Julia Kelly

I have a background in physical geography and ecosystem science. My research focuses on understanding how disturbances affect the carbon balance of forests and peatlands by combining carbon flux measurements and remote sensing data at different spatial scales

In my postdoctoral research, I am investigating how wildfire severity and different types of forest management are affecting the carbon balance of forests recovering from a major wildfire in central Sweden in 2018. The project uses eddy covariance data, footprint modelling, manual chamber measurements, drone imagery and tower-based spectral measurements to track the growth of new vegetation and evaluate the effects of salvage-logging versus natural regeneration on the ecosystem microclimate and carbon flux emissions. The results will form the basis for policy briefs that support forest managers and policymakers in adopting sustainable post-fire forest management strategies.

During my PhD, I developed new methods for modelling and upscaling carbon fluxes in boreal peatlands, which focused specifically on using thermal cameras (on towers, drones and satellites) to collect high resolution surface temperature data. Temperature is an important variable affecting many biological processes, including ecosystem respiration. Combining tower- and drone-based imagery of surface temperature allowed ecosystem respiration to be upscaled in unprecedented detail. It also revealed new insights into the response of peatlands to severe drought and heatwaves.

I defended my PhD in Environmental Science in March 2021 at CEC, but I started it at the Geography Department at Swansea University (UK) before moving to CEC with my supervisor during my second year. I am part of the Lund Earth Observation Research Group at the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science (INES) and a ClimbEco Research School alumna. My work has involved close collaboration with colleagues from Gothenburg University, SLU and Swansea University and uses data from national research infrastructures such as ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) and SITES (Swedish Infrastructure for Ecosystem Science).