A. LeRoy Westerling

A. LeRoy Westerling is a Professor and Department Chair of Management of Complex Systems at the University of California, Merced, within the School of Engineering. He serves as Chair of the Merced Division of the Academic Senate and is affiliated with the Sierra Nevada Research Institute and Environmental Systems Graduate Group. His work bridges environmental science, climate research, and policy through his role as Principle Investigator for the California Applications Program and California Climate Change Center at Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Dr. Westerling earned his Ph.D. in Economics and International Affairs from the University of California, San Diego in 2000, and his B.A. in International Economics/Chinese Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1987. His academic journey includes positions as Assistant Project Scientist and Postgraduate Research Meteorologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography before joining UC Merced.

His research focuses on the complex interactions between climate, ecosystems, and wildfire, with particular expertise in statistical modeling for seasonal forecasts, paleofire reconstructions, and climate-change impact assessments. Westerling's work has significantly advanced our understanding of how climate change affects wildfire patterns across the western United States, with implications for forest management and conservation strategies. His research integrates climatology, ecology, and policy to address pressing environmental challenges in an era of rapid climate change.

Analysis of Westerling's recent publications reveals a strong focus on climate-fire interactions, particularly how warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns affect wildfire regimes. His work spans from fundamental research on fire ecology to applied studies supporting climate adaptation and forest management. A consistent theme across his research is the use of sophisticated statistical methods to understand complex environmental systems and project future changes under climate change scenarios.

Through his leadership roles and extensive publication record, Westerling has made significant contributions to climate science communication. His work has been featured in prominent media outlets including The Guardian, The Conversation, and NOAA Climate Watch, helping translate complex scientific findings for broader public understanding.

Dr. Westerling actively mentors graduate students and collaborates with researchers across disciplines. His work has been supported by various funding sources including the California Energy Commission, USDA Forest Service, and NOAA, reflecting the applied relevance of his research for environmental management and policy. He has developed models used in climate change assessments and wildfire risk management.

His laboratory and research team operate at the intersection of climate science, ecology, and policy, with a focus on the Sierra Nevada and western United States. The group employs a range of methods from statistical modeling to field-based ecological research to understand and address the challenges posed by climate change and wildfire in forest ecosystems.