Shijuan Chen:
Monitoring the changing environment from space
Thursday, February 15, 3:00 pm
Reception to follow, in the CIRES Atrium
Abstract: The global environment is changing at unprecedented rates. Traditionally, monitoring environmental change timely at large spatial scales is difficult due to the lack of frequent satellite observations and reliable processing methods. Recent advancements in satellite remote sensing provide new opportunities to monitor and understand environmental changes. In this talk, I will present novel research on monitoring environmental changes using satellite observations. The first part of this talk is on monitoring forest degradation and deforestation. I will present a novel method to monitor forest degradation using satellite data, and a study on forest degradation and understanding its drivers in the Republic of Georgia. The second part is about monitoring shifting cultivation and carbon emissions. I will present new methods for monitoring shifting cultivation in Laos and tracking carbon emissions by combining optical satellite observations and space-borne LiDAR. The third part is on urban ecology and environmental justice. I will talk about how underserved communities are disproportionally affected by urban heat and have less access to urban vegetation. Finally, I will conclude with my vision for future research on remote sensing of the environment, focusing on multi-source remote sensing data integration, interdisciplinary research, and engaging with different stakeholders.
Bio: Shijuan Chen is a Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Earth and Environment at Boston University. Her research focuses on data-driven inquiry on terrestrial ecosystem changes. Her research interests include land cover and land use change, time series analysis, deforestation and forest degradation, carbon cycle, urban forestry and urban heat island. She has published papers in top remote sensing and environmental journals, such as Remote Sensing of Environment, Environmental Research Letters, and Global Environmental Change. She is serving as a co-PI or co-I for two research projects funded by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
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