Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics
Polvani’s research encompasses many aspects of atmospheric and climate dynamics, including the physical response of the climate system to increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide, the chemistry and dynamics of the stratosphere, Arctic and Antarctic climate change, and past and future climate impacts related to the Montreal Protocol. He is particularly interested in quantifying and distinguishing the effects of anthropogenic forcings from natural climate variability. He also retains an interest in geophysical fluid dynamics, and occasionally dabbles in planetary atmospheres.
- Affiliate Scientist, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 2004-present
- Alliance Visiting Professor, Ecole Polytechnique, Palaisaeau, France, 2015
- Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2000-present
- Professor of Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, 2000-present
- Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, 1995-2000
- Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics, Columbia University, 1990-1995
- Instructor in Applied Mathematics [non-tenure track], M.I.T., 1988-1990
- American Meteorological Society
- American Geophysical Union
- European Geosciences Union
- American Physical Society
- American Astronomical Society
- Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
- Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2019
- Fellow, American Meteorological Society, 2015
- Best Teacher of the Year, Dept of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Columbia University, 2012
- Great Teacher Award, Society of Columbia Graduates, Columbia University 2008
- Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award, Columbia SEAS Alumni Association 1997
- L.M. Polvani, M. Previdi, M.R England, G. Chiodo and K.L. Smith: Substantial twentieth-century Arctic warming caused by ozone-depleting substances, Nature Climate Change, 10, 130-133 (2020)
- A. Banerjee, J.C. Fyfe, L.M. Polvani, D.W Waugh and K.-L. Chang: A pause in Southern Hemisphere circulation trends due to the Montreal Protocol, Nature, 579, 544-548 (2020)
- M.R. England, L.M. Polvani, L. Sun and C. Deser: Tropical climate responses to projected Arctic and Antarctic sea ice loss, Nature Geoscience, 13, 275-281 (2020)
- R. Chemke, L.M. Polvani and L. Zanna: Human influence on North Atlantic surface temperature, Nature Communications, 11:1540 (2020)
- R. Chemke and L.M. Polvani: Linking midlatitudes eddy heat flux trends and polar amplification, npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, 3, 8 (2020)
For a complete list of Polvani's publications, visit his website.