Dr Karina Williams
Senior Lecturer
K.E.Williams@exeter.ac.uk
Overview
I work on the interactions between vegetation and the atmosphere in climate models. My recent work has been focused on the response of plants to changing water availability, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and temperature.
I joined Exeter Geography department in September 2019 on a 20% contract, as part of the Global Systems Institute. The rest of the time I work at the Met Office, where I am a Climate Adaptation Senior Scientist in the Earth Systems and Mitigation Science area. I joined the Met Office in 2011. Before that, I worked in Germany, on a three-year Helmholtz Allianz fellowship at the Theoretical Physics department of Bonn University. I received a PhD in Theoretical Physics from Durham University in 2008.
Broad research specialisms:
Land-surface fluxes, vegetation modelling, food resources, drought, water resources, climate change, carbon dynamics
Research
Research interests
I work on the JULES land-surface model, particularly impacts representation such as water stress crops and irrigation. I co-lead JULES process evaluation group on soil moisture stress on vegetation (with Dr Anna Harper) and I lead a working group on using results from Free-Air Carbon Enrichment experiments to evaluate and improve JULES. I am a coordinator of a GMD special issue on the JULES-crop parametrisation.
Previous projects include climate adaptation in the Nile Basin (contract from DHI) and the use of seasonal forecasts with process-based impacts models (focusing on crops) as part of the EUPORIAS EU FP7 project. Current projects include vegetation modelling of Brazilian ecosystems as part of the CSSP Brazil program.
Publications
Journal articles
Mueller C, Jaegermeyr J, Franke JA, Ruane AC, Balkovic J, Ciais P, Dury M, Falloon P, Folberth C, Hank T, et al (2024). Substantial Differences in Crop Yield Sensitivities Between Models Call for Functionality-Based Model Evaluation. EARTHS FUTURE, 12(3). Author URL.
Mathison C, Burke E, Hartley AJ, Kelley DI, Burton C, Robertson E, Gedney N, Williams K, Wiltshire A, Ellis RJ, et al (2023). Description and evaluation of the JULES-ES set-up for ISIMIP2b. Geoscientific Model Development, 16(14), 4249-4264. Abstract.
Tschumi E, Lienert S, Bastos A, Ciais P, Gregor K, Joos F, Knauer J, Papastefanou P, Rammig A, van der Wiel K, et al (2023). Large Variability in Simulated Response of Vegetation Composition and Carbon Dynamics to Variations in Drought‐Heat Occurrence. Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences, 128(4).
Kimball BA, Thorp KR, Boote KJ, Stockle C, Suyker AE, Evett SR, Brauer DK, Coyle GG, Copeland KS, Marek GW, et al (2023). Simulation of evapotranspiration and yield of maize: an Inter-comparison among 41 maize models. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 333 Abstract.
Prudente ACJ, Vianna MS, Williams K, Galdos MV, Marin FR (2022). Calibration and evaluation of JULES-crop for maize in Brazil. AGRONOMY JOURNAL, 114(3), 1680-1693. Author URL.
Vianna MS, Williams KW, Littleton EW, Cabral O, Cerri CEP, De Jong van Lier Q, Marthews TR, Hayman G, Zeri M, Cuadra SV, et al (2022). Improving the representation of sugarcane crop in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) model for climate impact assessment. GCB Bioenergy, 14(10), 1097-1116. Abstract.
Anderson LO, Burton C, dos Reis JBC, Pessôa ACM, Bett P, Carvalho NS, Junior CHLS, Williams K, Selaya G, Armenteras D, et al (2021). An alert system for Seasonal Fire probability forecast for South American Protected Areas. Climate Resilience and Sustainability, 1(1). Abstract.
Mueller C, Franke J, Jaegermeyr J, Ruane AC, Elliott J, Moyer E, Heinke J, Falloon PD, Folberth C, Francois L, et al (2021). Exploring uncertainties in global crop yield projections in a large ensemble of crop models and CMIP5 and CMIP6 climate scenarios. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS, 16(3). Author URL.
Mathison C, Challinor AJ, Deva C, Falloon P, Garrigues S, Moulin S, Williams K, Wiltshire A (2021). Implementation of sequential cropping into. JULESvn5.2 land-surface model. Geoscientific Model Development, 14(1), 437-471. Abstract.
Zeri M, Williams K, Cunha APMA, Cunha‐Zeri G, Vianna MS, Blyth EM, Marthews TR, Hayman GD, Costa JM, Marengo JA, et al (2021). Importance of including soil moisture in drought monitoring over the Brazilian semiarid region: an evaluation using the JULES model, in situ observations, and remote sensing. Climate Resilience and Sustainability, 1(1).
Harper AB, Williams KE, McGuire PC, Duran Rojas MC, Hemming D, Verhoef A, Huntingford C, Rowland L, Marthews T, Breder Eller C, et al (2021). Improvement of modeling plant responses to low soil moisture in JULESvn4.9 and evaluation against flux tower measurements. Geoscientific Model Development, 14(6), 3269-3294. Abstract.
