Home > Archives > Additional Archives > Dennis Ojima   Dennis Ojima Colorado State University Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory B229 Natural Environmental Lab Fort Colins, CO 80523-1499 dennis@nrel.colostate.edu http://www.nrel.colostate.edu/PEOPLE/dennis.html Earth System Sciences: Integrative Approaches to Meet the Challenges Facing the Sustainability of the Earth System   Increased pressure on earth resources due to human activities related to continued industrial growth, extraction from oceans for food and other resources, land conversion for agricultural and wood extraction, and use of water resources for urban and agricultural production have substantial implications within the earth's environment. The magnitude of changes to the earth system are evidenced by the continued rate of increase in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These alterations in the atmosphere reflect the complex interactions of the ocean, land, and atmosphere processes as a result of human activities. Earth system science has developed immensely during the past decade, especially in the area of understanding the role of the biosphere in controlling the carbon cycle. The carbon cycle is a good integrator of earth system processes and, with the availability of recent developments in observational and analytical technologies related to isotopic analyses, ocean cruises, tower-based instrumentation, and satellite interpretations are enhancing our ability for investigating teleconnections of the earth system. In addition, the modeling technology is becoming more sophisticated due to high performance computing facilities and superior modeling paradigms available today. Although the modeling of the earth system carbon cycle continues to be a challenge in this decade, the potential exists for greater integration of the biospheric processes within the physical and chemical components of the earth system. The terrestrial biosphere has undergone tremendous changes due to land conversion and vegetation changes. These changes in conjunction with increased atmospheric concentration of CO2 and nitrogenous compounds are altering the terrestrial biosphere links to the atmosphere and oceans. Research efforts will be discussed which directly address how we might further understand these complex processes, and how changes in land use and natural disturbances can affect the carbon cycle.
	Home | SDSC | UCSD | Campus Map | Contact Info
	The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) is a research unit of the University of California, San Diego, and the leading-edge site of the National Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure. SDSC researchers conduct studies in computational science, develop high-performance computing and networking technologies, and participate in NPACI activities. SDSC -- UC San Diego, MC 0505 -- 9500 Gilman Drive -- La Jolla, CA 92093-0505 -- 858-534-5000 -- 858-534-5152 (fax) info@sdsc.edu © 2001, The Regents of the University of California