Dr. David Keellings

About

Dr. David Keellings is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Florida. His research focuses on improving the understanding of climate extremes, such as heat waves, hurricanes, floods, and droughts, which have significant impacts on society and the environment. He emphasizes exploring the linkages between these extremes and their physical mechanisms, as well as quantifying the contributions of climate change versus natural variability. Dr. Keellings enjoys working in interdisciplinary teams and utilizes innovative methods including Machine Learning and Extreme Value Theory to enhance climate extremes research and societal preparedness. His academic background includes a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Florida, obtained in 2015, and a postdoctoral associate position at the same university. His educational journey also includes a Master's degree in Geography from the University of Florida and a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Keellings has been involved in various funded projects, notably developing drought risk assessment tools and investigating heat wave dynamics. His work contributes to advancing climate resilience and understanding the impacts of climate variability and change.

Research topics

• Environmental science
• Political Science
• Geography
• Environmental resource management
• Virology
• Climatology
• Medicine
• Geology
• Atmospheric sciences
• Oceanography

Selected publications

• The Disproportionate Impact of COVID-19 among Undocumented Immigrants and Racial Minorities in the US

  International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2021 · 34 citations

  Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has had an unprecedented effect, especially among under-resourced minority communities. Surveillance of those at high risk is critical for preventing and controlling the pandemic. We must better understand the relationships between COVID-19-related cases or deaths and characteristics in our most vulnerable population that put them at risk to target COVID-19 prevention and…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Human Activity Coupled With Climate Change Strengthens the Role of Lakes as an Active Pipe of Dissolved Organic Matter

  Earth s Future · 2023-09-01 · 32 citations

  articleOpen access

  Abstract Dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition in lakes is controlled by multiple environmental drivers, but the relative importance of various drivers remains poorly understood at the continental scale. Here, we established a model resolving possible influencing pathways of climate, land cover, societal development, and water retention time of lakes on the quantity and quality of chromophoric DOM (CDOM) from 182 lakes spanning across strong climatic and economic gradients in China. Our res…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Delineating and characterizing changes in heat wave events across the United States climate regions

  Climatic Change · 2023-01-20 · 23 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• It's getting hot in here: Spatial impact of humidity on heat wave severity in the U.S.

  The Science of The Total Environment · 2025-01-17 · 15 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  • From 1981 to 20,222, humid heat waves have increased in severity. • The Eastern U.S. shows the strongest upward trends in humid heat wave severity. • Humidity amplifies heat wave severity in humid regions, showing stronger trends. • Including humidity alters heat wave rankings, revealing greater risks than temperature.

  PublisherDOI

• Application of Machine Learning Classifiers for Mode Choice Modeling for Movement-Challenged Persons

  Future Transportation · 2022-04-02 · 15 citations

  articleOpen access

  In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of various machine learning (ML) classifiers to predict mode choice of movement-challenged persons (MCPs) based on data collected through a questionnaire survey of 384 respondents in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The mode choice set consisted of CNG-driven auto-rickshaw, bus, walking, motorized rickshaw, and non-motorized rickshaw, which was found as the most prominent mode used by MCPs. Age, sex, income, travel time, and supporting instrument (as an indi…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• A Spatiotemporal Investigation of Heat Wave Dynamics

  NSF · $341k · 2019–2021

Frequent coauthors

• Ubydul Haque

  11 shared

• Johanna Engström

  9 shared

• Peter R. Waylen

  University of Florida

  7 shared

• Erin Bunting

  Michigan State University

  5 shared

• Renee Robinson

  Idaho State University

  4 shared

• Uyen‐Sa Nguyen

  University of North Texas

  4 shared

• José J. Hernández Ayala

  University of Florida

  4 shared

• Feizhou Chen

  Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology

  3 shared

Labs

• Geography LabPI

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, Geography

  University of Florida

  2015

• Master of Science, Geography

  University of Florida

  2010

• Bachelor of Science, Environmental Studies

  University of Central Florida

  2007

Similar researchers at University of Florida

• Dr. Cynthia S. Simmonsh-19
• Dr. Nirav Patelh-10
• Joel E. Correiah-7