It is well known that climate is changing. One of the most well-understood aspects of such change for scientists is urbanization. However, the public may not be as aware of all of the ways cities can affect weather and climate. Cities modify temperature through urban heat islands, alter the natural water (floods, rainfall) and carbon cycles, and increase air pollution. Join Trees Atlanta for this exciting talk, which will discuss the simple to complex ways cities affect our climate and how trees can mitigate some of these changes.

Dr. J. Marshall Shepherd is a leading international expert in weather and climate and is the Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Geography and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia.  Dr. Shepherd was the 2013 President of American Meteorological Society (AMS), the nation’s largest and oldest professional/science society in the atmospheric and related sciences. Dr. Shepherd serves as Director of the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Atmospheric Sciences Program and Full Professor in the Department of Geography where he is Associate Department Head. He is also the host of The Weather Channel’s Award-Winning Sunday talk show Weather Geeks, a pioneering Sunday talk show on national television dedicated to science and a contributor to Forbes Magazine. In 2017, he was honored with the AMS Brooks Award, a high honor within the field of meteorology.  Dr. Shepherd is frequently sought as an expert on weather, climate, and remote sensing. He routinely appears on CBS Face The Nation, NOVA, The Today Show, CNN, Fox News, The Weather Channel and several others. 

His TedX Atlanta Talk on “Slaying Climate Zombies” is one of the most viewed climate lectures on YouTube. Dr. Shepherd received his B.S., M.S. and PhD in physical meteorology from Florida State University. He was the first African American to receive a PhD from the Florida State University Department of Meteorology. He is also the 2nd African American to preside over the American Meteorological Society. Dr. Shepherd is also a regular volunteer for Trees Atlanta.

Many thanks to the City of Atlanta for their support of this Speaker Series program.