Dean's Climate Lecture - Earth Day 2026

Dr. Leonard Ohenhen is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Geodesy in the Department of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine, where he directs the GeoHazards and Environmental Resilience Laboratory (GERLab). His research focuses on understanding how interactions among climate, natural systems, and human activities reshape the Earth's surface and influence environmental risk. He develops new approaches that integrate satellite remote sensing, geophysics, and machine learning to observe and model changes in the Earth system across local, regional, and global scales and to assess the spatial and temporal evolution of risk to human and natural systems. His interdisciplinary approach produces scientific evidence to support equitable climate adaptation, environmental resilience, and sustainable resource management.

Climate change is accelerating globally, intensifying environmental hazards and placing increasing pressure on human systems and natural ecosystems. During this century, rising temperatures are expected to increase the frequency and intensity of extreme heat waves, hurricanes, and droughts, while also reshaping global water resources and driving sea level rise. Among these well recognized impacts, one hazard remains consistently underappreciated: land subsidence, the gradual sinking of the ground beneath our feet. Although typically slow and difficult to observe, land subsidence can substantially amplify climate related risks. In coastal regions and major urban centers, sinking land accelerates relative sea level rise, increases flood exposure, and threatens critical infrastructure such as transportation networks, water systems, and energy facilities. As a result, communities may experience climate impacts far sooner and more severely than projected from climate change alone. In this presentation, I will explore how advances in radar satellite technology are transforming our ability to monitor and measure land subsidence across large regions with remarkable precision. Case studies from global coastal regions and major cities across the United States will demonstrate how this “little” hazard quietly intensifies climate risks and why accounting for it is essential for accurately assessing future hazards. This presentation aims to foster broader dialogue on the role of land subsidence in shaping climate vulnerability and to highlight the importance of integrating advanced Earth observation technologies into strategies for managing environmental risk in a changing climate.

This lecture is free and open to the public. Breakfast will be provided.

For questions, please contact [email protected].

Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Host or Publisher UCI School of Physical Sciences