science

a bit more about my curiosity-driven research endeavors

My Approach to Science

My scientific approach is driven by curiosity and a slow, careful weaving of data and analyses to answer highly complex questions. I believe that solving these challenges requires an interdisciplinary mindset, integrating diverse perspectives to uncover deeper insights into natural systems.

Research Themes

Carbon Fluxes in Source-to-Sink Systems

What Are Source-to-Sink Systems?

Source-to-sink systems describe the movement of carbon from its point of origin (source) to its ultimate storage location (sink). These systems are crucial for climate regulation as they determine how much carbon is released into the atmosphere versus how much is sequestered in long-term reservoirs such as soils, sediments, and aquatic environments. Understanding these pathways helps to reveal the resilience of landscapes in regulating global carbon cycles.

Carbon Storage and Release in Headwater Systems

My doctoral research investigated the dual role of headwater systems in the Oregon Cascades as both carbon storage and release compartments. This work explored how headwater environments mediate carbon transport, controlling the balance between long-term sequestration and short-term fluxes into downstream systems.

Dynamics of Organic Carbon Transport

Another key focus was on the dynamics of organic carbon particles traveling from headwaters to river mouths. By tracking particulate organic carbon (POC) movement, I analyzed how different factors—such as hydrological events and sediment interactions—affect carbon fluxes across watershed scales.

Millennial-Scale Organic Carbon Export and Burial

I also examined millennial-scale organic carbon export and burial in the Oregon Coast Range, highlighting the role of geomorphic processes in determining carbon sequestration potential. This study provided insights into how long-term landscape evolution influences the efficiency of carbon burial in sedimentary basins.

Carbon Dynamics Across the Landscape: the DBGCR Hypothesis

Building upon this foundation, I am currently developing the Dynamic Bio-Geomorphic Fabric for Carbon Redistribution (DBGCR) hypothesis. This hypothesis reframes the role of forests in the Oregon Coast Range, proposing that they function as dynamic climatic buffers rather than static carbon sinks or sources. It suggests that:

  • Carbon redistribution is regulated by landscape feedback mechanisms rather than a simple input-output system.
  • Disturbance regimes play a pivotal role in priming landscapes for efficient carbon burial.
  • The interplay between vegetation, hydrology, and geomorphic processes defines long-term carbon storage potential.

From Variability to Information Theory

Through my research, I recognized that changes in variability contain essential signals of natural history. This realization led me to apply information theory as a tool to analyze how natural systems encode and evolve over time. This perspective has guided my broader work on: - The role of uncertainty and entropy in ecological and geomorphic transitions. - The Generalized Entropic Uncertainty Principle (GEUP), which explores the nonlinear evolution of uncertainty in complex systems.

Let’s Collaborate

If you are interested in interdisciplinary research about carbon, climate, and landscapes, I would love to connect. Get in Touch.