ETSU Receives $115k in Funding to Research Long-Term Extreme Weather

27th June 2024, Johnson City, Tennessee: The Eastern Tennessee State University (ETSU), home to Tennessee’s official climate office, is one of nine entities in the country awarded financial support for a pioneer research proposal in the realm of extreme weather.

Financial Aid Enhances Climate Understanding

ETSU, a recognized institution in climate studies, will receive nearly $115,000 in funding. This significant financial support will bolster the university’s research capabilities, enabling experts to delve into and interpret climate data for a more profound understanding of long-term extreme weather. The ultimate objective is to equip communities with knowledge and tools to effectively respond to environmental adversities caused by such extreme climatic events.

Fostering Community Resilience

Multiple organizations, including the esteemed National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, will collaborate with ETSU to build an academy laser-focused on community resilience. The academy will concentrate on waging wars against flooding and extreme temperatures – The primary adversaries of the community in the domain of climate change.

The academy will offer a structured program spanning four to six weeks and conducting one or two workshops each week. These workshops will engage community leaders and establish a dialogue with various partners, effectively stirring organizational synergy. By unifying efforts, the adaptability and resilience of communities against climate change can be bolstered.

A unique trait of these sessions would be the thematic segregation, each week dedicated to a particular kind of extreme weather. Dr. Andrew Joyner explained, “We might have a drought week, we might have a flood week, we might have a severe storms week. Through this, we can delve deeper into climate data to understand the historical trends, future forecasts, and the necessary preventive measures for each different type of extreme weather.”

The Scope of the Study

The research team’s focus will be dual-pronged – investigating both sinking and dry creeks. The experts aim to unravel the mystery behind these creeks’ recurrent flooding over the years. This in-depth examination is an essential step toward equipping the community with information and techniques to deal with similar situations in the future.

ETSU’s ground-breaking initiative is predicted to commence by the onset of the following year.

The Long Road To Mitigation

Extreme weather can no longer be recognized as an exceptional occurrence or an unfortunate incident. It has, unfortunately, morphed into the new norm due to climate change. Only through massive collaborative efforts and pertinent research can we hope to equip our communities with knowledge and tools to mitigate their impact. ETSU’s project is a remarkable stride in this indispensable journey.