Ecosystems provide essential services to the immediate and far adjacent natural and human environment for water supply, carbon sequestration, and as source of nutrients among other essential key products. The primary productivity of these systems are highly sensitive to climate conditions, particularly if changing at fast rates. ESES students conduct cutting-edge research in quantify the sensitivity of natural systems to a changing climate.
Sample Research Projects:
Sergio de Hoyos (Summer 2011)
Monitoring Humidity over Land Using Satellite Based Data
Monitoring humidity over land has economical and social benefits; it can help scientists with tracking outbreaks and spread of humidity dependent diseases such as malaria dengue, respiratory diseases, monitor soil moisture for agricultural purposes and alert of potential forest fires. Most importantly, the use of satellite based sensors can help underdeveloped countries, like Africa, where the state does not posses the monetary capabilities to buy, operate and maintain expensive equipment to perform such task. The method proposed uses brightness temperature data from infrared channels 10.8 and 12.0 micrometers from MSG-SEVIRI sensor to assess Total Water Column (TWC), a parameter known to affect specific humidity.
