Professor Leonard Nurse

Publication/source: 107th AMS Annual Meeting, 2027

No description, abstract, or snippet was available from SerpApi for this record.

Publication/source: Journal of CESaRE 3 (2), 2026

Description / abstract: Wild Cane (Arundo donax) is a perennial rhizomatous grass that is native to tropical and sub-tropical zones. This C3 crop is known to have significant potential to produce commercial grade bioenergy. Belize has conducted a preliminary compatibility test at the American Sugar Refineries/ Belize Sugar Industries, Belize Co-generation Energy Ltd. (ASR/BSI BELCOGEN) facility which produced satisfactory but inconclusive results. The potential of this species as an energy crop is enhanced by its versatility, adaptability and its robustness to climate variability. Further, the crop’s resistance to environmental stresses and its ability to flourish on marginal spaces means that successful propagation will not lead to competition for productive agricultural lands, and potentially consequential negative effects on Belize’s food security. The goal of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the commercial cultivation of Arundo donax as an alternate fuel source for cogeneration at BELCOGEN in Belize, focusing particularly on biomass yield and the identification of climate and other environmental factors required for optimum growth. In this regard, the research examined three sites comprising natural stands of Arundo donax - Middlesex, Sittee River and Monkey River. The species demonstrated good productivity potential particularly within the Middlesex and Sittee River areas. Biomass yield was estimated at 15.18 t ac-1, 4.76 t ac-1 and 3.45 t ac-1 for Middlesex, Sittee River and Monkey River, respectively. In this study, the main parameters examined were climatic conditions and soil analysis, specifically moisture content, soil type and pH. Different growth patterns …

Publication/source: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2025 (902), GC41F-02, 2025

Description / abstract: Throughout history, Caribbean islands have experienced severe droughts and storms, migration pressures, external supply chain dependence, and limited capabilities to provide relief for major disasters. The reality of" island vulnerability" has been vividly illustrated recent extreme events impacting entire countries, overwhelming multiple small communities from inland to the coast. This presentation will highlight advances over the past two decades in developing and improving scientific understanding and information services for addressing such risks. Early warning and risk management advances have arisen from the development of (1) analytical tools facilitating usable regional monitoring and predictions, and;(2) risk information systems, vulnerability assessments and capacity development across sectors. This presentation focuses on the achievements of foresight-based institutions (such as the CIMH, 5Cs …

Publication/source: Science 385 (6709), 600-603, 2024

Description / abstract: In March 2024, Harvard University publicly announced the cancellation of its proposed Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx), which would have been the world’s first outdoor stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) experiment. SAI, a type of solar geoengineering (SG), seeks to cool the planet by releasing aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. The co-authors here are members of the independent advisory committee (AC) convened by Harvard in 2019 to develop a research governance framework for SCoPEx. We frame below the importance of SCoPEx and SG governance and summarize the governance framework developed by the AC [detailed in ()]. We then move beyond the report to reflect on the process of developing that framework, the challenges we encountered, and the sources of tension encountered in its implementation.

Publication/source: Our Warming Planet: Climate Change Impacts And Adaptation 2, 356, 2021

Description / abstract: The coastal areas of the Caribbean constitute a large marine ecosystem, comprising corals, mangrove wetlands and seagrasses, as well as a variety of non-living systems such as rocky shores and cliffs, sand and shingle beaches, and sand dunes, inter alia. This characterization applies to the small archipelagic states of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, as well as to the larger continental states of Belize, Guyana and Suriname. For the most part, the littoral is low-lying, generally no more than a few meters above the mean sea level (Nurse et al., 2014), and in some cases, coastal areas fall below sea level, as in Guyana, where sections of the shoreline are approximately 1.8 m (6 ft) below the mean sea level. Without exception, the main settlements and supporting infrastructure in the region are located at or near the coast, and consequently are at great risk from current and projected water-level changes, triggered by elevated sea levels, storm surges, and incident waves of higher energy and amplitude. Caribbean societies are heavily dependent on coastal and marine assets for their livelihoods, as the goods and services provided by these resources make a significant contribution to virtually all economic and social sectors. The marketed goods make a substantial contribution to regional food security and nutrition, revenue generation from tourism, and transportation revenues, while ecological services include shoreline protection, regulation of climate, and nutrient cycling, inter alia. While a large body of literature exists that shows the extent of human-induced coastal degradation, there is equally substantial evidence that climate warming has …