Romy Chakraborty, whose background is in anaerobic microbial physiology and microbial ecology, assumes the role of the Department Head for Ecology, effective February 1, 2017 as announced by EESA ALD, Susan Hubbard
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Marin County’s San Geronimo Valley Planning Group is evaluating the watersheds that encompass the Lagunitas and San Geronimo Creeks, which drain into Tomales Bay and provide coho salmon habitat. Water pathogens have been detected in the watershed and Tomales Bay. Faulty on-site wastewater systems, especially for properties in close proximity to streams, have been identified as among the sources…
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EESA’s Trevor Keenan and collaborator Ülo Niinemets of the Estonian University of Life Sciences and Estonian Academy of Sciences have just published a new study in a Letter in Nature Plants that concludes that global plant databases and models are underestimating plant growth rates and photosynthesis, plus other traits, because leaf measurements are reported as…
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy has awarded $4.6 million to Berkeley Lab for two innovative projects that promote nondestructive ways to “see” into the soil, increase crop yields, and promote the storage of carbon.
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Many scientisst have expected that trees and tree line would migrate to higher elevations and latitudes as the climate warms. However, new research conducted by a team led by Lara Kueppers, research scientist in EESA’s Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division and at UC Merced’s Sierra Nevada Research Institute, just published in the journal Global Change Biology, shows…
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Little is known about the spring thaws of the frozen Arctic tundra in May that generate large pulses of greenhouse gases—how large are these emissions? What are the mechanisms? “We can see the effects of climate change happening more rapidly in the Arctic than in any other part of world,” said Berkeley Lab/EESA scientist Naama Raz-Yaseef. “So…
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The Director’s Awards program recognizes significant achievements of Berkeley Lab employees. Each year, these awards are given for accomplishments, leadership, collaboration, multi-disciplinary science, cross-divisional projects, and commitment to excellence in support of the Lab’s mission and strategic goals. The 2016 recipients of the Director’s Achievement Awards were recognized this month. To see a complete list…
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The Earth and Environmental Sciences Area (EESA) recently held a townhall (Oct. 31) to preview the upcoming release of its 10-year strategic plan. Deputy Director Horst Simon, as well as Directors from other Lab Areas, joined the full house. Five Grand Challenges have been identified to drive EESA’s research over the coming decade: Earth’s Microbial…
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The benefits of pioneering science to agriculture was on display when Karen Ross, Secretary of the CA Department of Food & Agriculture, visited Berkeley Lab.
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Trevor Keenan and others' discovery suggest the rate at which CO2 is accumulating in the atmosphere has plateaued in recent years because Earth’s vegetation is grabbing more carbon from the air than in previous decades.
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