Professor of Environmental Science

Year Joined RCNJ: 2018

Contact Information

• Phone: (201) 684- 7208
• Email: sbecker@ramapo.edu
• Office: G-416
• Office Hours: M/R - 9:40am-11:20am; Or By Appointment

Education:

• State Examination, Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.), Habilitation (Dr. habil.): Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany

Courses Offered:

• Introduction to Environmental Science
• Physical Geography
• Climate Change Science
• Severe Weather
• Environmental Science Models and Methods

Research Interest:

My research interest is focused on the numerical modeling of atmospheric processes and changes. Within this framework, I have investigated topics like human bioclimatology in Israel and South Africa, air pollution in South Africa and Nepal, regional impacts of climate change on flood risks in China, and extreme weather events in the United States. My current research aims at understanding the reasons for changes in upper tropospheric air circulation patterns and their impact on extreme weather events (such as hurricanes, heat waves, cold spells, and flooding) in the eastern United States and other parts of the world.

Recent Publications:

Publications on Google Scholar:  https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=UFcKFsgAAAAJ&hl=en

Publications in peer-reviewed journals (updated September 2022):

(44) Khanal, S., Pokhrel, R.P., Pokharel, B., Becker, S., Giri, B., Adhikari, L., La Plante, M.D., (2021): An episode of transboundary air pollution in the central Himalayas during agricultural residue burning season in North India. Atmospheric Pollution Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2021.101270

(43) Becker, S., Sapkota, R.P., Pokharel, B., Adhikari, L., Pokhrel, R.P., Khanal, S., Giri, B. (2021): Particulate matter variability in Kathmandu based on in-situ measurements, remote sensing, and reanalysis data, Atmospheric Research, Volume 258, 2021, 105623, SSN 0169-8095, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2021.105623.

(42) Wang, W., Zhu, Y., Dong, S., Chen, Y., Becker, S., and Chen, Y. (2019). Attribution of decreasing annual and autumn inflows to the Three Gorges Reservoir, Yangtze River: Climate variability, water consumption or upstream reservoir operation? Journal of Hydrology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.124180

(41) Wang, W., Chen, Y., Becker, S., and Liu, B. (2015). “Trend detection in serially dependent hydrometeorological data based on a variance correction spearman rho method.” Water 2015, 7, 7045–7065.

(40) Wang, W., Chen, Y., Becker, S., and Liu, B. (2015). “Variance Correction Prewhitening Method for Trend Detection in Autocorrelated Data.” J. Hydrol. Eng., 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001234, 04015033.

(39) Choi, W., Nauth, K., Choi, J., Becker, S. (2015) Urbanization and Rainfall-Runoff Relationships in the Milwaukee River Basin. Professional Geographer. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00330124.2015.1007427#abstract.

(38) Hartmann, H., Becker, S., and Jiang, T., 2012: Precipitation Variability in the Yangtze-River Subbasins. Water International, 37:1, 16-31 DOI:10.1080/02508060.2012.644926

(37) Maantay, J.A. and Becker, S., 2012: The Health Impacts of Global Climate Change: A Geographic Perspective. Applied Geography, Volume 33, April 2012, Pages 1-3

(36) Choi, W., Keuser, A., Becker, S., 2012: Identification of mid-latitudinal regional and urban temperature variabilities based on regional reanalysis data. Theoretical and Applied Climatology. Volume 107, Issue 1 (2012), Page 87-98 DOI 10.1007/s00704-011-0466-0

(35) Choi, W., Keuser, A., Becker, S., 2011: Air Temperature Variability in Illinois Based on Weather Station Records and the North American Regional Reanalysis from 1979 to 2006. Physical Geography, 2011, 32, 4, pp. 338–355. DOI: 10.2747/0272-3646.32.4.338

(34) Zhang, Q., Chen, X., Becker, S., 2011: Spatio-Temporal Variations of Precipitation Extremes in the Yangtze River Basin (1960-2002), China  Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, DOI 10.4236/acs.2011.11001

