Dr. H! 

In July 2025, I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation in Geography at the University of Florida, completing a journey that brought together my interests in hydrology, climate science, and understanding how communities experience and respond to environmental change.

My dissertation focused on climate extremes and agricultural vulnerability in the Tempisque-Bebedero River Basin in northwestern Costa Rica. This research was particularly meaningful to me, as it allowed me to return to a region I know well and investigate climate-related challenges that directly affect water resources, agriculture, and local livelihoods.

About my research 

Understanding climate extremes and agricultural vulnerability in the Tempisque-Bebedero River Basin, Costa Rica

Climate change is making extreme weather events more challenging across Central America. In northwestern Costa Rica, where agriculture and livelihoods depend heavily on seasonal rainfall, both prolonged dry periods and intense rainfall can have significant consequences.

My dissertation explored how rainfall extremes and dry conditions vary across the Tempisque-Bebedero River Basin (TBRB), located within the Central American Dry Corridor. I was particularly interested in understanding how large-scale climate patterns, such as El Niño and La Niña, influence local rainfall conditions and how these climate dynamics relate to agricultural vulnerability.

The research was developed around three main questions:

1. How does El Niño influence dry conditions?

I examined how different phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influence dry spells, the number of dry days, and rainfall deficits during Costa Rica's rainy season. The results revealed important differences across the basin, with southern areas experiencing more dry days, particularly during warm and neutral ENSO phases.

2. What drives extreme rainfall in the basin?

I investigated the climate patterns associated with extreme precipitation, looking beyond local rainfall observations to understand the influence of larger atmospheric and oceanic processes. The Caribbean Low-Level Jet emerged as the dominant influence on the frequency of extreme rainfall, while ENSO and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation also played important roles.

These findings highlight why understanding large-scale climate patterns can improve how we evaluate extreme rainfall and account for changing climate conditions in flood planning and infrastructure design.

3. Which agricultural districts are most vulnerable to climate extremes?

Finally, I developed an agricultural vulnerability assessment using the IPCC framework, which considers three components: exposure to climate hazards, sensitivity to those hazards, and the capacity to adapt.

The results revealed considerable differences in vulnerability across the basin. Several districts in the southeast emerged as vulnerability hotspots due to a combination of greater climate exposure, extensive agricultural activity, and limited access to resources such as irrigation and crop insurance.

An important part of this work was translating the findings into a short, two-page summary in Spanish to help communicate the results with local stakeholders.

Why does this matter?

By combining climate and rainfall data with information about agricultural conditions and adaptive capacity, this research provides a more integrated picture of climate-related agricultural risk.

Beyond identifying where extreme conditions occur, understanding who is most vulnerable and why can help inform better planning, resource management, and resilience efforts in one of Costa Rica's most climate-sensitive regions.

Acknowledgements

No dissertation is completed alone, and this one certainly wasn't an exception.

I want to thank my advisors, Dr. Pete Waylen and Dr. Katy Serafin, for their invaluable guidance, time, and thoughtful input throughout this journey. To my committee, thank you for challenging my ideas, asking difficult questions, and bringing new perspectives to my research.

I am also grateful to the University of Florida Water Institute and its Graduate Fellow Program, the Department of Geography, and the CLAS Dissertation Fellowship for providing the support and opportunities that made this work possible.

To my friends and colleagues, especially Megan Black, thank you for checking in on me, keeping me grounded, and reminding me that there is life outside dissertation writing. To all the amazing and brilliant women who inspired me to keep going, Audrey, Trista, Leandra, Roberta, Savannah, Taisha, and Gaby, thank you for reminding me what strength looks like every day.

To my parents and my sister, thank you for making me the resilient woman I am today. You have always believed in me, and that made this journey a little easier.

To Mike and Valerie, thank you for welcoming me so warmly into your family and for all the love, encouragement, and wonderful dinner parties along the way.

And to my husband, Mike, thank you for making me breakfast while I worked, making me laugh when I was stressed, and giving me your unconditional love and support through every step of this journey. I love you.

Finally, to everyone who was part of this chapter, whether through a conversation, a piece of advice, a kind word, or simply being there: thank you. This accomplishment belongs to a community of people who helped make it possible.