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Science Application &
Integration
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Geography
Geography is the study of the Earth and its lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena. It is a science that deals with the description, distribution, and interaction of the diverse physical, biological, and cultural features of the earth's surface.
At the Rocky Mountain Research Station geography subfeilds such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, phylogeography and biogeography are greatly utilized by research scientists.
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS) deal with the storage of information about the Earth for automatic retrieval by a computer, in an accurate manner appropriate to the information's purpose. In addition to all of the other subdisciplines of geography, GIS specialists must understand computer science and database systems. GIS has revolutionized the field of cartography; nearly all mapmaking is now done with the assistance of some form of GIS software. GIS also refers to the science of using GIS software and GIS techniques to represent, analyze and predict spatial relationships. In this context, GIS stands for Geographic Information Science.
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Land Remote Sensing (LRS) is the Nation's portal to the largest archive of remotely sensed land data in the world. Working with NASA, NOAA, commercial satellite companies, State and local governments, and international programs, the LRS Program collects, maintains, and distributes millions of images acquired from satellite and aircraft sensors. From such images scientists and land managers, both public and private, derive information about natural resources, hazards, and long-term changes to the landscape. Through advancements in data archive and processing technology and through the operation and maintenance of satellites such as Landsats 5 and 7, the LRS Program provides continuous access to worldwide land images that can be used in mankind's effort to sustain the ever-changing Earth.
Scientists:
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Phylogeography deals with the study of the historical processes that may be responsible for the contemporary geographic distributions of individuals. This term was introduced to describe geographically structured genetic signals within and among species. Past events that can be inferred include population expansion, population bottlenecks, vicariance and migration. |
Biogeography looks at the distribution of biodiversity (the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or for the entire Earth) over space and time. In other words, it strives to explain where organisms live and at what abundance, while also answering the questions of which species, where, and why.
Within Forest Service study, a popular subfield within biogeography is island biogeography, which determines the factors that affect species richness of natural communities.
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Research Interests |
Interests:
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Ecology
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Impact of Fire on Fish and Streams
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Integrating Ecosystem Sampling
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Gradient Modeling
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Remote Sensing
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Ecosystem Simulation to Create Spatially Explicit Landscape Inventories
Geographical Areas: Central Utah highlands and Northern Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana. |
| Scientist |
Research Interests |
Research Entomologist
See Also: Entomology, Fire/Fuel
Logan Bark Beetle Research Lab |
Interests:
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Bark Beetles
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Phylogeography
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Wildfire impacts
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Temperature
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Genetics
Geographical Areas: Idaho; Montana; Utah; Northern Rocky Mountains. |
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Interests:
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Integration of multivariate, multi-sensor, multi-temporal remotely sensed data and ecosystem models with annual time-series of FIA field data
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Accuracy assessment of remotely sensed data
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Sample surveys with time-series of multi-sensor remotely sensing and field reconnaissance in support of the global Forest Resources Assessment, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
Geographical Areas: Alaska. |
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Interests:
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Modeling effects of spatially varying root strength on the location, frequency and size of shallow landslides
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Mechanistic analyses of the effects of climate change on aquatic physical habitat
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Understanding the responses of hill slopes to channel base level changes
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Quantitative descriptions and analyses of controls on spatial distribution of channel physical habitat
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Development and testing of a new terrestrial-aquatic LIDAR to map and monitor stream habitat
Geographical Areas: South Fork of Eel River, California; South Island, New Zealand. |
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