Nature-based climate solutions (NbCS) are frequently considered as a way to reach climate change mitigation policy goals. NbCS are heavily reliant on modeled forest carbon storage to guide management practice. For this study, the student will enhance and align a subset of ForestGEO plot data for use in one or more forest growth models. The 35-hectare Harvard Forest ForestGEO plot is part of an intensely-measured global network of forest plots. This will improve our ability to calibrate growth and succession using standard models for northeastern temperate forests.
Although this subproject will be primarily computer-based, there will be at least one field day collecting tree heights in the ForestGEO plot.
This subproject will train students to: use spatial models of forest dynamics, develop R scripts to extend and link these models, to learn GIS tools for R, and data visualization.