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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Ken Hubbard

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Ken Hubbard

Hi, I’m Ken Hubbard, Professor at the School of Natural Resources and Senior Scientist with the High Plains Regional Climate Center (HPRCC).

I’m primarily associated with two graduate specializations: Climate Impacts and Assessment and Bio-Atmospheric Interactions. I also teach undergraduate courses in climatology.

I’m currently working on research projects that deal with comparing quality assurance of historical and near-real time climate data; distributed computing for climate services; density and siting of stations for long-term climate monitoring; impacts of land use on climate; and monitoring/modeling of evapotranspiration and soil-water to detect drought status and to understand possible impacts of future climate forcing (e.g. CO2) on the heating of the earth’s surface.

The reason the climate forcing due to increased CO2 is so important is because it may warm earth’s atmosphere beyond the human comfort zone.  The next figures show both the amount that global temperature has increased and the amount that global CO2 has increased in the atmosphere. We need to further study the climate change issue to determine the magnitude of changes.  For example, how far will the existing climate zones shift?  How will this impact various sectors, and what can residents expect regionally and locally?

Kens Temp and CO2.tif

I’m also involved in outreach programs addressing climate services, climate monitoring and mapping. Every year, the HPRCC provides clientele from many sectors with data and data-based products critical to decisions, strategies, and operations.  Individuals need to know the risk associated with climate impacts and the probabilities associated with climate resources such as rainfall and growing season length. Society benefits from the climate related data and products.  For example, in irrigation decisions benefits include  conservation of ground water through the reduction of water use, achievement of high yields with optimization of the timing of water applications, increase in net profit through reduced pumping expenses, and reduction of field run-off, soil erosion, and root zone chemical leaching.

Ken Hubbard

Other examples of climate related data and products benefiting society include their use in settling insurance claims, choosing well suited crops and hybrids, and choosing construction design criterion for water movement and containment projects that reduce the risk of damage to existing structures and crops and that increase the safety of local residents.

HPRCC is involved with other regional climate centers and agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the formation of the National Climate Service, an organization analogous to the National Weather Service.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Key Publications

