Calabrese, Salvatore Assistant Professor

Our research aims at quantifying the interaction between the hydrologic cycle and the physical and biochemical processes in the soil and throughout the Critical Zone, with an emphasis on the role of hydro-climatic fluctuations. By improving our understanding of the complex dynamics of the water and nutrient cycles, we seek to develop quantitative tools that help us preserve soil ecosystem services, such as soil and plant carbon storage, and prevent our ecosystems from degrading.



To tackle such fundamental questions on these rather complex biotic/abiotic interactions and shed light on their dominant dynamics, we borrow tools from fluid mechanics, dynamical system theory, stochastic processes and thermodynamics to use in conjunction with experimental observations.



Specific research projects include modeling soil moisture dynamics and its control on biogeochemical cycle across climatic gradients, identification of long terms hydro-climatic drivers of chemical weathering, estimation of long term hydrologic and energy partitioning, quantification of soil formation processes, and modeling the effect of water management strategies.