Lily Hahn is a CIRES postdoctoral visiting fellow studying how interactions between ocean circulation and the atmosphere impact warming in the Arctic and across the world. She is also investigating the connections between atmospheric moisture, extreme heat, and human health. Lily is excited to work with CIRES Fellows Jen Kay and Kris Karnauskas in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences and to connect more broadly with the climate research community here in Boulder. 

What are you studying at CIRES?

I study how interactions between ocean circulation and the atmosphere change the rate of global and Arctic warming. I'm interested in the role of cloud feedbacks and the present-day ocean circulation for mediating future warming.

What’s the next big step in your research/job?

This year I started a new research direction that leverages atmospheric physics to constrain the health impacts of extreme heat. This work brings together research in atmospheric physics, human physiology, and epidemiology to understand how atmospheric moisture impacts the exceedance of human health thresholds.

Where did you grow up?

Originally from Maine and Florida, I lived in Seattle for my PhD and San Diego for a postdoc. Having accidentally covered four corners of the U.S., I’m looking forward to exploring Colorado as my new home base.

Coffee or tea?

Tea! Especially green tea and chai – I'm excited to try some afternoon teas in Boulder.