Faculty
Dr. Jennifer Collins
Contact
Telephone (813) 974-4242
Office Location: NES 316
collinsjm@usf.edu
Education
| Ph.D. | University College London United Kingdom |
| B.Sc. | Lancaster University United Kingdom |
Courses Taught
Undergraduate:
- GEO 1930 Geography of Current Events
- GEO 2200 (3013) Introduction to Physical Geography
- GEO 2371 Introduction to Earth System Science
- MET 4002C Climatology
- MET 4012C Meteorology
Graduate:
- GEO 6255 Weather, Climate, & Society
Research Interests
Dr. Jennifer Collins is an Associate Professor of Geography in the Department of Geography, Environment, and Planning at the University of South Florida. Her research focuses on weather and climate. As a hurricane researcher, Dr. Collins is interested in the interaction between large scale climatic patterns such as the El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Madden – Julian Oscillation and seasonal patterns of tropical cyclone activity in multiple oceanic basins. She is currently studying the environmental factors influencing the interannual variation of hurricane numbers in the Northeast Pacific and she is examining relationships between hurricane numbers in the Atlantic versus those in part of the Northeast Pacific ocean basin. She is also investigating sea surface temperatures in the Pacific using a new sea surface temperature change parameter and relating this to Atlantic hurricane activity. This work is being extended to other ocean basins. As well as her work in the physical sciences she also works in the social sciences as she begins work on behavior relating to hurricane evacuation. In addition to her hurricane work, Dr. Collins works in other areas related to weather, climate and hazards. She works closely on projects with the National Weather Service involving tornados and fog. In addition, she collaborates with international researchers and works in the area of climate change. She is currently examining temperature changes in South America and Africa. Dr. Collins is the President of the West Central Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, Director of the Climate Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers and serves on the National Weather Association’s Specialized Operations Committee on Tropical Cyclones.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Collins, J.M., 2011: Temperature Variability over Africa. Journal of Climate, 24, 3649-3666.
- Collins, J.M. and D.R. Roache, 2011: The 2009 Hurricane Season in the Eastern North Pacific Basin: An Analysis of Environmental Conditions. Monthly Weather Review, 139 (6), 1673-1682.
- Collins, J.M. and D.R. Roache, 2010: The Inactive 2009 Hurricane Season in the North Atlantic Basin: An Analysis of Environmental Conditions. National Weather Digest, 34 (2), 117-128.
- Collins, J.M., 2010: Contrasting High North-East Pacific Tropical Cyclone Activity with Low North Atlantic Activity. Southeastern Geographer, 50 (1), 83-98.
- Collins, J.M., C.H. Paxton and A.N. Williams, 2009: Precursors to Southwest Florida Warm Season Tornado Development. National Weather Association’s Electronic Journal of Operational Meteorology, EJ12.
- Collins, J.M., R. Rodrigues Chaves and Valdo da Silva Marques, 2009: Temperature Variability in South America between 1948-2007. Journal of Climate, 22, 5854-5869.
- Collins, J.M., A.N. Williams, C. H. Paxton, R. J. Davis and N. M. Petro, 2009: Geographical, Meteorological, and Climatological Conditions Surrounding the 2008 Interstate-4 Disaster in Florida. Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, 32, 153-162.
- Collins, J.M., 2007: The Relationship of ENSO and Relative Humidity to Interannual Variations of Hurricane Frequency in the North-East Pacific Ocean. Papers of the Applied Geography Conferences, 30, 324-333.
- Collins, J.M. and I.M. Mason, 2000: Local Environmental Conditions Related to Seasonal Tropical Cyclone Activity in the NE Pacific basin. Geophysical Research Letters, 27 (23), 3881-3884.
Graduated Ph.D. Students
Ph.D. Geography and Environmental Science and Policy:
- JoAnn Sullivan, “Urban Heat Islands in Tampa, Florida.” Graduated Summer, 2010.
Graduate Advisees
Ph.D. Geography and Environmental Science and Policy:
- Charles Paxton, “Spatial diversity of populations within severe weather warning areas.”
- David Roache, “The Impact of ENSO Neutral Conditions on Global Tropical Cyclone Activity.”
M.A. Geography:
- Jaime Auletta, “Disaster Vulnerability of University Student Populations.”
M.S. Environmental Science, Policy and Geography (USF St. Petersburg):
- Cristina Mazza, “Meteorological Conditions and Resulting Rainfall Patterns and Hazards in Pinellas County, FL.”