Scaling tree water use in the Shale Hills Critical Zone Observatory

Katie Gaines and John Govannicci (undergraduate) estimating leaf area index

Katie Gaines and John Govannicci (undergraduate) estimating leaf area index

PhD candidate in Ecology.

Katie is partially supported by the Ecology Program, Horticulture Department, Ecosystem Science and Management Department and the National Science Foundation (EAR 0725019, EAR-1239285)

The objective of my research is to examine the role of trees in the water cycle, starting with the structure and function of individual trees, and scaling up to estimates of ecosystem-scale tree water flux. My goal is to study the role of trees in the water cycle using the tools of ecophysiology, stable isotope hydrology, and remote sensing to help inform hydrologic models, forest management decisions, and public policy.

Awards and Fellowships

2010-2011 Huck Graduate Fellowship

2012-2013 National Science Foundation CarbonEARTH fellowship