The Penn State Department of Geography will host Gregory Jenkins, professor of meteorology and atmospheric sciences at Penn State, for a Coffee Hour lecture titled "West Africa poised for late 21st century climate injustice: Modeling increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) and changes in Saharan mineral dust" at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 27, in 112 Walker Building on the University Park campus. The talk will also be accessible via Zoom.
The Sahara is the world's largest source of atmospheric dust, supplying nutrients to the ocean and the Amazon rainforest, while also contributing to air traffic disruptions and respiratory disease from West Africa to the Caribbean, according to Jenkins. In his talk, Jenkins will examine the future of Saharan mineral dust and its implications for climate, health and water resources across West Africa and discuss how uncertainty in Earth system models complicates projections of future dust emissions.
Drawing on regional climate modeling, Jenkins will present findings on seasonal changes in dust concentrations across West Africa near the end of the 21st century and will also highlight potential health impacts during the dry season and risks to water resources during the wet season, as changes in African Easterly Waves alter rainfall patterns.
Jenkins' research focuses on weather, climate change and air quality in West Africa, where he uses regional models to complement the region's sparse observational networks. He holds courtesy appointments in the African Studies program and the Department of Geography at Penn State and serves as director of the Alliance for Education, Engineering, Science and Education.
Jenkins is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society, a recipient of the Charles Anderson Award and featured on the HistoryMakers website. He was the first African American to earn a doctorate in meteorology and previously held administrative appointments at Howard University.
Jenkins' lecture is part of the spring 2026 Coffee Hour seminar series hosted by Penn State's Department of Geography. To learn more and access Zoom information, visit the Coffee Hour event webpage.
