OOS 6 - Aeolian Processes in a Changing Climate: Erosion, Dust, and Ecology

Organizer(s)

• MF

  Michael Fischella

  PhD Student
  University of California, Los Angeles, United States

Co-Organizer(s)

• BE

  Brandon Edwards

  Research Assistant Professor
  New Mexico State University, United States
• MD

  Mike Duniway

  Research Ecologist
  US Geological Survey
  Moab, Utah, United States
• GO

  Greg Okin

  Professor
  UCLA, United States

In the face of climate change and shifting or intensifying land-use, improved understanding of the earth’s ecological and ecosystem processes is critical. Aeolian processes (wind driven) are an important, highly dynamic, yet often overlooked mechanism that can strongly impact ecological processes and ecosystems. The influence of aeolian processes is global, spanning drylands to the arctic, and the ecosystems between. Aeolian processes have been shown to play an important role in ecological tipping points, changing land-cover/land-use, as well as global climate regulation. Interactions between aeolian and ecological processes occur over a range of scales. At local scales, wind erosion and dust emission are responsible for soil and nutrient loss that contribute to shifting vegetation patterns and land degradation. Over intermediate scales, aerosol dust and blowing sand negatively impact human health and pose hazards to human life, transportation systems, and infrastructure. At regional to global scales, aeolian processes influence the earth’s systems through long-range transport and deposition of mineral dust aerosols radiative forcing in the atmosphere, and a variety of biogeochemical cycles. Despite recent advances in aeolian research, many questions remain regarding the ecological impacts of aeolian processes and the influence they will have on community structure and ecosystem function in a changing world. Finally, this session will highlight that wind-erosion, dust transport, and dust deposition effects all of earth’s ecosystems and societies, fitting with this year’s theme of topics for “All Ecologists”.

Presentations:

• 3:30 PM – 3:45 PM PDT

  Enhanced dust emission following large wildfires due to vegetation disturbance
  

  Presenting Author: Yan Yu – Peking University

  Co-author: Paul Ginoux – NOAA GFDL

  Co-author: Xianglei Meng – Peking University
• 3:45 PM – 4:00 PM PDT

  The nexus between droughts, pluvials, and land use on dust emissions in the Colorado Plateau
  

  Presenting Author: Franklyn T. Telles – Northern Arizona University
• 4:00 PM – 4:15 PM PDT

  Interactions among fires, vegetation and aeolian processes in changing landscapes: From shrub encroachment to exotic grass invasions
  

  Presenting Author: Sujith Ravi – Temple University

  Co-author: Scott Van Pelt – USDA-ARS, Big Spring, TX, USA

  Co-author: Junran Li – Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

  Co-author: Joel B. Sankey – US Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ, USA
• 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM PDT

  Quantifying wind erosion responses to ecosystem change across western US rangelands
  

  Presenting Author: Nicholas Webb – USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range

  Co-author: Brandon Edwards – New Mexico State University

  Co-author: Sarah McCord – USDA ARS Jornada Experimental Range

  Co-author: Saroj Dhital – USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range, Las Cruces, NM, USA

  Co-author: Alexandra Heller – USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range

  Co-author: Jeremey Schallner – New Mexico State University

  Co-author: Ronald Treminio – New Mexico State University

  Co-author: Gayle Tyree – U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Moab, UT, USA

  Co-author: Brandi Elizabeth Wheeler, M.Sc. – New Mexico State University

  Co-author: Adrian Chappell – Cardiff University
• 4:30 PM – 4:45 PM PDT

  Radiative forcing by dust on snow and implications for mountain watersheds
  

  Presenting Author: McKenzie Skiles – University of Utah
• 4:45 PM – 5:00 PM PDT

  Climate Change, Dust Storms, and Social Vulnerabilities in the United States
  

  Presenting Author: Daniel Tong – George Mason University