • 2019 European Meteorological Society Meeting (Sept 2019) Considering Climate Projection Uncertainties in the Science and Decision Realms, Keith Dixon and Ellen Mecray [Abstract]
  • 2018 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (Dec 2018) Revealing and Assessing Statistical Downscaling and Bias Correction Method Uncertainties, Keith W Dixon, D Adams-Nath, and JR Lanzante [Invited Abstract]
  • 2017 American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting (Dec 2017) Examining the Performance of Statistical Downscaling Methods: Toward Matching Applications to Data Products, Keith W Dixon, D Adams-Nath, and JR Lanzante. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.32046.00326 [Abstract & PDF of Poster]
  • 2017 American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting (Jan 2017) Exploring the Sensitivity of Projected Climate Indices to Statistical Downscaling Choices,  Keith W Dixon, MJ Nath, and J Lanzante [Abstract & Recorded Presentation]
  • 2016 American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting (Jan 2016) Comparing Statistical Downscaling Method Performance: Different Methods, Different Metrics, Different Time Periods, John Lanzante and Keith W Dixon [Abstract & Recorded Presentation]
  • 2015 Joint Assembly, Montreal, Canada (May 2015) Evaluating Statistical Downscaling Performance Under Changing Climatic Conditions, Keith W Dixon, JR Lanzante, CF Gaitan, K Hayhoe and AMK Stoner [Abstract]

select climate science outreach & communications activities
[2014 Forever Stamp]