Seminar - Stockbridge School of Agriculture

We are excited to welcome our next seminar speaker, Dr. Joy Winbourne, Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences at UMass Lowell, hosted by Dr. Ashley Keiser. Dr. Winbourne is an ecosystem ecologist and terrestrial biogeochemist whose work examines the impact of urbanization, deforestation, forest fragmentation, and climate change on terrestrial ecosystem processes. More about her work can be found here: https://www.joywinbourne.com/home. Dr. Winbourne will be joining us on Monday, March 20th at 3:30pm in Paige Lab, room 202. We will have coffee and refreshments starting at 3pm. 

Abstract:

The expansion of urban tree canopy is commonly a proposed nature-based solution to combat the negative impacts of climate change and urbanization. The influence trees have on urban climates and cycling of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, depend on the biophysical responses of urban vegetation to the unique environmental conditions of the built environment. The heterogeneous nature of urban landscapes, unique vegetation assemblages, and land management decisions make it difficult to predict the spatial and temporal variability in the ecosystem services provided by urban vegetation. This presentation will discuss two research projects that examine the response of vegetation to the process of urbanization. In the first project, I will share findings on the drivers influencing the extent to which urban vegetation can help cities combat extreme temperature events through the process of evapotranspiration. In the second project, I will share findings from a study examining the influence of urbanization on carbon dioxide fluxes from urban vegetation types. In both cases, I will discuss key knowledge gaps that remain and the implications for developing effective monitoring systems that track success and help guide public policy decisions.

All Seminar Sessions are from 3:30pm to 4:30pm.

To join Zoom meeting:

https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/j/95338399246?pwd=eGpRZnB5WHlDT3RocmFHZm5z...

Meeting ID: 953 3839 9246

Passcode: Seminar