  • Hunt, E.D., K.G. Hubbard, D.A. Wilhite, T.J. Arkebauer, and A.L. Dutcher. 2008. The development and evaluation of a soil moisture index. Int. J. Climatol. Wiley InterScience. DOI: 10.1002/joc.1749.
  • Mahmood, R. and Hubbard, K. G. , Leeper, R., and Foster, S. A. 2008. Increase in near surface atmospheric moisture content due to land use changes: Evidence from the observed dew point temperature data. Monthly Weather Review. 136(4):1554-1561.
  • Sridhar, V., K.G. Hubbard, J. You, and E. Hunt. 2008. Development of a soil moisture index to quantify agricultural drought and its ‘user friendliness’ in severity-area-duration assessment. J. Hydrometeorology. 9(4):660-676.
  • Kunkel, K.E., M. Palecki, L. Ensor, K.G. Hubbard, D. Robinson, K. Redmond, and D. Easterling. 2008. Trends in 20th Century snowfall using a quality-controlled data set. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. DOI: 10.1175/2008JTECHA1138.
  • Lin, X. and K.G. Hubbard. 2007. What are maximum and minimum temperatures in climatology? J. Applied Climatol. DOI:10.1002/joc.1536.
  • Lin, X., R.A. Pielke, K.G. Hubbard, K.C. Crawford, M.A. Shafer, and T. Matsui. 2007. An examination of 1997-2007 surface layer temperature trends at two heights in Oklahoma. Geophysical Research Letters. 34(24):L24705. doi:10.1029/2007GL031652
  • Grant, R.F., T.J. Arkebauer, A. Dobermann, K.G. Hubbard, T.T. Schimelfenig, A.E. Suyker, S.B. Verma, and D.T. Walters. 2007. Net biome productivity of irrigated and rain fed maize-soybean rotations: Modeling vs. measurements. Agron. J. 99(6):1404-1423.
  • Mahmood, R., R. Pielke, Sr. and K.G. Hubbard. 2007. Effect of human activities on the atmosphere. Trans. American Geophysical Union. 88(52), DOI:10.1029/2007EO520007.
  • Pielke, R. A. Sr., C. Davey, D. Niyogi, K. G. Hubbard, X. Lin, M. Cai, H. Li, J. Neilsen-Gammon, K. P. Gallo, R. Hale, and J. Angel, 2007: Unresolved issues with the assessment of multidecadal global surface temperature trends. Journal of Geophysical Research. , 112, D24S08, doi: 10, 1029/2006JD08229.
  • Chen, Zhirong, S. Goddard, K.G. Hubbard, W. Sorensen and J. You. 2007. A serially complete U.S. climate data set of temperature and precipitation for decision support systems. J. Environmental Informatics. 8(2):86-89.
  • Kunkel, K.E., M. Palecki, K.G. Hubbard, D.Robinson, K. Redmond, D. Easterling. 2007. Trend identification in 20th Century U.S. snowfall: the challenges, J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. 24(1):64-73.
  • Mahmood. R. and Hubbard, K. G. 2007. Relationship between soil moisture of near surface and multiple depths of the root zone under heterogeneous land uses and varying hydro climatic conditions. Hydrological Processes 21(25):3449-3462.
  • Pielke, R. Sr., C. Davey, J. Angel, O. Bliss, R. Boyles, M. Cai, N. Doesken, S. Fall, K. Gallo, R. Hale, K.G. Hubbard, H. Li, X. Lin, J. Nielsen-Gammon, D. Niyogi, and S. Raman. 2007. Documentation of uncertainties and bias associated with surface temperature measurement sites for climate change assessment. Bull. Amer. Meteorol. Soc. 88(6):913-928.
  • Roy, S. S., R. Mahmood, D. Niyogi, M. Lei, S. A. Foster, K. G. Hubbard, E. Douglas, and R. Pielke, Sr. 2007. Impacts of the agricultural Green Revolution-induced land use changes on air temperatures in India, J. Geophys. Res., 112, D21108, doi:10.1029/2007JD008834.
  • Melvin, M.J., A.I. Zygielbaum, D. Gutzmer, S. Rentschler, J. Bower, K.G. Hubbard. 2007. Network requirements for sensor accuracy and precision: A case study to assess atmospheric variability in simple terrain. J. International Climatology. DOI: 10.1002/joc.1565.
  • You, J. K.G. Hubbard, and S. Goddard. 2007. Comparison of spatial estimators: A case study of spatial regression and inverse distance weighting. International J. Climatology. DOI: 10.1002/joc.1571 (14638)
  • You, J. K.G. Hubbard, S. Nadarajah, and K.E. Kunkel. 2007. Performance of quality assurance procedures on daily precipitation. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Tech. 24(5):821-834.
  • Hubbard, K.G., N.B. Guttman, J. You and Z. Chen. 2007. An improved QC process for temperature in the daily cooperative weather observations. J. Atmos. And Oceanic Tech. 24(2):206-213. (14540)
  • You, J. and K.G. Hubbard. 2007. Relationship of flagging frequency to confidence intervals in the statistical regression approach for automated quality control of Tmax and Tmin. International J. Climatology. 27(9):1257-1263. DOI: 10.1002/joc.1484
  • Sridhar, V., K.G. Hubbard, and D.A. Wedin. 2006. Assessment of soil moisture dynamics of the Nebraska Sandhills using Long-Term measurements and a hydrology model. J. Irrig. Drainage. 132(5),463-473.
  • Mahmood, R., S. Foster, T. Keeling, K.G. Hubbard, C. Carlson, and R. Leeper. 2006. Impacts of irrigation on 20th century temperature in the northern Great Plains. Global and Planetary Change. 54:1-18.
  • Mahmood R., Pielke Sr., R. A., Hubbard, K. G (Co-Editors). 2006. Land use/land cover change and its impacts on climate. Global and Planetary Change. 54(1-2):1-208.
  • Artikov I., S. J. Hoffman, G. D. Lynne, L. M. PytlikZillig, Q. Hu, A. J. Tomkins, K. G. Hubbard, M. J. Hayes,W. Waltman. 2006. Understanding the Influence of Climate Forecasts on Farmer Decisions as Planned Behavior. J. Appl. Meteorology and Climatology. Vol. 45, No. 9, pages 1202–1214.
  • Hu, Q., L. M. PytlikZillig, G. D. Lynne, A. J. Tomkins, W. J. Waltman, M. J. Hayes, K. G. Hubbard, I. Artikov, S. J. Hoffman, and D. A. Wilhite. 2006. Improving Farmers’ Forecast Use from Understanding Their Beliefs, Values, Social Norms, and Perceived Obstacles. J. Appl. Meteorology and Climatology. Vol. 45, No. 9, pages 1190–1201.
  • Hubbard, K.G. and X. Lin. 2006. Reexamination of instrument change effects in the U.S. Historical Climatology Network. Geophys. Research Letters. 33, L15710, doi:10.1029/2006GL027069.
  • You, J. and K.G. Hubbard. 2006. Quality control of weather data during extreme events. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. 23(2):184–197. (14923)
