Carbon cycle modeling

The project will involve running terrestrial biosphere models on JPL’s supercomupters. Specifically, my first task will be focused on modeling the carbon cycle. This cycle describes how carbon circulates through the atmosphere, vegetation and ground. With climate change and rising temperatures, this cycle has been changing. This is why we are interested in modeling it – so as to better understand it and help predict how it will continue to evolve in the future. For my master’s project, I am interested in quantifying the natural carbon fluxes to the atmosphere. At JPL, I will model this, and at ULaval I am developing sensors to measure these directly. I will then be able to compare models with reality. I will focus on carbon (1st) and methane (2nd) emissions.

Eventually, terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs), which model spatial distribution of biomes, vegetation dynamics, biogeochemistry and biophysical processes, can help us answer such important questions as 1) Will the terrestrial biosphere be a net source or sink of carbon in the future? and eventually 2) Can ecological stewardship help mitigate climate change?

Faculty Supervisor:

Younès Messaddeq

Student:

Partner:

Northern Arizona University

Discipline:

Earth science

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology; Sustainability & the Environment; Technology

University:

Université Laval

Program: