Current Research Interests
Professor Christopher A. Williams earned a B.A. in Biology/Environmental Studies, Bucknell University,
M.S. in Watershed Science, Colorado State University, and Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Duke University.
He joined the faculty in the Graduate School of Geography in Fall 2008. Prior to coming to Clark University
he was a Research Scientist at Colorado State University's Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, followed by
faculty appointment as Assistant Research Scientist with the Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center
of the University of Maryland Baltimore County and based in the Biospheric Sciences Branch of NASA's Goddard
Space Flight Center.
Trained as a land surface hydrologist and ecosystem scientist, Chris investigates how earth's biosphere
responds to natural and human perturbations. His approach combines field, lab, and remote sensing data with
process-based modeling aimed at understanding how terrestrial biophysical and biogeochemical processes are
influenced by hydroclimatic variability and disturbance. Spanning leaf to global scales, his research is
staged around the world, primarily in Africa, Europe, and North America.
Selected Publications
Williams, C.A., N.P. Hanan, I. Baker, A.S. Denning, G.J. Collatz, J.A. Berry and R.J. Scholes. (in prep) Interannual variability of photosynthesis in Africa as induced by climate oscillations.
Williams, C.A., N.P. Hanan, I. Baker, A.S. Denning, G.J. Collatz and J.A. Berry. (in review) Inter-annual variability in photosynthesis and carbon dynamics across Africa.
Williams, C.A., A. Porporato and J.D. Albertson. (in review) Tree-grass competition for stochastic soil moisture: Possible coexistence from fluctuations.
Williams, C.A., N.P. Hanan and R.J. Scholes. (in review) How much complexity is needed to model water and carbon dioxide fluxes following rain pulses in an African savanna?
Williams, C.A., N.P. Hanan, R.J. Scholes, A.S. Denning, J.A. Berry and J. Neff. 2007. Africa and the global carbon cycle. Carbon Balance and Management 2 no. 3. Download pdf copy
Williams, C.A., T.M. Scanlon, and J.D. Albertson. 2007. Influence of surface heterogeneity on scalar similarity in the canopy sublayer. Boundary-Layer Meteorology 122 no. 1, doi:10.1007.s10546-006-9091-3. Download pdf copy
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