(33) Becker, S., Büker, M.L., Matyas, C.J. and Rohli, R.V., 2010: Assessing links between upper atmospheric vorticity patterns and directional changes in hurricane tracks. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, DOI 10.1007/s00704-010-0269-8

(32) Zhang, Q., Xu, C.-Y., Becker, S., Zhang, Z. X. , Chen, Y. D. and Coulibaly, M., 2009: Trends and abrupt changes of precipitation maxima in the Pearl River basin, China. Atmospheric Science Letters DOI: 10.1002/asl.221

(31) Hartmann, H., Becker, S., King, L. Jiang, T., 2008: Forecasting Water Levels at the Yangtze River with Neural Networks. Erdkunde, Vol. 62, No. 3, pp 231 – 243

(30) Coulibaly, M. and Becker, S., 2007: Spatial Interpolation of Annual Precipitation in South Africa – Comparison and Evaluation of Methods. Water International, Volume 32, Number 3, Pg. 494-502, September 2007

(29) Becker, S., Hartmann, H., Coulibaly, M., Zhang, Q., and Jiang, T., 2007: Quasi-periodicities of extreme precipitation events in the Yangtze River basin, China. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, DOI 10.1007/s00704-007-0357-6

(28) Hartmann, H., Becker, S., King, L., 2007: Predicting summer monsoon rainfall in the Yangtze River basin with neural networks. International Journal of Climatology (DOI: 10.1002/joc.1588)

(27) Becker, S., Hartmann, H., Zhang, Q., Wu, Y., and Jiang, T., 2007: Cyclicity Analysis of Precipitation Regimes in the Yangtze River Basin, China. International Journal of Climatology (DOI 10.1002/joc.1572)

(26) Zhang, Q., Jiaqi, C., Becker, S., 2007: Flood/drought change of last millennium in the Yangtze Delta and its possible connections with Tibetan climatic changes. Global and Planetary Change Volume 57, Issues 3-4, June 2007, Pages 213-221 (doi:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2006.11.010)

(25) Hartmann, H., Becker, S., King, L., 2007: Quasi-periodicities in Chinese precipitation time series. Theoretical and Applied Climatology (DOI 10.1007/s00704-007-0317-1).

(24) Zhang, Q., Xu, C., Becker, S., Jiang, T., 2006: Sediment and runoff changes in the Yangtze River basin during past 50 years. Journal of Hydrology, doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2006.05.036

(23) Becker, S., Gemmer, M., and Jiang, T., 2006: Spatiotemporal Analysis of Precipitation Trends in the Yangtze River Catchment. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment (SERRA), Mar 2006: 1-10.

(22) Wu, Y., Becker, S., King, L., Kung, H.-T., Jiang, T., Hartmann, H., and Zhu, W., 2006: The frequency of precipitation days in the Yangtze River basin. In: IAHS Red Book 303.

(21) Zhang, Q., Hartmann, H., Becker, S., Zhu, C., 2005: Paleoclimate of the Yangtze River’s Lower Reaches for the Past 14,000 Years. Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, Volume 2, Number 2, 31 – 38.

(20) Becker, S., 2005: Thermal Structure of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer over the South African Mpumalanga Highveld. Climate Research 29 (2): 129-137.

(19) Zhang, Q., Zhu, C., Jiang, T., and Becker, S., 2005: Mid-Pleistocene environmental reconstruction based on Xiashu loess deposits in the Yangtze Delta, China. Quaternary International 135, 131 – 137

(18) Zhang, Q., Jiang, T., Gemmer, M., and Becker, S., 2005: Precipitation, Temperature, and Runoff Analysis from 1950 to 2002 in the Yangtze Basin, China. Hydrological Sciences Journal des Sciences Hydrologiques 50(1): 65-80.

(17) Gemmer, M., Becker, S., and Jiang, T. (2004): Observed monthly precipitation trends in China 1951-2002. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 77 (1-2): 39-45.

