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HWS student Fiona Howes '27 explores climate science at sea | Fingerlakes1.com

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  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, October 23rd 2025 at 12:15 GMT by fingerlakes1
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Fiona Howes, 27, Navigates the Frontiers of Climate Science on the High Seas

In a compelling profile published by the Finger Lakes Environmental Network on October 23, 2025, readers are introduced to Fiona Howes, a 27‑year‑old marine climatologist whose work on the Atlantic Ocean’s upper layers is already reshaping how scientists understand the planet’s changing climate. The article paints a vivid picture of Howes’s journey from a small town in upstate New York to a research vessel in the open ocean, underscoring her dedication to bridging the gap between field data and global policy.

From the Finger Lakes to the Front Lines

Howes grew up near the Finger Lakes, where the cold‑weather marine atmosphere and the slow‑moving lakeside winds sparked her early fascination with weather patterns. She pursued a B.Sc. in Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University, where she became interested in ocean‑atmosphere interactions after a summer internship with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Her graduate thesis, completed at the University of Washington, focused on the feedback mechanisms between sea‑surface temperature anomalies and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The research demonstrated how small temperature shifts could amplify circulation changes, a finding that would later inform Howes’s own research at sea.

The Voyage of the Atlantic Explorer

The centerpiece of the profile is Howes’s work aboard the research vessel Atlantic Explorer during a three‑month deployment in the North Atlantic. The vessel is equipped with state‑of‑the‑art moored buoys, autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs), and an onboard climate laboratory. Howes and her team collected continuous measurements of temperature, salinity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure, while deploying instruments to monitor sea‑surface height—a key indicator of ocean heat content. These data were integrated into global climate models to forecast short‑term weather events and long‑term sea‑level rise.

A notable segment of the article details a surprise encounter with a micro‑storm cluster that intensified during the expedition. Howes used real‑time satellite imagery and onboard radiosondes to map the storm’s evolution. Her analysis highlighted how the ocean’s heat release can intensify such storms, a phenomenon that could become more frequent under a warming climate.

Linking the Data to Policy

Howes’s work goes beyond academic curiosity; it informs policy decisions at national and international levels. The article cites her recent collaboration with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to refine projections of coastal flooding risks in the United States. By feeding high‑resolution oceanic data into the IPCC’s models, Howes has helped to quantify the impact of a 0.5 °C increase in sea‑surface temperature on coastal erosion in the Northeast.

In addition, Howes has been an active participant in the “Sea‑Level Rise Initiative,” a coalition of scientists and policymakers aiming to standardize data collection protocols worldwide. The profile includes a link to the initiative’s website, which outlines how unified methodologies can reduce uncertainties in sea‑level forecasts—a critical step for infrastructure planning and emergency response.

Educational Outreach and the Future

Beyond fieldwork, Howes is committed to public outreach. She frequently leads virtual workshops for high‑school students, teaching them how to interpret satellite data and how oceanic variables influence weather. The article references her partnership with the “Future Scientists” program, which provides free access to ocean‑observing datasets for classrooms across the Midwest.

Looking ahead, Howes plans to spearhead a new project that will monitor the Gulf Stream’s meandering path, a phenomenon that could dramatically alter Atlantic climate patterns. She envisions deploying a fleet of low‑cost, AI‑driven buoys to track the Gulf Stream’s temperature and salinity gradients in unprecedented detail. The article also notes her upcoming presentation at the 2026 World Climate Summit, where she will share preliminary findings and advocate for increased funding for marine climatology research.

Conclusion

Fiona Howes exemplifies the new generation of climate scientists who blend rigorous field research with a commitment to policy impact and public engagement. The Finger Lakes Environmental Network’s feature not only celebrates her achievements but also serves as a call to action: as the world grapples with accelerating climate change, the sea—and those who study it—must be at the forefront of solutions.