The New England Aquarium’s Lowell Lecture Series and the Lorenz Center of the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) present the annual John H. Carlson Lecture, featuring MIT Professor Post-Tenure Kerry A. Emanuel. 

A prominent meteorologist and climate scientist, Dr. Emanuel will focus on the climate and history of hurricanes, uncovering why the most benign of Earth’s climates produce the most destructive storms on our planet. In this talk, he will delve into the mysteries of why hurricanes are both violent and rare, how their beautifully coherent structures emerge from the background of tropical weather, and what physics govern their intensities, diameters, and tracks. He will also explore the fascinating and important question of how hurricanes respond to climate change, making use of observations, advanced models, theory, and newly emerging geological evidence of pre-historic hurricanes. Dr. Emanuel will conclude his talk with an enigma: Do hurricanes alter climate?

This free lecture is made possible by a generous gift from MIT alumnus John H. Carlson to the Lorenz Center and is presented in partnership with the New England Aquarium and the Lowell Institute.

All are invited to arrive early to explore exhibits by MIT students and climate scientists in the Simons Theatre lobby. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.