The Principal Investigator
Giuseppe Torri, assistant professor
I am interested in Atmospheric Physics. My research focuses primarily on precipitating convection, which I study using the combination of Large Eddy Simulations/Cloud Resolving Models and a Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model to obtain a process-level understanding of the fundamental dynamics, and also using observational data from satellites and stable water isotopes in precipitation. I apply these tools to research topics such as downdraft and cold pool dynamics, and also to the study of severe and extreme weather events and how these will respond to climate change. For more information about me, see my updated CV!
The Group
Mingyue Tang, graduate student
I am from Wuhan, the city with most rivers, lakes, and heavy rainfall in China. I came to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to continue studying Atmospheric Sciences as a graduate student. I find weather and climate fascinating and mysterious because, while they seem to be within reach of our understanding, they present us with many unsolved problems. I am interested in clouds and tropical convection, their fundamental dynamics, and their interactions with the large scale. In my free time, I love drawing and outdoor activities.
Matthew Miller, graduate student
My name is Matt Miller and I’m a graduate student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa studying atmospheric science. I grew up on the Jersey Shore and have lived through several major hurricanes, so I’d like to apply my background in applied physics to advance our modeling and predictive capabilities over severe weather. My goal is to help people live safely in our world’s changing climate. Outside of the classroom, I’m interested in LGBTQIA+ advocacy, running, and reading fantasy novels.
Audrey Nash, graduate student
Growing up in Asheville, NC, I spent much of my time enjoying the mountainous outdoors. I have a background in Atmospheric Sciences and GIS from the University of Maryland, with a concentration in tropical cyclones. Besides TCs I am interested in the cloudiness and precipitation rates around the Hawaiian Islands. I have been interested in weather since a very young age, even working on the morning weather announcements in my elementary school! As we prepare for the future, I believe it is important to be able to accurately predict extreme weather events to increase preparedness. Outside of the atmospheric science community, I enjoy landscape photography, volleyball, and hiking!
Leandro Alex Moreira Viscardi, visiting graduate student
Hi, my name is Leandro Viscardi and I’m a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. I’m currently seeking to understand the mechanisms
that lead to convective cloud development and precipitation in Amazonia through the synergy between observational datasets and cloud-resolving modeling. My goal is to improve our knowledge of tropical convection and contribute to the correct representation of the continuum of the convective process in weather, climate, and climate change models. Besides science, I’m also interested in justice, human history, and art. In my free time, I like to walk, run, hike, go to the beach and feel the sea breeze while enjoying the sunset.
Kyra Dwyer, undergraduate student
I am a current undergraduate student studying Global Environmental Science and Sustainability Science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. I lived in Chicago Illinois for 10 years before moving to Houston Texas and lived there until 2018 when I moved to Hawai’i to pursue my career in conservation and restoration. As I continued through college, I became interested in climate change and how it impacts severe weather within the Pacific. I have always been fascinated with the atmosphere, as a kid, I would watch shows that showcased severe weather and I was constantly looking at the clouds. In my free time, I love to be outside as much as I can, read and play video games!
Rebecca Körössy, undergraduate student
I’m originally from Sweden and moved to Hawaii 6 years ago to study biology. Now I’m finishing my degree in Global Environmental Science at UH Mānoa and my thesis and I’m looking forward to furthering my studies and research experience.
Dennis Trotter, undergraduate student
I am from Honolulu, Hawaii. Growing up here I have experienced some scares from tropical cyclones grazing the islands. This sparked my interest in atmospheric science and my initial goal of becoming a forecaster. As I started learning more about the atmosphere through my time in college, I also became interested in paleoclimatology and climate change effects on the Hawaiian Islands. I hope to either have a career in operational meteorology or continue research at UH. When I am not studying the atmosphere, I am watching/playing sports, playing video games, or keeping up with current events around the world.
Group Alumni/ae
Kayla White, undergraduate student (now at UT Austin)
I graduated in the Spring of 2021 as a Global Environmental Science (GES) student. I was Editor for Seawords, the Marine Option Program’s (MOP) Monthly newsletter and I graduated with a MOP certificate. I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and came to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa to study how climate change affects earth systems. I plan to further my research in graduate school and spread this research to the academic community. In my free time, I love to surf, hike, and scuba dive!
Here are a press release and a news article on Kayla’s dissertation!
Eleanore Law, undergraduate student
I am from Nashville, Tennessee and I graduated from the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at UH in Summer 2020. I hope to be able to work either forecasting for local media or the National Weather Service. In my free time, I can be found volunteering around the community, surfing, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors. My favorite weather phenomenon is rainbows!
Britt Seifert, undergraduate student
As a proud Texan, I spent most of my life growing up in Austin where lightning storms danced across the skies and captured my attention from a young age. In the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at UH, I was the secretary for the American Meteorological Society Aloha Chapter, an Earth Science Education and Outreach Ambassador, and contributed to the Open Educational Resource textbook for the ATMO 200: Atmospheric Processes and Phenomenon course at UH. I hope to start a career in my field where I can continue to learn and spread my knowledge to the community.
John Fast, undergraduate student
I grew up in Laguna Beach California surfing and selling trading cards, and have attended the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa since 2018. With climate change soaring to new heights, I found it impossible not to get involved in studying it. I felt I had a duty to study and obtain a better understanding of why the climate was changing. In the future, I hope to either continue researching for the UH or become a TV weatherman. In my free time on the island, I play Magic the Gathering, scuba dive, and surf!
Torri et al. 