Start Date

23-9-2024 3:45 PM

End Date

23-9-2024 5:00 PM

Access Type

Open Access

Abstract

Coastal wetlands, some of the Earth's most valuable ecosystems, face unprecedented threats due to the accelerating impacts of climate change—sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, hurricanes, and storm surges. These forces are fundamentally altering the ecosystem functions, threatening their survival. Will these ecosystems adapt and persist, or are they doomed to disappear? In this talk, Dr. Yu Zhang explores this critical question through an integrated hydrologic and eco-geomorphologic lens. By examining the dynamic interactions between water, vegetation, and landforms, Dr. Zhang's research offers new insights into the potential futures of coastal wetlands and the intricate feedbacks that may shape their resilience in the face of changing climates.

Biography

Dr. Yu Zhang is a research scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. His work primarily focuses on understanding the hydrological and eco-geomorphological dynamics of complex systems such as coastal wetlands, Arctic permafrost, and drylands. His research aims to improve predictions of environmental changes and inform sustainable management practices in the Earth’s vulnerable regions under climate change. Dr. Zhang earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Chongqing University, a Master’s degree in Hydrology from Beijing Normal University, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

ORCID

0000-0002-9263-8428

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Sep 23rd, 3:45 PM Sep 23rd, 5:00 PM

Coastal wetland hydrology under climate change: dynamics, consequences, and eco-geomorphologic feedbacks

Coastal wetlands, some of the Earth's most valuable ecosystems, face unprecedented threats due to the accelerating impacts of climate change—sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, hurricanes, and storm surges. These forces are fundamentally altering the ecosystem functions, threatening their survival. Will these ecosystems adapt and persist, or are they doomed to disappear? In this talk, Dr. Yu Zhang explores this critical question through an integrated hydrologic and eco-geomorphologic lens. By examining the dynamic interactions between water, vegetation, and landforms, Dr. Zhang's research offers new insights into the potential futures of coastal wetlands and the intricate feedbacks that may shape their resilience in the face of changing climates.