Dr. David Letson co-teaches in the Ecosystem Science and Policy program and is Professor and Chair of the Division of Marine Affairs and Policy at the Rosensteil School for Marine and Atmospheric Science, where he has worked since 1995. Dr. Letson’s research focuses on natural resource economics, with particular emphasis on the economics of extreme weather and climate variations. Specifically, he is interested in the value of predictions from the geosciences and in how those predictions are interpreted and used. A critical part of Dr. Letson’s research has been the process of team formation and collaboration since it has enabled him to move beyond isolated studies of parts of weather and climate problems to a more systemic view.
Living in Miami, on a barrier island no less, Dr. Letson is well acquainted with hurricanes and hurricane forecasts. As an economist, he is interested in the value of hurricane forecasts and mitigations. Short-sighted and narrow conceptions of the human relationship to the natural environment have prevented nations like the U.S. from reducing their losses from hurricanes and other natural hazards. He is a member of NOAA’s Hurricane Forecast Socioeconomic Working Group, a panel convened by the National Weather Service and the Office of Atmospheric Research to develop a hurricane social science research agenda. Letson recently testified before the Florida Legislature on the possible economic effects to Florida’s economy if the hurricanes of the 2004 season were to strike again in 2008.
Dr. Letson’s other main interest is the economics of climate. He studies the value of climate prediction for agricultural and water resources management in the southeastern US and Argentina, as part of the Southeastern Climate Consortium, which represents eight universities (Alabama-Huntsville, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Miami, North Carolina State, Florida and Florida State). Climate predictions, like free advice, may not always seem relevant or transparent to their intended audience. The over-arching theme of Letson’s climate research is that climate risk must be assessed within the specific economic, institutional, land tenure, and technological contexts in which they occur.
Contact information:
4600 Rickenbacker Causeway
Room S25D Grosvenor South
Miami, Florida 33149
Phone: 305.421.4083
Fax: 305.421.4675
Email: dletson@rsmas.miami.edu
2008 News Release
2007 News Release - Hurricane Futures Market
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