Research Areas
Interests
Regional climate and hydrology, climate change impacts
Contact Information
591 McCone Hall
Office Hours
By appointment (arranged via email)
Biography
Norm Miller is focused on understanding hydroclimate processes and related impacts based on modeling and analysis of regional climate and hydrology and their impacts on water supply, demand and water quality, agriculture, and impacts to other sectors of society. This includes, coupled atmosphere- land surface-groundwater modeling from the site scale to continental scale; climate variability and change analyses; water and energy resources impacts, scaling theory; nonlinear coupling, feedbacks and sensitivities with climate systems; and high performance computing.
Currently, I primarily teach the basics of the climate system, how it is changing and the risk of impacts from climate and weather extremes. Climate risk analysis and catastrophe analysis is my current research emphasis. As the lower atmosphere continues warming, intense precipitation, stronger cyclones and more severe droughts are becoming more common resulting in catastrophic loss. This research incorporates meteorological observations and climate simulations to quantify intense precipitation, flooding, storm surge, tropical cyclones, and fire weather.
Education
1987, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison
Selected Publications
Van Schmidt, N.D., J.L Oviedo, T.V. Hruska, L. Huntsinger, T.J. Kovach, A.M. Kilpatrick, N.L. Miller, and S.R. Beissinger, 2021: Assessing impacts of social-ecological diversity on resilience in a wetland coupled human and natural system. Ecology and Society, 26(2):3, DOI: 10.5751/ES-12223-260203.
Van Schmidt, N.D., J.L Oviedo, T.V. Hruska, L. Huntsinger, T.J. Kovach, A.M. Kilpatrick, N.L. Miller, and S.R. Beissinger, 2019: Socio-ecological diversity promotes resilience of a wetlands coupled human and natural system. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
Van Schmidt, N.D., J.L Oviedo, T.V. Hruska, L. Huntsinger, T.J. Kovach, A.M. Kilpatrick, N.L. Miller, and S.R. Beissinger,2019: Integrating social and ecological data to model metapopulation dynamics in coupled human and natural systems. Ecology, 100(6), DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2711R.S.
Singh, J.T. Reager, N.L. Miller and J.S. Famiglietti, 2015: Toward hyper‐resolution land‐surface modeling: The effects of fine‐scale topography and soil texture on CLM4. 0 simulations over the Southwestern US. Water Resources Research 51 (4), 2648-2667
DiVittorio, A.V. and N.L. Miller, 2014: Reducing the impact of model scale on simulated, gridded switchgrass yields, Environmental Modelling and Software, 51, 70-83.
N.L. Miller, N.J. Schlegel and J.E. Gonzalez, 2013: Climate Change Impacts on Agricultural Water Resources, Evapotranspiration: Principles and Applications for Water Management, 523-544
Pierce, D.W., D.R. Cayan, T. Das, E.P. Mauer, N.L. Miller, Y. Bao, M. Kanamitsu, K. Yoshimura, M.A. Synder, L.C. Sloan, G. Franco, and M. Tyree, 2013: The key role of heavey precipitation events in climate model disagreements of future annual precipitation changes in California. J. Climate, DOI: 10.1175/JCL-D-12-00766.1, 5879-5896.
Mehta, V.K., O. Aslam, L.L. Dale, N.L. Miller, D.R. Purkey, 2013: Scenario-based water resources planning for utilities in the Lake Victoria region., Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2013.02.007(link is external), 10pp.
DiVittorio, A.V. and N.L. Miller, 2012: Evaluating a modified point-based method to downscale cell-based climate variable data to high-resolution grids. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, DOI 10.1007/s00704-012-0740-9. 25pp.
Pierce, D.W., T. Das, D.R. Cayan, E.P. Mauer, N.L. Miller, Y. Bao, M. Kanamitsu, K. Yoshimura, M.A. Synder, L.C. Sloan, G. Franco, M. Tyree, 2012: Probabilistic estimates of future changes in California temperature and precipitation using statitical and dynamical downscaling. Climatic Change, DOI 10.1007/s00382-012-1337-9, 18pp.
Smith, W.K., C.C. Cleveland, S.C. Reed, N.L. Miller, S.W. Running, 2012: Bioenergty potential of the United States constrained by satellite observations of existing productivity. Env. Sci. & Tech., 46, 3536-3544, DX.DOI.ORG/10.1021/es203935d
Tseng, Y-H, S-H Chien, J. Jin, and N.L. Miller, 2012: Modeling Air-Land-Sea Interactions using the Ingegrated Regional Model System in the Monterry Bay, California. Monthly Wea. Rev., 140, 1285- 1306, DOI:10.1175/MWR-D-10-05071.1
Wehner, M.F., L. Oliker, J. Shalf, D. Donofrio, L.A. Drummond, R. Heikes, S. Kamil, C. Konor, N.L. Miller, H. Miura, M. Mohiyuddin, D.A. Randall, W-S Yang, 2011: Hardware/software co-design of global cloud system resolving models. J. Adv. Earth Syst., Vol.3, Art. M10003, 22pp. DOI:10.1029/2011MS000073.