  • Kunkel, K.E., D.R. Easterling, K.G. Hubbard, K. Redmond, K. Andsagar, M. Kruk, and M. Spinar. 2005. Quality control of Pre-1948 Cooperative Observer Network data. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. 22(11): 1691-1705.
  • Hubbard, K.G. and H. Wu. 2005. Modification of a Crop-Specific Drought Index for Simulating Corn Yield in Wet Years. Agron. J. 97:1478-1484. (14674).
  • Hubbard, K.G. and J. You. 2005. Sensitivity analysis of quality assurance using spatial regression approach—a case study of maximum/minimum air temperature. J. Atmos. And Oceanic Technology. 22(10):1520-1530.(14767)
  • Verma, S.B., A.Dobermann, K.G. Cassman, D.T. Walters, J.M. Knops, T.J. Arkebauer, A.E. Suyker, G.G. Burba, B. Amos, H. Yang, D. Ginting, K.G. Hubbard, A.A. Gitelson, E.A. Walter-Shea. 2005. Annual carbon dioxide exchange in irrigated and rain fed maize-based agroecosystems. Agric. and Forest Meteorology. 131:77-96.
  • Hubbard, K.G., A.T. DeGaetano, K.E. Kunkel, and K.T. Redmond. 2005. Sources of uncertainty in the calculation of design weather conditions. ASHRAE Transactions. 111 (2) 317-326. (15047)
  • Hubbard, K.G., X.Lin, and C.B. Baker. 2005. On the USCRN temperature system. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. 22 (7): 1092–1097. Lin, X, K.G. Hubbard, and C.B. Baker. 2005. Surface air temperature records biased by snow-covered surface. International J. of Climatology. 25:1223-1236.
  • Mahmood, R. and Hubbard, K. G. 2005. Assessing bias in evapotranspiration and soil moisture estimates due to the use of modeled solar radiation and dew point temperature data. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 130: 71-84.
  • Wu, H., K.G. Hubbard, and J. You. 2005. Some concerns when using data from the Cooperative Weather Station Network: A Nebraska Case Study. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. 22(5):592-602. (14683)
  • Hubbard, K.G., S.Goddard, W.D. Sorensen, N. Wells, and T.T. Osugi. 2005. Performance of quality assurance procedures for an Applied Climate Information System. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. 22:105-112. (14282)
  • Hubbard, K.G., X. Lin, C.B. Baker, and B. Sun. 2004. Air temperature comparison between the MMTS and the USCRN temperature systems. J. Atmos and Oceanic Technology. 21:1590-1597.
  • Grant, R.H., S.E. Hollinger, K.G. Hubbard, G. Hoogenboom, and R.L. Vanderlip. 2004. Ability to predict solar radiation values from interpolated climate records for use in crop simulation models. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 127:67-75.
  • Shulski, M.D., E.A. Walter-Shea, K.G. Hubbard, G.Y. Yuen, and G.L. Horst. 2004. Penetration of photosynthetically active and ultraviolet radiation into alfalfa and tall fescue canopies. Agon. J. 96:1562-1571. (12734)
  • Kunkel, K.E., D.R. Easterling, K.G. Hubbard, and K. Redmond. 2004. Temporal variations in frost-free season in the United States: 1895-2000. Geophys. Research Letters. 31:1-4.
  • Suyker, A.E., S.B. Verma, G.G. Burba, T.J. Arkebauer, D.T. Walters, and K.G. Hubbard. 2004. Growing season carbon dioxide exchange in irrigated and rain fed maize. Ag. and Forest Meteorol. 124:1-13. (14200).
  • Hodges, L., M. N. Suratman, J. R. Brandle, and K. G. Hubbard. 2004. Growth and yield of snap beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as affected by wind protection and microclimate changes due to shelterbelts and planting date. HortScience 39(5):996-1004. (13169)
  • Lin, X. and K.G. Hubbard. 2004. Sensor and electronic biases/errors in air temperature measurements in common weather networks. J. Atmos. and Oceanic Technology. 21(7):1025:1032. (14228)
  • Wu, Hong, K.G. Hubbard, and D.A. Wilhite. 2004. An agricultural drought risk-assessment model for corn and soybeans. International J. Climatology. 24:723-741. (14115)
  • Lin, X. and K.G. Hubbard. 2004. Uncertainties of derived dew point temperature and relative humidity. J. Applied Meteorol. 43(5):821-825. (14227)
  • Mahmood, R., K.G. Hubbard, and C. Carlson. 2004. Modification of growing-season surface temperature records in the Northern Great Plains due to land-use transformation: verification of modeling results and implication for global climate change. International J. Climatology. 24:311-327. (14621)
  • Mahmood, R. and K.G. Hubbard. 2004. An analysis of long-term simulated soil moisture data for three land uses under contrasting hydro climatic conditions in the Northern Great Plains. J. Hydrometeorology. 5:160-179. (13534)
  • Janis, M.J., K.G. Hubbard, and K.T. Redmond. 2004. Station density strategy for monitoring long-term climatic changes in the continuous United States. J. Climate. 17:151-162.
  • Hubbard, K.G., A.T. DeGaetano and K.D. Robbins. 2004: SERVICES: A Modern Applied Climate Information System. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: 85(6): 811–812.
  • Adegoke, J.O. R.A. Pielke Sr., J. Eastman, R. Mahmood and K.G. Hubbard. 2003. Impact of irrigation on midsummer surface fluxes and temperature under dry synoptic conditions: A regional atmospheric model study of the U.S. High Plains. Monthly Weather Review. 131(3):556-564.
  • Hubbard, K.G., R. Mahmood, and C. Carlson. 2003. Estimating daily dew point temperature for the Northern Great Plains, USA. Journal of Applied Meteorology. 95(2):323-328.
  • Mahmood, R. and K.G. Hubbard. 2002. Effect of time of temperature observations and estimation on daily solar radiation for the Northern Great Plains, USA. Agronomy Journal. 94(4):723-733.
  • Wilhelmi, O., K. Hubbard, and D.A. Wilhite. 2002. Spatial Representation of Agroclimatology in a Study of Agricultural Drought. International Journal of Climatology. 2:1399-1414.
  • Wilhelmi, O.V., K.G. Hubbard, and D.A. Wilhite. 2002. Agroclimatolgical factors influencing vulnerability to agricultural drought: a Nebraska case study. International Journal of Climatology. 22:1399-1414.
  • Yuen, G.Y., C.C. Jochum, L.J. Geisler, M.D. Shulski, E.A. Walter-Shea, K.G. Hubbard & G.L. Horst. 2002. UV-B Biodosimetry in Turfgrass Canopies. Crop Science. 42:859-869.
  • Hubbard, K.G.. 2001. History of Weather Observations in the Western United States. Journal of the West. 40(3):26-30.