(16) Becker, S., Gemmer, M., King, L., and Jiang, T., 2004: Climate Change in China and its Contribution to Yangtze River Floods. In: Jiang, T., King, L., Gemmer, M., and Kundzewicz, Z.W. (Ed.): Climate Change and Yangtze Floods. Science Press, Beijing: 2-15.

(15) Su, B., Jiang, T., Shi, Y., Becker, S., Gemmer, M., 2004: Observed precipitation trends in the Yangtze River catchment from 1951 to 2002. Journal of Geographical Sciences [J. Geogr. Sci.]. Vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 204-218.

(14) Su, B., Jiang, T., Shi, Y., Becker, S., and Gemmer, M., 2004: Rainstorm and Precipitation Trends in the Yangtze River Catchment. In: Jiang, T., King, L., Gemmer, M., and Kundzewicz, Z.W. (Ed..): Climate Change and Yangtze Floods. Science Press, Beijing: 101-121.

(13) Hartmann, H., Becker, S., and King, L., 2004: The Three Gorges Project: its influence on the flood risk along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and on the economy of the region surrounding the reservoir. In: Jiang, T., King, L., Gemmer, M., and Kundzewicz, Z.W. (Ed.): Climate Change and Yangtze Floods. Science Press, Beijing: 396-404.

(12) King, L., Hartmann, H., Gemmer, M., and Becker, S., 2004: Das Dreischluchten Staudamm am Yangtze – Ein Großbauprojekt und seine Bedeutung für den Hochwasserschutz. Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen 148 (5): 26-33.

(11) Becker, S., Gemmer, M., and Jiang, T., 2003: Observed and Interpolated Precipitation Trends and Variability in the Yangtze Catchment Area. Journal of Lake Sciences 15 (Suppl.): 123-130.

(10) Hartmann, H., and Becker, S., 2003: Critical Discussion of the Three Gorges project’s Consequences. Journal of Lake Sciences 15 (Suppl.): 249-254.

(9) Gemmer, M., Becker, S., and Jiang, T., 2003: Detection and Visualisation of Climate Trends in China. Publications of the Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), Justus-Liebig-University, No. 15, Giessen.

(8) Becker, S., Gemmer, M., Jiang, T., and Changqing, K., 2003: 20th Century Precipitation Trends in the Yangtze River Catchment. Publications of the Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), Justus-Liebig-University, No. 14, Giessen.

(7) Becker, S., Potchter, O., and Yaakov, Y., 2003: Calculated and Observed Human Thermal Sensation in an Extremely Hot and Dry Climate. Energy and Buildings 35 (8): 747-756.

(6) Givoni, B., Noguchi, M., Saaroni, H., Potchter, O., Yaacov, Y., Feller, N., and Becker, S., 2003: Outdoor Comfort Research Issues. Energy and Buildings 35 (1) 2003: 77-86.

(5) Becker, S., 2001: Flood Events at the Rhine River – A Meteorological Approach. In: King, L., Metzler, M., and Jiang, T. (Hrsg.): Flood Risks and Land Use Conflicts in the Yangtze Catchment, China and the Rhine River, Germany – Strategies for a Sustainable Flood Management. Schriften zur Internationalen Entwicklungs- und Umweltforschung, Bd. 2. Peter Lang Verlag, Frankfurt a. M., Berlin, Bern: 147-150.

(4) Becker, S., 2001: Calculation of Direct Solar and Diffuse Radiation in Israel. International Journal of Climatology 21: 1561-1576.

(3) Becker, S., 2000: Bioclimatological Rating of Cities and Resorts in South Africa according to the Climate Index. International Journal of Climatology 20: 1403-1414.

(2) Becker, S., 1998: Beach Climate Index – A new approach to evaluate the thermal conditions of beach holiday resorts using a South African example.  GeoJournal 44 (4): 297-307.

(1) Becker, S., 1998: Heat stress regions in Israel. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 59: 241-259.