forests – envirobites

Tragically, when some people look at the soil beneath our feet, they only see ‘dirt’. They are missing the fact that soils contribute so much to nature and our lives. But, what happens when humans alter soils from their natural state? Researchers from Cottbus, Germany, aimed to find out how charcoal production in the Northeastern US during the mid 1800s impacted the soils and ecology of the forests that we see today. Surprisingly, the answer is a little bit below the surface.

Climate Environmental Science Remote Environments Science through time

Seeing the Forest for the Trees

November 13, 2018November 19, 2018 E.M.B. Doran 0 Comments agriculture, carbon cycle, Climate Change, Conservation, earth system, Ecology, ecosystems, environmental science, forest policy, forests, greenhouse gases, machine learning, nutrient cycles, remote sensing, Restoration

Satellites have changed our ability to see the globe. We can now use satellite data is to monitor change in the amount of land covered by forests, and determine the reasons for that change. In this article, we discuss recent findings global forest monitoring and the impact of supply chain decisions by corporate actors.

Climate Environmental Science

We’re all in this together: Climate-forest connections mean local tree deaths have widespread impacts

November 2, 2018November 9, 2018 Jeannie Wilkening 0 Comments biosphere-atmosphere interactions, carbon, forests, modeling, transpiration

We know that forests can have a big local impact, but can they also have an impact on the climate on the other side of the continent? With climate change becoming a growing threat to our forests, a team of scientists looks to investigate what cross-continental connections exist between our forests and what they could mean for our future climate.

Case Studies Climate Environmental Science

“Pollen-ology”: what microfossils can tell us about sea level rise

July 5, 2018July 5, 2018 Alina Spera 0 Comments Ecology, forests, paleoecology, palynology, sea level rise, wetlands

Ever wonder how scientists reconstruct environments from the earth’s history? For those studying mangroves in South Florida, the answer is a little smaller than you would think. Palynology, or the study of fossilized pollen, can tell researchers about what plants were present in an area in the past, aiding in understanding how things have changed in the last few thousand years. With the help of this reconstruction, pollen fossils can also help us predict how mangrove systems will change in the future.

Environmental Science

What’s a Forest Without Trees?

June 11, 2018June 11, 2018 Samantha Smith 0 Comments Climate Change, environmental science, forests, greenhouse gases

Trees are one of the most important natural resources: they consume carbon dioxide and provide us with oxygen, building materials, and fuel. However, global forest degradation exceeds the total CO2 emissions in the US for both highway vehicles (1.7 Gt CO2e/year) and power generation (1.9 Gt CO2e/year)! A new study discusses the difference between deforestation and forest degradation and why it’s essential to account for both in greenhouse gas emissions management.

Environmental Science

Red Deer Takeover!

June 11, 2018June 11, 2018 Samantha Smith 0 Comments Ecology, environmental science, forests, invasive species

Most people would not think of red deer as powerful enough to take over farmers’ land. However, a recent increase of red deer population has devastated land in Slovakia and other European countries. A recent study determined the amount of forage red deer consume per season and the key elements affecting forage availability that determine the boom or bust of red deer.

Climate

Snow: More Than Just the Backdrop for your Favorite Winter Olympic Sport

March 9, 2018 Jeannie Wilkening 0 Comments Climate Change, drought, Ecology, forests, hydrology, snow, water, water management

Even if you don’t live anywhere near mountains, it is very possible that the water that comes out of your tap originated as snow in the mountains. Many places rely on melting snow from the mountains to supply water downstream for cities, agriculture, and ecosystems. However, melting is not the only thing that can happen to mountain snowpack and scientists are trying to figure out where else it goes and how that could change in the future.

Climate

Coming out of a fire, are our forests doing just fine?: Impacts of climate change on forest recovery after wildfires

January 12, 2018January 12, 2018 Jeannie Wilkening 0 Comments Climate Change, Ecology, forests, Wildfire

Climate change is predicted to change the frequency and severity of forest fires, but can it also impact what happens to forests after the fire? This study tries to answer that question by studying how recovery of forests after fires across the Rocky Mountains has changed with our changing climate.

Climate Environmental Science

The Landscaping Snowshoe Hare

December 4, 2017 Aidan Barry 0 Comments behaviour ecology, Climate Change, ecosystems, environmental science, forests

Boreal forests of Alaska are expanding north and to higher latitudes due to higher annual temperatures, but the snowshoe hare may be limiting the growth of these forests.

Environmental Science

Can you see the forest for the trees?

October 24, 2017 Elizabeth Whitney 0 Comments forest managment, forestry, forests

From iconic redwoods, to tropical palm trees, to the small windblown trees of subalpine threshold forests are just about everywhere. We assume that the vast majority of people know what a forest is and what it does, but is that so? Forests are being looked at through a new lens using new methods. Researchers are trying to answer questions like: what services do forests provide, how much biodiversity do they have, and what can be done to protect them amidst so many human and environmental threats?

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