Zeri M, Williams K, Blyth E, Cunha AP, Marthews T, Hayman G, Galdos M (2020). Assessment of the JULES model surface soil moisture using in-situ observations over the Brazilian North East semiarid region. Abstract.
Leung F, Williams K, Sitch S, Tai APK, Wiltshire A, Gornall J, Ainsworth EA, Arkebauer T, Scoby D (2020). Calibrating soybean parameters in JULES 5.0 from the US-Ne2/3 FLUXNET sites and the SoyFACE-O<sub>3</sub> experiment. Geoscientific Model Development, 13(12), 6201-6213. Abstract.
Leung F, Williams K, Sitch S, Tai APK, Wiltshire A, Gornall J, Ainsworth EA, Arkebauer T, Scoby D (2020). Calibrating soybean parameters in JULES5.0 from the US-Ne2/3 FLUXNET sites and the SoyFACE-O<sub>3</sub> experiment. Abstract.
Harper AB, Williams KE, McGuire PC, Duran Rojas MC, Hemming D, Verhoef A, Huntingford C, Rowland L, Marthews T, Breder Eller C, et al (2020). Improvement of modelling plant. responses. to. low soil. moisture. in JULESvn4.9 and evaluation against flux tower measurements. Abstract.
Paschalis A, Fatichi S, Zscheischler J, Ciais P, Bahn M, Boysen L, Chang J, De Kauwe M, Estiarte M, Goll D, et al (2020). Rainfall manipulation experiments as simulated by terrestrial biosphere models: Where do we stand?. Glob Chang Biol, 26(6), 3336-3355. Abstract. Author URL.
Bett PE, Williams KE, Burton C, Scaife AA, Wiltshire AJ, Gilham R (2020). Skillful seasonal prediction of key carbon cycle components: NPP and fire risk. Environmental Research Communications, 2(5), 055002-055002. Abstract.
Eller CB, Rowland L, Mencuccini M, Rosas T, Williams K, Harper A, Medlyn BE, Wagner Y, Klein T, Teodoro GS, et al (2020). Stomatal optimization based on xylem hydraulics (SOX) improves land surface model simulation of vegetation responses to climate. New Phytol, 226(6), 1622-1637. Abstract. Author URL.
Leung F, Williams K, Sitch S, Tai APK, Wiltshire A, Gornall J, Ainsworth EA, Arkebauer T, Scoby D (2020). Supplementary material to "Calibrating soybean parameters in JULES5.0 from the US-Ne2/3 FLUXNET sites and the SoyFACE-O<sub>3</sub> experiment".
Franke JA, Muller C, Elliott J, Ruane AC, Jagermeyr J, Snyder A, Dury M, Falloon PD, Folberth C, Francois L, et al (2020). The GGCMI Phase 2 emulators: global gridded crop model responses to changes in CO<sub>2</sub>, temperature, water, and nitrogen (version 1.0). GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 13(9), 3995-4018. Author URL.
Franke JA, Mueller C, Elliott J, Ruane AC, Jagermeyr J, Balkovic J, Ciais P, Dury M, Falloon PD, Folberth C, et al (2020). The GGCMI Phase 2 experiment: global gridded crop model simulations under uniform changes in CO<sub>2</sub>, temperature, water, and nitrogen levels (protocol version 1.0). GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 13(5), 2315-2336. Author URL.
Franke J, Müller C, Elliott J, Ruane AC, Jägermeyr J, Snyder A, Dury M, Falloon P, Folberth C, François L, et al (2020). The GGCMI phase II emulators: global gridded crop model responses to changes in CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, temperature, water, and nitrogen (version 1.0). Abstract.
Pinnington E, Quaife T, Lawless A, Williams K, Arkebauer T, Scoby D (2020). The Land Variational Ensemble Data Assimilation Framework: LAVENDAR v1.0.0. Geoscientific Model Development, 13(1), 55-69. Abstract.
Jones S, Rowland L, Cox P, Hemming D, Wiltshire A, Williams K, Parazoo NC, Liu J, da Costa ACL, Meir P, et al (2020). The impact of a simple representation of non-structural carbohydrates on the simulated response of tropical forests to drought. Biogeosciences, 17(13), 3589-3612. Abstract.
Mathison C, Challinor AJ, Deva C, Falloon P, Garrigues S, Moulin S, Williams K, Wiltshire A (2019). Developing a sequential cropping capability in the JULESvn5.2 land–surface model. Abstract.
Williams KE, Harper AB, Huntingford C, Mercado LM, Mathison CT, Falloon PD, Cox PM, Kim J (2019). How can the First ISLSCP Field Experiment contribute to present-day efforts to evaluate water stress in JULESv5.0?. Geoscientific Model Development, 12(7), 3207-3240. Abstract.
Kimball BA, Boote KJ, Hatfield JL, Ahuja LR, Stockle C, Archontoulis S, Baron C, Basso B, Bertuzzi P, Constantin J, et al (2019). Simulation of maize evapotranspiration: an inter-comparison among 29 maize models. AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY, 271, 264-284. Author URL.
