Karissa Shannon

BS Major: Atmospheric Science 2021

I am a researcher studying extreme snowfall in Antarctica and its role in contributing to the Antarctic Ice Sheet. My work focuses on analyzing satellite data, particularly a new CloudSat-CALIPSO snowfall dataset, to measure snowfall rates across the continent. By investigating how much extreme snowfall events contribute to the total ice accumulation and the atmospheric conditions that drive these events, my research aims to provide a clearer understanding of their impact. This is crucial, as extreme snow is key to understanding the balance between accumulation and melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, which directly influences global sea level rise.