Abstract:
The annual growth rings of trees are like books—written in a special language—that tell stories of Earth’s past climate and hydrology. This knowledge is not only of scientific interests, but also has implications for water management. In this talk, I will present three case studies of what we learned from tree rings about the hydroclimate of the past several centuries, and how we should change the way we manage our water resources given what the trees tell us. The first study is on the impacts of dams on the Mekong River, the second on using ENSO teleconnections in reservoir operations in the Philippines, and the third on trans-basin drought and water transfer. Finally, I will discuss some ideas for future research and collaborations.
Bio:
Hung Nguyen is an assistant professor in the Department of Earth Science and Environmental Change, UIUC. His work explores the intimate feedback loop between the water cycle and humanity. He uses paleoclimate proxies (mainly tree rings) as well as climate and hydrological models to study the water cycle—its behavior over space and time across scales, in the past, present, and future. Working with historians and archaeologists, he examines how societies were affected by, and adapted to, such changes. This knowledge of the past is key to help societies cope with climate change in the future.