Plag, H-P and N.L. Miller, 2011: Third Annual UNESCO IGCP 565 Workshop on Developing the Global Geodetic Observing System into aMonitoring System for the Global Water Cycle; Reno, Nevada, Eos, 92,16,19.
Jin, J. and N.L. Miller, 2011: Improvement of snowpack simulations in a regional climate model. Hydrological Processes, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7975.
Hayhoe, K., M. Robson, J. Rogula, M. Auffhammer, N.L. Miller, J. VanDorn, D. Wuebbles. 2010.An integrated framework for quantifying and valuing climate change impacts on urban energy and infrastructure: A Chicago case study(link is external). Journal of Great Lakes Research. 36): 94-105.
Jin, J., N.L. Miller, and N.J. Schlegel, 2010: Sensitivity study of four land-surface schemes in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Advances in Meteorology, V2010, doi:10.1155/2010/167436. 11pp.
Di Vittorio, A.V, R.S. Anderson, J.D. White, N.L. Miller, S.W. Running, 2010: Development and optimization of an Agro-BGC ecosystem model for C4perennial grasses, Ecological Modelling, 221, 2038-2053.
Jin, J., S. Lu, S. Li, and N.L. Miller, 2010: Impact of land use change on the local climate over the Tibetan Plateau. Advances in Meteorology, doi:10.1155/2010/ 837480.
Miller, N.L., L.L. Dale, C.F. Brush, S.D. Vicuna, T.N. Kadir, E,C. Dogrul, and F.I. Chung, 2009: Drought resilience of the California Central Valley surface-groundwater-conveyance system. J. Amer. Water Res. Assoc., 45, 857-866.
Harmsen, E.W., N.L. Miller, N.J. Schlegel, and J.E. Gonzalez, 2009: Seasonal climate change impacts on evaporatranspiration, precipitation deficit, and crop yield in Puerto Rico. Agr. Water Management, 96, 1085-1095.
Gu, Chuahui, F. Maggi, W.J. Riley, G.M. Hornberger, T. Xu, C.M. Oldenburg, N. Spycher, N.L. Miller, R.T. Venterea, C. Steefel, 2009: Aqueous and gaseous nitrogen losses by fertilizer application, Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosicence. doi:10.1029/2008JG000788.
Lebassi, B., J. Gonzalez, D. Fabris, E. Mauer, N. L. Miller, C. Milesi, 2009: Observed 1970-2005 cooling of summer daytime temperatures in coastal California. Journal of Climate, DOI: 10.1175/2008JCLI2111.1.
Maggi, F., C. Gu, W. J. Riley, G. M. Hornberger, R. T. Venterea, T. Xu, N. Spycher, C. Steefel, N.L. Miller, and C. M Oldenburg, 2008: A mechanistic treatment of the dominant soil nitrogen cycling processes: Model development, testing, and application, J. Geophys. Res.,113, G02016, doi:10.1029/2007JG000578.
Pan, L., J. Jin, N.L. Miller, Y-S Wu, and G.S. Bodvarsson: Coupling TOUGH2 with CLM3: Developing a coupled land surface and subsurface model. LBNL-61018, Vadose Zone Journal, 7, 325-331, Feb. 2008.
Miller, N.L., K. Hayhoe, J. Jin, and M. Auffhamer, 2008: Climate, extreme heat, and energy demand. J. Applied Meteorology and Climatology, 47, 6, 1834-1844.
Kueppers, L.M., M.A. Synder, L.C. Sloan, D. Cayan, J. Jin, H. Kanamaru, M. Kanamitsu,: N.L. Miller, M. Tyree, H. Du, and B. Weare, 2008: Regional climate effects of irrigation and urbanization in the western United States: A model intercomparison. Global and Planetary Change 60: 250–264.
Jin, J. and N.L. Miller: 2007: An analysis of the impact of snow on daily weather variability in mountainous regions using MM5. J. Hydrometeorology. 245-258,doi: 10.1175/JHM565.1.
Sharif, H.O., W.T. Crow, N.L. Miller, and E.F. Wood, 2007: Mult-decadal high-resolution hydrologic modeling of the Arkansas/Red River Basin. J, Hydrometeorology, DOI: 10.1175/JHM622.1, Journal of Hydrometeorology, 8, 1111-1127.
