Photon Informed Ecology Lab
We combine remote sensing and data science to understand terrestrial ecosystems in a changing climate — linking optical signals to the physical and biological processes that drive them, from leaf to globe.
What we study
Our research is multi-scale in nature and mechanistically links remote sensing observations with biological processes — with a particular emphasis on quantifying carbon and water fluxes.
Remote sensing of photosynthesis
Detecting changes in photosynthesis when changes in structure are decoupled from changes in function.
Learn more →Evapotranspiration & water use efficiency
Building and interpreting ET and WUE products to support conservation, fire risk assessment, and water management.
Learn more →Proximal remote sensing
Bridging the gap between leaf and plant-scale observations, flux towers, and air- and spaceborne remote sensing.
Learn more →Latest from the lab
New Paper: OCO-3 Meets ECOSTRESS — Diurnal Water-Use Efficiency from Space
A new paper led by Dr. Pierrat in Geophysical Research Letters tests whether co-located OCO-3 fluorescence and ECOSTRESS thermal observations from the International Space Station can track how ecosystems balance carbon uptake and water loss over the course of the day.
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New Paper: Mapping Lithology and Mineral Alteration with Thermal Infrared Spectroscopy
A new paper co-authored by Dr. Pierrat in the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation uses thermal infrared spectroscopy to map rock types and hydrothermal alteration in geothermally active areas.
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New Paper: Spiralling Frontier Threats in Indigenous Amazonia
A new paper co-authored by Dr. Pierrat in Nature Sustainability documents accelerating socio-environmental threats closing in on Indigenous Lands in the Brazilian Amazon.
Read more →Join the lab
We recruit graduate students and postdoctoral scholars through the UCSB Geography Department, and welcome new collaborations with researchers, agencies, and non-profits working on ecosystem remote sensing.
See current opportunities