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Program Domain

Earth Systems and Society

Our mission is to provide decision-relevant insight at the interface of human and natural systems to support resiliency of energy, water, agriculture, and built environments in the face of global and regional change.

Programs

Program

Climate Modeling

This program aims to develop global process-resolving models to help quantify the roles of climate feedbacks in anthropogenic climate change. Abrupt and extreme climate changes from anthropogenic warming pose some of the greatest risks to society and the environment. Understanding of the complex interactions involved with feedbacks is critical.

Private: Christina Marie Patricola [email protected] 510-486-5983

Background

The Earth Systems and Society (ESS) Program Domain seeks to understand how humans influence climatic, ecological, and hydrological processes across a range of scales, as well as the risks faced by human systems on a changing planet. We build upon quantitative expertise in climate and ecosystem science from across the division to:

  • Improve predictive understanding of climate and ecosystem dynamics at decision-relevant scales
  • Assess the environmental implications of alternative pathways of human development
  • Identify pathways to resiliency for water, energy, agricultural, and urban systems

ESS is one of four Program Domains within the Climate and Ecosystem Sciences Division.

Program Domain Leads

Andrew D. Jones
Program Domain Lead for Earth Systems and Society

News & Events

EESA Scientist Coauthors New Comprehensive Guide on Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere

January 18, 2021

Berkeley Lab researchers are working on ways to sequester more carbon in soil, including through agricultural practices. (Credit: Berkeley Lab) Scientists say that any serious plan to address climate change should include carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies and policies, which makes the newly launched CDR Primer an especially vital resource, says Berkeley Lab scientist Margaret Torn, one…

New EESA Research Explores Impact of Land-use Policy on California’s Terrestrial Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Budget

January 12, 2021

The 28 million acres of natural and working lands across California provide a unique opportunity to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction goals through various land-use strategies, such as expanding urban forest areas or restoring woodlands. However, the need to mitigate wildfire severity is also a critical priority for California, and one that can increase emissions…

Impacts of Climate Change on Our Water and Energy Systems: It’s Complicated

January 11, 2021

As the planet continues to warm, the twin challenges of diminishing water supply and growing energy demand are intensifying. But because water and energy are inextricably linked, as we try to adapt to one challenge – say, by getting more water via desalination or water recycling – we may be worsening the other challenge by…

New Study: Are Drylands Getting Drier?

January 5, 2021

EESA visiting postdoctoral fellow Sha Zhou led a recent study exploring why climate models do not project drylands will become substantially drier with climate change as scientists have long believed. A paper published yesterday in the journal Nature Climate Change, “Soil moisture-atmosphere feedbacks mitigate declining water availability in drylands,” describes the importance of long-term changes…

Coordinated air and field campaigns improve insights into Earth’s critical zone

December 11, 2020

Earth’s critical zone spans from the top of the tree canopy to the depths of the subsurface. Scientists from multiple disciplines have traditionally used ground-based field campaigns to study complex interactions taking place between water, air, rock, and soil – hoping to reveal how factors like climate change could impact this life-sustaining critical zone.  Now…

Coast to Coast: Using eddy covariance techniques reveals coastal systems “on the edge”

December 8, 2020

Coast to Coast Using eddy covariance techniques, research into diverse coastal systems reveals ecosystems “on the edge” At a coastal North Carolina research location, fall storms regularly inundate entire original hardwood forests with 1-3 feet of water that drains by the time trees begin leafing out the following spring. Researchers have evaluated the Alligator River…

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