Machavaram, M.V., D.O. Whittemore, M.E. Conrad, and N.L. Miller, 2006: Precipitation induced stream flow: An event based chemical and isotopic study of a small stream in the Great Plains region of the U.S.A. LBNL-60897. J. Hydrology, 330, 470 – 480.
Anderson, M., N.L. Miller, B. Heiland, J. King, B. Lek, S. Nemeth, T. Pranger, M. Roos, 2006: Climate change impacts on flood management, Chapter 6, Progress on incorporating climate change into management of California’s water resources. California Department of Water Resources Progress Report. Governor’s Climate Initiative Report.
Hidalgo H.G., L.D. Brekke, N.L. Miller, N.W.T. Quinn, J. Keyantash and J.A.Dracup. 2006. Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Change on the Water Allocation, Water Quality and Salmon Production in the San Joaquin River Basin. In Climate Change and Variability: Consequences and Responses, Editors Matthias Ruth, Kieran Donaghy, and Paul Kirshen. ISBN-13: 9871845425999.
Jin, J, N. L. Milller, S. Sorooshian, and X. Gao, 2006: Relationship between atmospheric circulation and snowpack in the western United States. Hydrological Processes, 20, DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6126.
Miller, N.L. and N.J. Schlegel, 2006: Climate change projected fire weather sensitivity: California Santa Ana wind occurrence. Geophys. Res. Letters, 33, L15711, doi:101029/2006GL25808.
Bereket, L., D. Fabris, J.E. Gonzalez, S. Chiappari, N.L. Miller, and R. Bornstein, 2005: Climatology temperature mapping for California urban heat islands. Bulletin Amer. Meteorological Soc., 86, 1542-1543.
Drechler, D., M. Kleeman, D. Cayan, K. Hayhoe, L. Kalkstein, N.L. Miller, S. Sheridan, and J. Jin, 2005: Public health impacts of climate change in California, CEC-500-2005-195-SF., 149pp.
Miller, N.L. and N.L. Schlegel, 2005: Climate change projected Santa Ana Weather Occurrence. California Governor’s Climate Initiative Report, CEC-500-2005-203-SF, 17pp.
Miller, N.L., J. Jin, and C-F Tsang, 2005: Local climate sensitivity of the Three Gorges Dam, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L16704, doi 10.1029/2005GL022821.
Maxwell, R.M. and N.L. Miller, 2005: Development of a coupled land surface and groundwater model for use in watershed management. J. Hydrometeorology, 6, 233 – 247.
Miller, N.L., T. Koike, E.F. Wood, R. Lawford, and E-A Herland, 2005: The International Water Cycle Workshop, Eos, 86, 47-48.
Miller, N.L., 2005: California Climate Change, Hydrologic Response, and Flood Forecasting. Chap. 10. In Urban Flood Management, Ed. A. Szollosi-Nagy and C. Zevenbergen, Cheriton House Pub., 131-144. ISBN 04 15359988
Brekke, L.D., N.W.T. Quinn, N.L. Miller, and J.A. Dracup, 2004: Climate Change Impacts Uncertainty for San Joaquin River Basin. J. Amer. Water Resources Assoc., 40, 149-164.
Hayhoe, K., N.L. Miller, L.L. Dale, S.H. Schneider, and Others, 2004: Emissions Pathways, Climate Change, and Impacts on California. Proc. National Academy of Science, 101, 12422-12427.
Kyriakidis, N.L. Miller, and J. Kim , 2004: A Spatial Time Series Framework for Modeling Daily Precipitation at Regional Scales, Journal of Hydrology. 297, 236-255.
Miller, N.L., A.W. King, M.A. Miller, E.P. Springer, M.L. Wesely and others. 2004: The Doe Water Cycle Pilot Study. Bull. Amer. Meteorological Soc. 2005, 86, 3, 359–374.
Quinn, N.W.T., L.D. Brekke, N.L. Miller, T. Hienzer, H. Hildalgo, and J.A. Dracup, 2004: Model integration for assessing future hydroclimate impacts on water resources, agricultural production, and environmental quality in the San Joaquin Basin, California.Environmental Modeling and Software, 19, 305-316.
Casadei, M., W.E. Dietrich, and N.L. Miller, 2003: Testing a model for predicting the timing of debris flow initiation in soil mantled landscape, Earth Surf. Processes. 28, 925-950.
Miller, N.L, K.E. Bashford, and E. Strem, 2003: Potential impacts of climate change on California hydrology. J. Amer. Water Resources Assoc., 39, 771-784.
Additional Publications at Google Scholar
Courses
GEOG 149A, Climates of the World
GEOG 149B, Climate Impacts and Risk Analysis