Dr. Bowen Zhang
<b>Department: </b>Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources<br><b>Research Area: </b>Understanding of the biogeochemical and hydrological cycle with in the terrestrial ecosystem, and the exchange of greenhouse gases across the land-atmosphere interface and riverine fluxes across land-ocean interface
Department: Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources
Research Focus: My research interests lie in understanding of the biogeochemical and hydrological cycle within the terrestrial ecosystem, and the exchange of greenhouse gases across the land-atmosphere interface and riverine fluxes across land-ocean interface. I am particularly interested in carbon and nitrogen cycle in response to multiple global changes, including climate, land use and land management practices, and atmospheric composition, in terrestrial ecosystems by using a systems approach, ecosystem modeling, and data-model assimilation at various spatial and temporal scales. My current study mainly focuses on
- Land-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O);
- Coupled carbon, nitrogen and water cycles in the earth system;
- Land-coastal linkage and riverine export of carbon and nutrient;
- Assessment of the dynamics of ecosystem function and services in response to multiple global changes in climate, land use and cover patterns, land management practices, and atmospheric composition (e.g., CO2, O3, nitrogen deposition).
Potential Student Project(s): Regional dynamics of nutrient and water cycles at the land-aquatic interface of Ohio River Basin.
Attributes/skills/background sought in undergraduate: Passionate about environmental change; positive attitude in stressful and challenging circumstances; good reading and writing skills; ability to work both independently and as a team.
Mentoring Plan: The hired student is expected to work with Dr. Zhang from the Department of Environment, Geology, and Natural Resources on a funded project, which is trying to understand how our human activity affects the nitrogen transport from land to river, and eventually how that could affect the hypoxia over the Gulf of Mexico. Particularly he/she is going to examine how agricultural activities through the application of fertilizer, livestock, etc. could affect the regional nitrogen budget.
Contact: 765-285-5783, WQ 105