Nick Pepin

Nick Pepin is an Associate Professor in Climate Science at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the School of Environment, Geography and Geosciences (SEGG) within the Faculty of Science & Health. He leads the Environmental Processes and Change Research Group and is actively involved in international collaborations, particularly with institutions in the U.S., China, and across Europe. His research is central to understanding climate change in mountainous regions, with fieldwork spanning the Tibetan Plateau, Kilimanjaro, the Pyrenees, and Arctic Lapland.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Geography, Durham University (1994)
• BSc in Geography (First Class), Durham University (1991)

His research focuses on elevation-dependent warming, mountain temperature trends, and land-atmosphere interactions in complex terrain. He investigates how climate change affects high-altitude regions using in situ observations, remote sensing (e.g., MODIS), and climate datasets. A key interest is the role of topography and land use in amplifying or modulating warming, especially on mountains like Kilimanjaro and the Tibetan Plateau.

The most recent articles reflect a strong trend in analyzing satellite-derived land surface temperatures versus in situ air temperatures, quantifying warming mechanisms over the Tibetan Plateau, and examining vegetation responses to climate on Kilimanjaro. His work increasingly integrates field data with modeling to understand diurnal processes, cold air drainage, and cryospheric retreat.

Scientific Awards:

• Fulbright Scholarship
• National Academies National Science Foundation Scholarship
• PIFI Scholarship (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Nick Pepin advises PhD students and has secured significant research funding from NERC, the Royal Society, Fulbright Commission, Newton Fund, and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. He leads multiple active projects including KILICLIM, PYRCLD, and FINTOP, focusing on climate monitoring in Tanzania, the Pyrenees, and Arctic Lapland. He also contributes to public understanding of climate change through media engagements and public lectures.

He is a senior member of the Environmental Processes and Change Research Group and collaborates with institutions such as the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research (China), University of Colorado, NOAA, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. His lab utilizes meteorological stations and data loggers for field monitoring across global mountain sites.