Lab Director
Kirsten Zickfeld
Professor, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University
Education
- Ph.D., Physics, Potsdam University, Potsdam, Germany (2004)
- M.Sc., Physics, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany (1998)
Research Interests
My research focuses on the effects of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and aerosols on climate on multi-centennial timescales. The goal is to better understand the response of the climate system to forcing and the interactions between climate system components (the atmosphere, ocean, land surface, biosphere and cryosphere) in order to improve predictions for the future. To achieve this objective, I use climate models of different complexity, from simple conceptual models to complex Earth System models.
Current Post-Doc
Sabine Mathesius
Post-Doctoral Researcher
Education
- Dr. rer. nat., Biological Oceanography, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel and GEOMAR, Kiel, Germany (2019)
- M.Sc., Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany (2013)
- B.Sc., Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany (2010)
Research Interests
My main research interests lie in climate change and ocean acidification as well as in the related changes in the biosphere. In particular, I am interested in the question how the Earth system responds to different future scenarios of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions that eventually reach the same cumulative emissions but differ in the emissions trajectories, including overshoot scenarios with negative carbon dioxide emissions.
Current Graduate Students
Claude-Michel Nzotungicimpaye
Ph.D. Candidate
Education
- M.Sc., Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, South Africa (2014)
Research Project
My doctoral research focuses on the modelling of wetland methane emissions, particularly from northern permafrost regions. The principal objective of this research is to investigate the permafrost carbon feedback and its implications on the global climate.
Alexander MacIsaac
Ph.D. Candidate
Education
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M.Sc., Geography, Urban and Environmental Studies, Concordia University, Montreal (2019)
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B.Sc., Specialization in Environmental Science, Concordia University, Montreal (2017)
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B.A., English, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish (2012)
Research Project
Chloe Papalazarou
M.Sc. Candidate
Education
- B.Sc. Honors Biological and Medical Physics - University of Guelph, ON, Canada (2019)
Research Project
Modelling the Earth system response to artificial atmospheric carbon dioxide removal on the coupled climate-carbon cycle system. The goal of my research is to understand the effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide removal on the progression of climate change.
Rachel Chimuka
M.Sc. Candidate
Education
- B.Sc. Environmental Science - Simon Fraser University, BC, Canada (2019)
Research Project
My research focuses on carbon cycle feedbacks under negative emissions. Past research has focused on carbon cycle feedbacks under positive emissions. However, carbon dioxide removal technologies are an essential part of emissions scenarios that constrain warming to 2°C above preindustrial levels. Therefore, an understanding of carbon cycle feedbacks under negative emissions is key to better predict future changes in climate and in the carbon cycle.
Previous Graduate Students and Post-docs
Nesha Wright
M.Sc. (2017-2020)
Education
- B.Sc., Honors Environmental Science, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, Canada (2017)
Research Project
With climate change projected to increase global surface temperature further, particularly at northern high latitudes, it is important we understand how northern Earth systems will respond to these changing conditions. My research seeks to understand the effect of different emission pathways and levels of warming on the extent of permafrost in the circumpolar north.
Adrien Damseaux
Ph.D. Candidate (2019-2020)
Education
- M.Sc., Geographical Science, Université de Liège, Belgium (2018)
- B.Sc., Geographical Science, Université de Liège, Belgium (2016)
Research Project
I use a coupled climate model of intermediate complexity and a high-resolution ice sheet model to represent the interactions between the Greenland Ice Sheet and the climate. The aim of my research is twofold. First, we are seeking to quantify the level of cumulative CO2 emissions that will cause the ice sheet to completely melt. Then we examine whether this process is reversible and the related consequences for global sea-level rise.
Nadine Mengis
Post-Doctoral Researcher (2019)
Education
- Dr. rer. Nat., Climate Physics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany (2016)
- M.Sc. (GEOMAR Centre for Ocean Research, Meteorology and Statistic Department), Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany (2013)
- B.Sc. (GEOMAR Centre for Ocean Research, Physical Oceanography Department), Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany (2010)
Research Project
Nadine is currently involved in testing and tuning the newest version of the University of Victoria Earth System Climate Model (UVic ESCM). This model is her main tool to conduct scientific experiments, such as assessing the carbon cycle uncertainty of carbon budgets. While at SFU, Nadine is going to investigate temperature overshoot scenarios and the impact of the associated negative emissions on the Earth system
Current Position
Post-doc, GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Link to current website: https://nadinemengis.wixsite.com/home
Margaret Valerio
M.Sc. (2015-2019)
Education
- B.A., Geology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA (2015)
Research Project
Role of Southern Ocean circulation in carbon dioxide sequestration during the Last Glacial Maximum.
Mehdi Aminipouri
Ph.D. (2013-2019)
Education
- M.Sc., Environmental Modelling, and Management, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK, 2009
- B.Sc., Statistics, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran, 2005
Thesis
Evaluating heat vulnerability and the impact of urban street tree planting on radiant heat exposure: examples from Vancouver’s neighborhoods.
Xinru Li
M.Sc. (2015-2017)
Education
- M.Sc., Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada (2015-2017)
Thesis
Exploring the reversibility of marine climate change impacts under carbon dioxide removal.
Current Position
Ph.D. candidate, University of British Columbia
Dana Ehlert
Ph.D. (2012-2017)
Education
- Ph.D., Climate Modelling, SFU, Burnaby, Canada (2017)
- M.Sc. Geophysics, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany (2012)
- Vordiplom in Earth Sciences (B.Sc. equivalent), University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany (2008)
Thesis
Modeling the climate response to anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions: time-dependent processes, commitment, and reversibility.
Current Position
Post-doc, GEOMAR - Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel
Link to current website: https://www.geomar.de/~dehlert-e
Katarzyna (Kasia) Tokarska
M.Sc. (2012-2014)
Education
- Ph.D. (School of Earth and Ocean Sciences), University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada (2017)
- M.Sc. (Department of Geography, Faculty of Environment), Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C, Canada (2014)
- B.Sc. (Physics), Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C, Canada (2012)
Thesis
The role of negative carbon dioxide emissions in climate system reversibility.
Current Position
Post-doc, ETH, Zürich
Personal website link: https://kasiatokarska.weebly.com/
Tyler Herrington
M.Sc. (2011-2013)
Education
- M.Sc., Geography, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, (2014)
- B.Sc., Physical Geography Co-op with Distinction, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, (2011)
Thesis
Dependence of Regional Climate Change on Greenhouse Emission Pathway.
Current Position
Ph.D. candidate, University of Waterloo
Research Assistants
- Jesse Kemp, B.Sc. candidate, Environmental and Biological Sciences, SFU, 2020
- Rachel Chimuka, B.Sc. candidate, Environmental Science, SFU, 2018-2019
- Alireza Mogharrab, B.Sc. candidate, Interactive Arts and Technology, SFU, 2018
- Jessie Girling, B.Sc., Environmental Science, SFU, 2016
- Kate Bujnowicz, B.Sc., Environmental Science, SFU, 2016
- Deven Azevedo, B.A., Economics, SFU, 2015-2017
- William Morgenstern, B.Sc., Geographic Information, SFU, 2015
- Xiaofeng (Charles) Wang, B.Sc., Environmental Science, SFU, 2014
- Michael Wong, B.Sc., Environmental Science, SFU, 2014
- Wei Tao (Nick) Rong, B.Sc., Environmental Science, SFU, 2013