ACADEMICS

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Allison Dunn

Professor

508-929-8641

adunn@worcester.edu

ST-310N

My research uses principles from the geosciences, biology, and chemistry to understand the terrestrial carbon cycle. Areas of focus include ecosystem response to climate, urbanization effects on carbon fluxes and pools, and how forest management affects atmospheric carbon sequestration. Much of my research is locally-based and designed to facilitate undergraduate participation.

Education

1996

Oberlin College

Geology

2003

Harvard University

Earth and Planetary Sciences

2006

Harvard University

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Ph.D.

Skills atmospheric science global change carbon cycle ecosystem ecology biogeochemistry

Achievements

Grant

Creating a Pipeline for Diversity in the Geosciences

A Sustainability-based Approach

Award

Alden Excellence in Teaching Award

Grant

4-D Modeling of the Regional Carbon Cycle in and Around Urban Environments

An interdisciplinary study to advance observational and modeling foundations

Grant

Earth&amp;amp;#39;s Thermostat

Educational module developed for Interdisciplinary Teaching about Earth for a Sustainable Future (InTeGrate), a NSF-funded project

Articles

Please click this link for a full list of publications; current webpage only shows a subset Read More

Tree productivity enhanced with conversion from forest to urban land covers Read More

Variations in atmospheric CO2 and carbon fluxes across a Boston, MA urban gradient Read More

Landscape heterogeneity, soil climate, and carbon exchange in a boreal black spruce forest Read More

High sensitivity of peat decomposition due to physical-biogeochemical feedback Read More

A long-term record of carbon exchange in a boreal black spruce forest: means, responses to interannual variability, and decadal trends Read More

Seasonal controls on the exchange of carbon and water in an Amazonian rain forest Read More

Increasing contribution of peatlands to boreal evapotranspiration in a warming climate Read More

Evaluation of remote sensing based terrestrial productivity from MODIS using regional tower eddy flux network observations Read More

Research

Carbon Sequestration in Mature Plantations and Regenerating Forests

This project measures the long-term carbon exchange in three forest stands: a red pine plantation, a recently clearcut red pine plantation, and 20-year-old stand naturally regenerating from a red pine plantation.

Carbon dynamics in urbanized areas

This research is designed to study the coupled human-natural system across the urban-to-rural gradient from the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA, to Boston, MA. Two papers from this research can be found under the "Publications" section (Briber et al. 2013, 2015).

Carbon Cycling in Northern Peatlands

I remain involved with research stemming from my doctoral research at the Northern Old Black Spruce study site in northern Manitoba, Canada. This site had the longest continuous record of high-frequency carbon exchange in the boreal forest. As I had primary responsibility for running the site from 1998-2007, I continue to be active in collaborative work utilizing its data, which are freely available at http://atmos.seas.harvard.edu/lab/data/boreasdata.html under a Fair Use policy

Geoscience Education

I am an active contributor to the geoscience education community, most recently co-authoring a two-week module called "Earth's Thermostat" as part of the NSF-funded InTeGrate project (see link).

Courses

GS101

Physical Geography

Earth's four major spheres: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.

3 credits

EV150

Environmental Science

Human interactions with the living and nonliving parts of their environment.

3 credits

GS250

Hydrology

Water's atmospheric, earth surface, and underground processes.

3 credits

GS230

Biogeography

The distribution of life on earth through space and time.

3 credits

GS235

Contemporary Climate Change

Past, present, and future climate and critical factors in Earth's energy balance.

3 credits

GS299

Atmospheric Science

The physics and chemistry of the atmosphere.

3 credits