Wenjun Chen - Ecosystem Monitoring

Name: Wenjun Chen
Field of Expertise: Ecosystem Monitoring/Modeling using Remote Sensing
Education: Ph.D. in Biometeorology/Soil Physics, University of British Columbia
Works at: Natural Resources Canada’s Canada Centre for Remote Sensing in Ottawa, Ontario

What he studies

Dr. Chen uses satellite remote sensing and geospatial data to monitor ecosystem changes and its impacts in Canada’s north. His research includes the development of protocols for monitoring changes in plant growth, phenology, wetlands, and permafrost dynamics.

What is the importance of his research?

Understanding ecosystem changes is important for natural resource management in northern Canada. This includes activities such as protecting the ecological integrity of national parks, monitoring biodiversity and wildlife habitat, land use planning and environmental assessment of industrial development.

Interesting fact

Using satellite images taken over several decades allows remote sensing specialists to monitor seasonal and yearly changes in vegetation. In Northern Canada, images recorded from 1985 to 2010 reveal vegetation increases in most tundra and wetland ecosystems. In some ecosystems, the amount of vegetation has doubled. This data is being used for managing national parks and wildlife habitats in the north.

Current research projects

Dr. Chen is currently working on ParkSPACE. This joint project with the Parks Canada Agency and the Canadian Space Agency collects data in northern Canada using orbiting satellites. He also monitors wildlife habitats using remote sensing data.

Key publications

Chen, W., Blain D., Li J., Keohler K., Fraser R., Zhang Y., Leblanc S., Olthof I., Wang J., McGovern M. 2009. Biomass measurements and relationships with Landsat-7/ETM+ and JERS-1/SAR data over Canada’s western sub-arctic and low arctic. International Journal of Remote Sensing 30(9): 2355 — 2376.

Chen, W., Li J., Zhang Y., Zhou F., Koehler K., Leblanc S., Fraser R., Olthof I., Zhang Y., Wang J. 2009. Relating biomass and leaf area index to non-destructive measurements for monitoring changes in arctic vegetation. Arctic, 62(3): 281–294

Chen W., R.H. Moll, B.D. Haddon, S. Leblanc, G. Pavlic, R. Fraser, R. Fernandes, R. Latfovic, J. Cihlar, and S. Bridge, 2006, Canada’s forest cover indicator: definition, methodology, and early results, Natural Resources Modeling, 19: 91-116.

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