See More Publications

Contact Information
Title(s) Professor
Regional Research Climatologist
 
Affiliation (index) HPRCC 
Address 711 Hardin Hall
Lincoln NE
68583-0997 
Phone 402-472-8294 
Fax 402-472-2946 
Email khubbard1@unl.edu  
 
Educational Background
BS
 Chadron State College-Nebraska, 1971 - Math and Physics
MS
 South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 1973 - Meteorology
PhD
 Utah State University-Logan, 1981 - Soil Science and Biometeorology
 
Academic Information
Potential Advising for Graduate Program Master of Science with a Specialization in
  • Agricultural Meteorology
  • Climate Assessment & Impacts
  • Hydrologic Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy with a Specialization in
  • Agricultural Meteorology
  • Climate Assessment & Impacts
  • Hydrologic Sciences
Courses Taught in the Current Semester
Course Number Course Title Day Time Cross Listings
NRES 469  Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation  W  0300-0515 P  AGRO/GEOG 469, HORT 407, METR/MSYM 469 
NRES 469  Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation  TR  1100-1215 P  AGRO/GEOG 469, HORT 407, METR/MSYM 469 
NRES 869  Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab  W  0300-0515 P  AGRO/GEOG/METR/MSYM 869, HORT 807 
NRES 869  Bio-Atmospheric Instrumentation  TR  1100-1215 P  AGRO/GEOG/METR/MSYM 869, HORT 807 
NRES 898  Special Topics - Climate Analysis Techques  ARR  ARR  None 
NRES 899  Masters Thesis  ARR  ARR  None 
Additional Information
SNR Faculties Applied Climate Science, Geology & Soils, Applied Ecology  
Areas of Interest Weather Monitoring, Climate Modeling, Evapotranspiration, Weather Sensor Performance, Agricultureal meteorology and climatology 
Notable Website http://hprcc.unl.edu/ 

 

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