Yu Zhang

Yu Zhang

EDUCATION

Ph.D. in Geophysics, 1999, Peking University, in conjunction with University of New Hampshire

Contact Information: Yu Zhang

AWARDS

2003 ESS Merit Award for outstanding contributions to multi-departmental initiatives using satellite-based approach

2006 ESS Merit Award for exceptional achievement in the Arctic land use change and greenhouse gas monitoring and accounting

2007 ESS Merit Award for exceptional achievement in development and application of models to assess thaw impacts on land and infrastructure

2008 Departmental Merit Award of Natural Resources Canada for creativity and innovation in development and application of models to assess thaw impacts on land and infrastructure

2009 Public Service Award of Excellence for innovation in permafrost thaw impact assessment  

CURRENT S&T / RESEARCH

My current research is mainly to use satellite data and process-based models to quantify the impacts of climate change on northern land and ecosystems, including

  • Modelling and mapping climate change impacts on permafrost based on remote sensing data and the Northern Ecosystem Soil Temperature Model (NEST).
  • Assessing the impacts of climate change on northern peat lands and carbon dynamics using the Wetland-DNDC model.
  • Modelling and mapping vegetation dynamics in northern ecosystems by integrating the Individual Plant Radiation model (IPR), a permafrost model (NEST), and a soil biogeochemistry model for DeNitrification and DeComposition (DNDC).

KEY PUBLICATIONS

Zhang, Y., W. Chen, and D.W. Riseborough. Disequilibrium response of permafrost thaw to climate warming in Canada over 1850-2100. Geophysical Research Letters, 35, L02502, 2008.

Zhang, Y., W. Chen, and D.W. Riseborough. Transient projections of permafrost distribution in Canada during the 21st century under scenarios of climate change. Global and Planetary Change, 60, 443-456, 2008.

Zhang, Y., W. Chen, and D.W. Riseborough. Temporal and spatial changes of permafrost in Canada since the end of the Little Ice Age. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres), 111, D22103, 2006.

Zhang, Y., W. Chen, and J. Cihlar. A process-based model for quantifying the impact of climate change on permafrost thermal regimes. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres), 108(D22), 4695, 2003.

Zhang, Y., W. Chen, S.L. Smith, D.W. Riseborough, and J. Cihlar. Soil temperature in Canada during the 20th century: Complex responses to atmospheric climate change. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres), 110, D03112, 2005.

List of publications for Yu Zhang in GEOSCAN