Forecasting the impacts of drought on human-modified tropical forests by integrating models with data

热带森林是地球上生物多样性最丰富的生态系统之一，通过光合作用从大气中吸收大量二氧化碳，在减缓气候变化方面发挥着关键作用。然而，这些生态强国正日益受到猖獗的森林砍伐和干旱等极端气候事件频率上升的威胁。因此，了解热带森林将如何应对这些压力，已成为当前努力保护它们的生物多样性及其为社会提供的服务的关键优先事项。自20世纪70年代以来，婆罗洲的森林砍伐率一直是世界上最高的之一。这个项目将在婆罗洲开展工作，探索砍伐热带森林在多大程度上危及他们应对干旱的能力。通过将实地实验与尖端的3D遥感技术和基于过程的建模相结合，我的目标是揭示干旱如何影响被砍伐的热带森林的碳循环：从森林地面幼苗的生长和存活到整个婆罗洲整个生态系统的动态。通过这样做，我将阐明热带森林抵御气候变化的限度，并在我们努力过渡到更可持续的未来时开发保护这些生态系统所需的工具。

Tropical forests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet and play a critical role in slowing climate change by absorbing huge amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Yet these ecological powerhouses are increasingly under threat from rampant deforestation and a rise in the frequency of extreme climate events such as droughts. Understanding how tropical forests will respond to these pressures has therefore emerged as a key priority for ongoing efforts to safeguard their biodiversity and the services they provide to society. Working in Borneo - where deforestation rates since the 1970s have been among the highest in the world - this project will explore the extent to which logging tropical forests jeopardises their ability to cope with drought. By combining field experiments with cutting-edge 3D remote sensing technologies and process-based modelling, I aim to uncover how drought impacts the carbon cycle of logged tropical forests: from the growth and survival of seedlings on the forest floor to the dynamics of whole ecosystems across Borneo. In doing so I will shed light on the limits of tropical forests to withstand climate change and develop the tools needed for protecting these ecosystems as we strive to transition towards a more sustainable future.