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Carmen Blackwood

Research Scientist, GRACE Project Scientist

About

Education

Nov. 2005 – Jul. 2009: PhD (Dr. rer. nat) Physics. Department of Physics and Engineering, University of Bremen, Germany

Oct. 2000 - Nov. 2005: MSc Mathematics (’Diplom Mathematik’). Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Bremen, Germany.

Research Interests

Nature-based solutions, climate change mitigation, water cycle and ecosystems, Digital Twins, Earth System Science, regenerative agriculture

Experience

Professional Experience

2011 - Present: Research Scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory/ California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

2015 - Present: GRACE Mission Project Scientist at Jet Propulsion Laboratory/ California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

2018 - 2021: Deputy Manager – Earth Science Section at Jet Propulsion Laboratory/ California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

2015 - 2018: Group Supervisor – Sea Level and Ice at Jet Propulsion Laboratory/ California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

2009 –2011: Postdoctoral Scholar at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA

2005 – 2009: Research Assistant at Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany

Sep. 1997 - Aug. 2000: Mathematical Technical Assistant at STN Atlas Elektronik GmbH, Bremen, Germany (in collaboration with Astrium/Airbus)

Research Community Service

2023 – Present: Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) Science Panel

2022 – Present: Planning Committee - National Adaptation Forum

2020 – Present: Vice President – IAG Intercommission Committee on Geodesy for Climate Research (ICCC)

2020 – Present: Associate Editor – Journal of Geophysical Research (JGR)

2020 – Present: Earth Observations Committee (EOC) and Global Earth Observing System of Systems (GEOSS) Subcommittee

2008 – Present: American Geophysical Union

Achievements

Awards & Recognitions

  • JPL Team Award | Climate Adaptation | Contribution to the JPL CASI Report (2025)
  • JPL Team Award | Geospatial Technology for remote sensing science | Explore Societal Benefits with Esri (2022)
  • JPL Team Award | Earth Science Section Management | For examplary section leadership over the course of the pandemic; focusing on resilience, empathy, transparency, connectedness and balance (2021)
  • JPL Team Award | Technology Development | For success developing a technology path for Earth Science (2019)
  • NASA Award | Exceptional Public Achievement Medal (2018)
  • NASA Award | GRACE Mission | For exceptional achievement in extending GRACE quality science measurements and demonstrating the need for future gravity missions (2018)
  • People Leadership Award | Exceptional People Leadership (2017)
  • The Edward Stone Award for Outstanding Research Publication | The 2011 La Niña: So strong, the oceans fell (2014)
  • NASA Award | Early Career Achievement Medal | For outstanding interdisciplinary research utilizing multiple satellite datasets and coordinating research on sea level rise. (2014)
  • The Lew Allen Award for Excellence | For performing fundamental interdisciplinary research in climate science and coordinating research on sea level rise at JPL. (2013)
  • JPL Award | JPL Outstanding Postdoc Award (2010)

Publications

2024

Lopez, A., Lee, C., Hestir, E., Berberian, L., Blackwood, C., Gierach, M., Coastal resilience in the face of increasing wildfires: a land-sea perspective, 2024, natureportfolio (under review)

2023

Benjamin D. Hamlington, Anjali Tripathi, David R. Rounce, Matthew Weathers, Kyra H. Adams, Carmen Blackwood, Jamie Carter, ReneeC. Collini, Laura Engeman, Marjolijn Haasnoot, Robert E. Kopp, Satellite monitoring for coastal dynamic adaptation policy pathways, Science Direct, Climate Risk Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2023.100555

2022

Wiese, D. N., Bienstock, B., Blackwood, C., Chrone, J., Loomis, B. D., Sauber, J., et al. (2022). The mass change designated observable study: Overview and results. Earth and Space Science, 9, e2022EA002311. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EA002311

2021

Harvey, T.C., Hamlington, B.D., Frederikse, T. et al. Ocean mass, sterodynamic effects, and vertical land motion largely explain US coast relative sea level rise. Commun Earth Environ 2, 233 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00300-w

2019

Tapley, B. D., Watkins, M. M., Flechtner, F., Reigber, C., Bettadpur, S., Rodell, M., Sasgen, I., Famiglietti, J. S., Landerer, F. W., Chambers, D. P., Reager, J. T., Gardner, A. S., Save, H., Ivins, E. R., Swenson, S. C., Boening, C., Dahle, C., Wiese, D. N., Dobslaw, H., Tamisiea, M. E., & Velicogna, I. (2019). Contributions of GRACE to understanding climate change. Nature Climate Change, 9(5), 358–369. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558‐019‐0456‐2

2018

Schlegel, N.-J., Seroussi, H., Schodlok, M. P., Larour, E. Y., Boening, C., Limonadi, D., Watkins, M. M., Morlighem, M., and van den Broeke, M. R.: Exploration of Antarctic Ice Sheet 100-year contribution to sea level rise and associated model uncertainties using the ISSM framework, The Cryosphere, 12, 3511–3534, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3511-2018, 2018.

