Image by Kelly Heilman
Forest response to climate changes are critical to future carbon uptake and resilience, but remain highly uncertain. Although higher temperatures and drier conditions may result in decreased carbon uptake, it may be possible to manage for stand conditions that are resilient to climate extremes.
To improve forecasts, I assimilate two large datasets in a state space modelling framework: repeat censuses from the Forest Inventory & Analysis and annual tree ring growth records. This approach leverages the extensive spatial network and decadal timescale of forest surveys, and the rich temporal responses to interannual climate contained in tree ring records.
Interested in hearing more? Check out the videos related to this work below:
Check out an outreach video we made for display at the Laboratory of Tree Ring Research:
I give a more detailed research talk on our state-space modelling framework here:
Postdoctoral Research Associate
My research aims to understand and forecast the response of vegetation to multiple environmental changes from the tree to biome scales. This ecological forecasting approach allows us make predictions about future vegetation, with the overall goal of managing systems for a resilient future.