UW Madison Professor Ankur Desai on Carbon, Climate, and the Forest

 

On November 2, 2012, Guest Lecturer, Professor Ankur Desai, from UW Madison gave a presentation on Carbon, Climate and the Forest. Desai explained carbon uptake and how it may affect the Menominee forest and climate change. Desai also highlighted the importance of getting CMN students internships to study such subjects. “My hope is that the simple act of exposure, in a field-based setting, provides that first taste to some College of Menominee Nation students that might go on to careers in science,” said Professor Desai.

Through slides and an interactive game, a CMN audience of about 30 students, faculty, and staff learned from Desai. “One particular service the landscape can provide is the uptake of carbon and that’s what we want to talk about today,” said Desai. He also explained how understanding microclimates, soil, and carbon uptake throughout various ecosystems varies – not to mention population.  “We can use atmosphere to understand land systems,” said Desai, “but you have to think about each person’s use of energy, not just space.” Furthermore, this energy use will influence our future. “As we change C02, we change the climate,” Desai noted, “the short story is solid science.”

To explain the exchange of carbon between atmosphere, the ocean, decomposers, and the like, the room participated in a game which simulated the global carbon cycle. Participants visualized first-hand the atmosphere as an exchange system and the large influence that photosynthesis has. Most critically, it was clear to see how fossil fuels are such a small part of the carbon exchange, but how over time, it builds up in the atmosphere. Desai explained how carbon exchange can be variable and sensitive and the uncertainty is what scientists are often trying to figure out.  Although science shows this change globally, factors like water vapor effect, land warming, snow melting, permafrost, and positive and negative feedbacks are all influencers. “This is what makes climate change modeling so difficult,” said Desai.

It is critical that Menominee students to get involved in this science. Students need to study physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and economics to study the relation to climate change. Impacts for Menominee will be great and it is necessary to have CMN students trained how to maintain forestry in the face of climate change –for example, to study how winter temperature change may affect summer plants. There is potential through Desai’s research for students to study these research topics. This research is widespread and topics could cover anywhere from soil decomposition in spreadsheets measured in spatial variables on the reservation to engineering long term measurements with specialized equipment.