Threats for Carbon Storage in High Montane Forests in the Sierra Nevada
Principal Investigator: Sara Winsemius
Project Partners: Dr. Yufang Jin; Dr. Hugh Safford
Institution: University of California, Davis
Project Type: Graduate Student
Grant Award #8GG18808
Amount awarded: $66,892
Award Date: September 2018
Status: Active
High elevation forests in the Sierra Nevada face threats from climate change that could lead to ecological impacts and changes in carbon storage. Forests above 2000 m elevation are experiencing increasing tree mortality due to wildfire and insect outbreaks, and forest stand structure has changed over the last century with the death of large trees and more dense forests of smaller trees. Because high elevation forests are more limited by cold temperatures and short growing seasons, changes in forest structure may be driven by different processes than the lower elevation forests in the Sierra Nevada. Additionally, models built for a wider region may not perform as well at high elevations, where fine-scale topographic complexity and variable forest structure make spatial extrapolations from standard forest inventory processes difficult; these complex areas also have more limited data availability due to the remote locations. How forest structural changes influence carbon storage in high elevation forests is unknown, as are the drivers of change along elevational and latitudinal gradients.
I am addressing these research gaps using NASA satellite data in combination with aerial lidar and multiple sources of field measurements to train models specifically for high elevation forests. I am mapping current aboveground biomass in high elevation forests. I am analyzing the patterns and drivers of change in high elevation forest biomass, and how they interact in different topographic and spatial settings. I expect to reveal the spatial distribution of aboveground biomass along with the nature of threats, forming a foundation for predicting future change.
Project Webpage
Contact Information:
Sara Winsemius
swinsemius@ucdavis.edu
CAL FIRE Forest Health Research Program
FHResearch@fire.ca.gov