2016

Mazloff, M. R., and C. Boening (2016), Rapid variability of Antarctic Bottom Water transport into the Pacific Ocean inferred from GRACE, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 3822–3829, doi:10.1002/2016GL068474.

Hughes, C.W., J. Williams, A. Hibbert, C. Boening, J. Oram (2016), “A Rossby Whistle: A resonant basin mode observed in the Caribbean Sea”, Geophysical Research Letters, 43, 7036–7043, doi:10.1002/2016GL069573.

2015

Bentel, K., F. W. Landerer, and C. Boening. "Monitoring Atlantic overturning circulation variability with GRACE-type ocean bottom pressure observations–a sensitivity study." Ocean Sci. Discuss 12 (2015): 1765-1791.

Landerer, F. W., D. N. Wiese, K. Bentel, C. Boening, and M. M. Watkins (2015), North Atlantic meridional overturning circulation variations from GRACE ocean bottom pressure anomalies, Geophysical Research Letters, 42(19), 8114-8121, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2015gl065730.

Li, J. F., W. -L. .Lee, T. Lee, E. Fetzer, J. Yu, T. L. Kubar, and C. Boening (2015), The impacts of cloud snow radiative effects on Pacific Ocean surface heat fluxes, surface wind stress, and ocean temperatures in coupled GCM simulations. J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 120, 2242–2260. doi: 10.1002/2014JD022538.

Watkins, M. M., D. N. Wiese, D.-N. Yuan, C. Boening, and F. W. Landerer (2015), Improved methods for observing Earth's time variable mass distribution with GRACE using spherical cap mascons, J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 120, doi: 10.1002/2014JB011547.

2014

Boening, C. (2014) Oceanography: Detecting sea-level rise, Nature Climate Change, 4, 327–328, doi:10.1038/nclimate2205

2013

Fasullo, J. T., C. Boening, F. W. Landerer, and R. S. Nerem (2013), Australia's unique influence on global sea level in 2010–2011, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 4368–4373, doi:10.1002/grl.50834.

2012

Boening, C., M. Lebsock, F. Landerer, and G. Stephens (2012), Snowfall-driven mass change on the East Antarctic ice sheet, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L21501, doi:10.1029/2012GL053316.

Boening, C., J. K. Willis, F. W. Landerer, R. S. Nerem, and J. Fasullo, (2012) The 2011 La Niña: So Strong, the Oceans Fell, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L19602, doi:10.1029/2012GL053055

2011

Boening, C., T. Lee, and V. Zlotnicki (2011), A record-high ocean bottom pressure in the South Pacific observed by GRACE, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L04602, doi:10.1029/2010GL046013.

2010

Böning, C., Timmermann, R., Danilov, S., Schröter, J. (2010). On the representation of transport variability of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current in GRACE gravity solutions and numerical ocean model simulations, In Flechtner F, Gruber T, Güntner A, Mandea M, Rothacher M, Schöne T, Wickert J (eds) Satellite Geodesy and Earth System Science, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Part 2, 187-199, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-10228-8_15

Macrander, A., Böning, C., Boebel, O., Schröter, J. (2010). GRACE Validation by in-situ data of Ocean Bottom Pressure. In Flechtner F, Gruber T, Güntner A, Mandea M, Rothacher M, Schöne T, Wickert J (eds) Satellite Geodesy and Earth System Science, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Part 2, 169-185, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-10228-8_14

2009

Böning, C. (2009), Validation of ocean mass variability derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment - Studies utilizing in-situ observations and results from a Finite Element Sea ice - Ocean Model, Bremen, Univ., Diss., 2009,

http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:gbv:46-diss000115268

Timmermann, R., Danilov, S., Schröter, J., Böning, C., Sidorenko, D., Rollenhagen, K.(2009). Ocean circulation and sea ice distribution in a finite element global sea ice -- ocean model, Ocean Modelling, doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2008.10.009., doi:10.1016/j.ocemod.2008.10.009

2008

Böning, C., Timmermann, R., Macrander, A., Schröter, J.(2008). A pattern-filtering method for the determination of ocean bottom pressure anomalies from GRACE solutions, Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L18611, doi:10.1029/2008GL034974 .