Bett P, Williams K, Burton C, Scaife A, Wiltshire A, Gilham R (2019). Skillful seasonal prediction of key carbon cycle components: NPP and fire risk.
Franke J, Müller C, Elliott J, Ruane AC, Jagermeyr J, Balkovic J, Ciais P, Dury M, Falloon P, Folberth C, et al (2019). The GGCMI Phase II experiment: global gridded crop model
simulations under uniform changes in CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, temperature, water, and
nitrogen levels (protocol version 1.0). Abstract.
Pinnington E, Quaife T, Lawless A, Williams K, Arkebauer T, Scoby D (2019). The Land Variational Ensemble Data Assimilation fRamework: LaVEnDAR. Abstract.
Harper AB, Wiltshire AJ, Cox PM, Friedlingstein P, Jones CD, Mercado LM, Sitch S, Williams K, Duran-Rojas C (2018). Vegetation distribution and terrestrial carbon cycle in a carbon cycle configuration of JULES4.6 with new plant functional types. Geoscientific Model Development, 11(7), 2857-2873. Abstract.
Burton C, Betts RA, Jones CD, Williams K (2018). Will fire danger be reduced by using Solar Radiation Management to limit global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2.0°C. Geophysical Research Letters
Williams K, Gornall J, Harper A, Wiltshire A, Hemming D, Quaife T, Arkebauer T, Scoby D (2017). Evaluation of JULES-crop performance against site observations of irrigated maize from Mead, Nebraska. Geoscientific Model Development, 10(3), 1291-1320. Abstract.
Buontempo C, Mathison C, Jones R, Williams K, Wang C, McSweeney C (2015). An ensemble climate projection for Africa. CLIMATE DYNAMICS, 44(7-8), 2097-2118. Author URL.
Osborne T, Gornall J, Hooker J, Williams K, Wiltshire A, Betts R, Wheeler T (2015). JULES-crop: a parametrisation of crops in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator. Geoscientific Model Development, 8(4), 1139-1155. Abstract.
Williams K, Chamberlain J, Buontempo C, Bain C (2015). Regional climate model performance in the Lake Victoria basin. CLIMATE DYNAMICS, 44(5-6), 1699-1713. Author URL.
Williams KE, Falloon PD (2015). Sources of interannual yield variability in JULES-crop and implications for forcing with seasonal weather forecasts. Abstract.
Williams KE, Falloon PD (2015). Sources of interannual yield variability in JULES-crop and implications for forcing with seasonal weather forecasts. GEOSCIENTIFIC MODEL DEVELOPMENT, 8(12), 3987-3997. Author URL.
Bechtle P, Brein O, Heinemeyer S, Stal O, Stefaniak T, Weiglein G, Williams KE (2014). HiggsBounds-4: improved tests of extended Higgs sectors against exclusion bounds from LEP, the Tevatron and the LHC. EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C, 74(3).
Osborne T, Gornall J, Hooker J, Williams K, Wiltshire A, Betts R, Wheeler T (2014). JULES-crop: a parametrisation of crops in the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator. Abstract.
Falloon P, Fereday D, Stringer N, Williams K, Gornall J, Wallace E, Eade R, Brookshaw A, Camp J, Betts R, et al (2013). Assessing Skill for Impacts in Seasonal to Decadal Climate Forecasts. Journal of Geology & Geosciences, 02(03).
Gonzalez P, Palmer S, Wiebusch M, Williams K (2013). Heavy MSSM Higgs production at the LHC and decays to WW, ZZ at higher orders. EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C, 73(3).
Bechtle P, Brein O, Heinemeyer S, Weiglein G, Williams KE (2011). HiggsBounds 2.0.0: Confronting neutral and charged Higgs sector predictions with exclusion bounds from LEP and the Tevatron. COMPUTER PHYSICS COMMUNICATIONS, 182(12), 2605-2631.
Bechtle P, Brein O, Heinemeyer S, Weiglein G, Williams KE (2011). HiggsBounds: Confronting arbitrary Higgs sectors with exclusion bounds from LEP and the Tevatron. COMPUTER PHYSICS COMMUNICATIONS, 181(1), 138-167.
Williams KE, Rzehak H, Weiglein G (2011). Higher-order corrections to Higgs boson decays in the MSSM with complex parameters. EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL C, 71(6).
Williams KE, Weiglein G (2008). Precise predictions for h(a)-> h(b)h(c) decays in the complex MSSM. PHYSICS LETTERS B, 660(3), 217-227.
Williams K (2006). RAS science writing competition - Mini monsters. ASTRONOMY & GEOPHYSICS, 47(3), 36-37.
Conferences
Butts MB, Buontempo C, Lorup JK, Williams K, Mathison C, Jessen OZ, Riegels ND, Glennie P, McSweeney C, Wilson M, et al (2016). A regional approach to climate adaptation in the Nile Basin. Author URL.
Reports
Kraml S, Accomando E, Akeroyd AG, Akhmetzyanova E, Albert J, Alves A, Amapane N, Aoki M, Azuelos G, Baffioni S, et al (2006). CP Studies and Non-Standard Higgs Physics. Abstract.
