Martin Baur - 2020 cohort

Martin Baur mjb311@cam.ac.uk

  Germany

  Geography, Clare Hall

PhD thesis: Leveraging remote sensing-based information on plant water status for ecosystem models

Research interests:
  1. Ecosystem Modelling
  2. Microwave Remote Sensing
  3. Ecohydrology

My PhD will focus on the interface between remote sensing and ecological modelling. An optimal water economy is essential for plants, as water is often a limiting factor for primary production. Plants use stomatal regulation (opening or closing pores to control water and gas exchange) to optimize their water use. Stomatal regulation creates a functional link between water availability and gas exchange, thus linking water and carbon cycle. Representing these strategies in ecosystem models remains challenging and observing them on a global scale was not possible until very recently.

In my research I plan to use estimates of vegetation water content, soil moisture and plant photosynthetic activity from recent satellite systems to constrain stomatal regulation and investigate plant water dynamics on an ecosystem scale. The goal of my PhD is not only to model ecosystems with increased accuracy, but also to show the potential of earth observation for ecosystem modelling.

Who or what inspired you to pursue your research interests?

I think it is very hard to narrow this down to specific examples or people. I have been lucky to collaborate with a variety of people since my undergraduate. I have always been fascinated by the unique way each of them uses their knowledge and intuition to work in this field. This is my biggest source of motivation, inspiration and knowledge.