Research Interests

The heart of my research is the investigation of the nature and causes of regional climate change using global climate models simulations and observational records. My research interests include the evaluation of climate model performance, the detection of anthropogenic influence on temperature changes in western United States, the role of expanding irrigated lands on regional climate, the examination of the nature and definition of low-frequency climate modes of variability, and the mechanisms that can trigger abrupt climate changes in the future.

Ph.D. Oceanography, Meteorology, and Environment, University Paris VI, France, 2001

B.S. Chemistry, University of Cergy-Pontoise, France, 1995

Pierce, D., T.P. Barnett, H.G. Hidalgo. T. Das, C. Bonfils, B. Sander, G. Bala, M. Dettinger, D. Cayan, A. Mirin, A.W. Wood, and T. Nozawa, “Attribution of declining western US snowpack to human effects,” J Clim 21:6425-6444 (2008).

Bonfils, C., B.D. Santer, D.W. Pierce, H.G. Hidalgo, G. Bala, T. Das, T.P. Barnett, M.D. Dettinger, D.R. Cayan, C. Doutriaux, A.W. Wood, A. Mirin, and T. Nozawa, “Detection and Attribution of temperature changes in the mountainous western United States,” J Clim 21:6404-6424 (2008).

Barnett, T., D. W. Pierce, H.G. Hidalgo, C. Bonfils, B.D. Santer, T. Das, G. Bala, A.W. Wood, T. Nazawa, A. Mirin, D.R. Cayan, and M. Dettinger, “Human-induced changes in the hydrology of the western United States,” Science 319:1080-1083 (2008).

Hidalgo, H., T. Das, M.D. Dettinger, D.R. Cayan, D.W. Pierce, T.P. Barnett, G. Bala, A. Mirin, A.W. Wood, C. Bonfils, B.D. Santer, and T. Nozawa, “Detection and attribution of streamflow timing changes to climate change in the western United States,” J Clim, in press.

Lobell, D., and C. Bonfils, “The effect of irrigation on regional temperatures: a spatial and temporal analysis of trends in California, 1934-2002,” J Clim 21:2063-2071 (2008).

Lobell, D., C. Bonfils, and J.-M. Faurès, “The role of irrigation expansion in past and future temperature trends,” Earth interactions 12:1-11 (2008).

Lobell, D., C. Bonfils, L. Kueppers, and M. Snyder, “Irrigation cooling effect on temperature and heat index extremes,” GRL 35, L09705, doi: 10.1029/2008GL034145 (2008).

Bonfils, C., and D. Lobell, “Empirical evidence for a recent slowdown in irrigation-induced cooling,” PNAS, 104:13582-13587 (2007).

E. Maurer, I. Stewart, C. Bonfils, P. Duffy, and D. Cayan, “Detection, attribution, and sensitivity of trends toward earlier streamflow in the Sierra Nevada,” JGR 112, D11118, doi: 10.1029/2006JD008088 (2007).

Lobell, D., C. Bonfils, and P. Duffy, “Climate change uncertainty for daily minimum and maximum temperatures: a model intercomparison,” GRL 34, L05715, doi: 10.1029/2006GL028726 (2007).

Duffy, P., C. Bonfils, P. Gleick, and D. Lobell, “Interpretating recent temperature trends in California,” EOS Transactions AGU 88:409-410 (2007).

Bonfils, C., P. Duffy, B. Santer, T. Wigley, D.B. Lobell, T.J. Phillips, and C. Doutriaux, “Identification of external influences on temperatures in California,” Clim Ch 87:43-55 (2007).

Randall, D., R. Wood et al. (including C. Bonfils), “Climate Models and their evaluation” (chapter 8) of Climate Change: the Physical Science Basis, WGI, 4th Assessment Report of the IPCC [Solomon, S. et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge Univ Press, Cambridge, UK & New York, NY, USA, 996 pp. (2007).

Lobell, D., G. Bala, C. Bonfils, and P. Duffy, “Potential bias of model projected greenhouse warming in irrigated regions,” GRL 33, L13709, doi: 10.1029/2006GL026770 (2006).

Bonfils, C., P. Duffy, and D. Lobell, “Comment on 'Methodology and results of calculating Central California surface temperature trends: evidence of human-induced climate change?' by Christy et al. (2006),” J Clim 20:4486-4489 (2006).

Santer, B., T. Wigley, P. Gleckler, C. Bonfils, M. Wehner, K. AchutaRao, T. Barnett, and 12 co-authors, “Causes of ocean surface temperature changes in Atlantic and Pacific hurricane formation regions,” PNAS 103:13905-13910 (2006).

Lobell, D., C. Field, K. Nicholas-Cahill, and C. Bonfils,“Impacts of future climate change on California perennial crop yields: model projections with climate and crop uncertainties,” Ag Forest Meteorol 141: 208-218 (2006).

Cayan, D., E. Maurer, M. Dettinger, M. Tyree, K. Hayhoe, C. Bonfils, P. Duffy, and B. Santer, “Climate scenarios for California,” California Climate Change Center publication no. CEC-500-2005-203-SF, (www.climatechange.ca.gov), (2006).

Bonfils, C., A. Angert, C. Henning, S. Biraud, S. Doney, and I. Fung, “Extending the record of photosynthetic activity in the eastern United States into the presatellite period using surface diurnal temperature range,” GRL 32, L08405, doi: 10.1029/2005GL022583 (2005).

Angert, A., C.J. Tucker, S. Biraud, C. Bonfils, C. Henning, W. Buermann, and I. Fung, “Drier summers cancel out the CO2 uptake enhancement induced by warmer springs,” PNAS 102:10823-10827 (2005).

Buermann, W., B. Linter, and C. Bonfils, “A wintertime Arctic Oscillation signature on early-season Indian Ocean Monsoon intensity,” J Clim 18: 2247-2269 (2005).

Angert, A., S. Biraud, C. Bonfils, W. Buermann, and I. Fung, “CO2 seasonality indicates origins of post-Pinatubo sink,” GRL 31: L11103, doi: 10.1029/2004GL019760 (2004).

Levis, S., G. Bonan, and C. Bonfils, “Soil feedback drives the mid-Holocene North African monsoon northward in fully coupled CCSM2 simulations with a dynamic vegetation model,” Clim Dyn 23:791-802 (2004).

Bonfils, C., I. Fung, S. Doney, and J. John, “On the detection of summertime photosynthetic variability from its atmospheric signature,” GRL 31, L09207, doi: 10.1029/2004GL019453, (2004).

Bonfils, C., N. de Noblet-Ducoudré, J. Guiot, and P. Bartlein, “Some mechanisms of mid-Holocene climate change in Europe, inferred from comparing PMIP models to data,” Clim Dyn 23:79-98 (2004).

Bonfils, C., N. de Noblet-Ducoudré, P. Braconnot, and S. Joussaume, “Hot desert albedo and climate change: mid-Holocene monsoon in North Africa,” J Clim 14:3724-3737 (2001).

Joussaume, S., K.E. Taylor, P. Braconnot, J. Mitchell, J. Kutzbach, S.P. Harrison, I.C. Prentice, A.J. Broccoli, A. Abe-Ouchi, P.J. Bartlein, C. Bonfils, and 23 co-authors, “Monsoon changes for 6000 years ago: results of 18 simulations from the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project (PMIP),” GRL 26: 859-862 (1999).

• Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Science and Technology Awards 10/2008
• United Nations Association - USA Honor 10/2008
• Contributing author to 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Winning IPCC report
• Ph.D. Appointment by French Atomic Energy Commission (09/1997-12/2000)