This project is focused on the development and testing of ocean models to be used in coupled atmosphere-ocean climate models at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and also in stand-alone experiments to improve our understanding of, and ability to model climate change.

This study aims to quantify the climate-warming feedback potential from emitted trace gases, as well as landscape changes within Arctic ecosystems. Analyzing these areas, we will test the hypothesis that there exists a warming threshold beyond which permafrost degradation and lake/wetland expansion will stimulate increases in methane and carbon dioxide emissions. This proposed research further improves our earth-system model by enhancing our representation of permafrost and dynamic wetland and lake systems to explore their effects on hydrological and carbon dynamics.

This project is analyzing the carbon cycle of the Arctic System with the goal of improving our ability to predict the dynamics of carbon in high latitudes. Because the climate system is vulnerable to significant releases of CO2 and CH4 from high latitudes, the responses of these gases to climate change have global consequences. A large release of CO2 and CH4 from high latitude terrestrial and marine systems to the atmosphere has the potential to affect the climate system in a way that may accelerate global warming.

This project aims to quantify trade-offs between production of biofuels, loss of forests, and production of food. The project involves the comparison of scenarios without expansion in biofuel production in the U.S. and in Europe to a baseline where biofuel expansion proceeds according to recent policies. Effects on tropical forests, greenhouse gas emissions, and on food prices are being explored.