My research is focused on the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide, water vapor and energy in terrestrial ecosystems,
and the interactions with climate, land use and ecophysiology. I am specifically interested in the effects of drought
and climate change on carbon sequestration, and on ecosystem processes such as photosynthesis and transpiration.
Further interests include the partitioning of ecosystem fluxes, carbon-water interactions, and the up-scaling of ecosystem fluxes
to regional and global scales.
In order to answer these questions, I use the
eddy covariance technique,
chamber based measurements, remote sensing, and modeling approaches across various climates and spatial scales.
Current and past projects include ecosystem flux studies in
tropical (Sardinilla, Panama),
subtropical (Tonzi Ranch, California)
and
temperate climates (Switzerland),
as well as synthesis studies at regional
(
Swiss FluxNet),
continental (US,
AmeriFlux)
and global scales (
FLUXNET).
Apart from the biosphere-atmosphere exchange in terrestrial ecosystems, I have worked on the effects of land-use change
on
soil erosion
and
landscape fragmentation
using modeling techniques and GIS, the detection of
Mountain Pine Beetle infestations
using remote sensing, and mapping expeditions to remote areas
(
Atacama Desert &
Tien Shan Mountains).
