Isaacs, Rachel Elizabeth

Research

research overview

My research uses a cross-disciplinary approach to address climate change impacts on treeline in the subarctic. This research combines field work and computer modeling and assessment to explore the the influence of top-down and bottom-up controls on spatial patterns of forest expansion and tree growth.

keywords

Biogeography, climate change, landscape ecology, spatial ecology, GIS, remote sensing, land cover change, treeline

Publications

selected publications

journal article
- Ice storms generate spatially heterogeneous damage patterns at the watershed scale in forested landscapes. Ecosphere. 2014
- Landscape‐scale modeling of reference period forest conditions and fire behavior on heavily logged lands. Ecosphere. 1-28. 2014
- Spatial variability of biotic and abiotic tree establishment constraints across a treeline ecotone in the Alaska Range. Ecology. 496-506. 2011
- Spatial patterns of ice storm disturbance on a forested landscape in the Appalachian Mountains, Virginia. Area. 20-30. 2007

Teaching

courses taught

ATOC 3600 - Principles of Climate
Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
Describes the basic components of the climate system: the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and lithosphere. Investigates the basic physical processes that determine climate and link the components of the climate system. Covers the hydrological cycle and its role in climate, climate stability and global change. Recommended prerequisites: one semester of calculus and ATOC 1060 or ATOC 3300 or GEOG 3301 or GEOG 1001 or ATOC major. Same as GEOG 3601 and ENVS 3600.
ENVS 3600 - Principles of Climate
Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
Describes the basic components of the climate system: the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and lithosphere. Investigates the basic physical processes that determine climate and link the components of the climate system. Covers the hydrological cycle and its role in climate, climate stability and global change. Recommended prerequisites: one semester of calculus and ATOC 1060 or ATOC 3300 or GEOG 3301 or GEOG 1001. Same as GEOG 3601 and ATOC 3600.
ENVS 4850 - ENVS Honors Thesis Research
Primary Instructor - Fall 2024
To be taken in final academic year prior to graduation. Consists of honors research and thesis preparation under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Department enforced restriction: Requires a minimum 3.3 GPA and a declared ENVS major and approval by departmental honors committee. If a student wishes to use ENVS 4850 to complete the ENVS Capstone degree requirement, at least 3 credit hours of ENVS 4850 are required (by graduation).
GEOG 1001 - Our Changing Planet: Climate and Vegetation
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Understanding our fragile planet and the life it harbors requires understanding how the distribution of the sun's energy at the surface, the atmosphere and its circulation, and the distribution of ocean and lands shape patterns of temperature, precipitation and vegetation across the globe. Along with providing a foundation for understanding planet Earth, this course addresses the growing impacts of human systems on climate change and environmental quality.
GEOG 3053 - Geographic Information Science: Mapping
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the fundamentals of cartographic design. Learn about the science and art of map design in a GIS environment! Students will learn how to build a spatial database, implement best practice for processing various types of environmental and social spatial data and apply basic visual analytics to understand spatial patterns. Recommended prerequisite: basic familiarity with computers and an introductory course in statistics (may be taken concurrently).

GEOG 3351 - Biogeography
Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Surveys and analyzes plant and animal distributions on a world scale from ecological and historical perspectives. Emphasizes human impact on species.

GEOG 3601 - Principles of Climate
Primary Instructor - Spring 2021
Describes the basic components of the climate system: the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and lithosphere. Investigates the basic physical processes that determine climate and link the components of the climate system. Covers the hydrological cycle and its role in climate, climate stability and global change. Recommended prerequisites: one semester of calculus and ATOC 1060 or ATOC 3300 or GEOG 3301 or GEOG 1001. Same as ATOC 3600 and ENVS 3600.

GEOG 4001 - Topics in Physical Geography
Primary Instructor - Fall 2022 / Fall 2023
Examines various topics in physical geography that are not typically covered in the curriculum. Offered intermittently depending on student demand and availability of instructors.

GEOG 4093 - Remote Sensing of the Environment
Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Covers acquisition and interpretation of environmental data by remote sensing. Discusses theory and sensors as well as manual and computerized interpretation methods. Stresses infrared and microwave portions of the spectrum. Same as GEOG 5093 and GEOL 4093 and GEOL 5093.

GEOG 4203 - Geographic Information Science: Spatial Modeling
Primary Instructor - Fall 2024
Focuses on the use and development of advanced models for human and environmental applications in a geospatial environment integrating raster and vector data models. Covers terrain and hydrologic modeling, geostatistical modeling, dasymetric modeling, as well as multi-criteria modeling. Group projects critically design, implement and test spatial models to develop independent skillsets in a chosen problem setting. Recommended requisite: working knowledge of GIS software. Same as GEOG 5203.

GEOG 4241 - Earth Surface Processes
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
Earth�s surface is constantly reshaped by water, ice, wind, and life. This class investigates the earth's landscapes and the processes that modify them, both gradually by slow weathering and erosion, and abruptly through the action of floods, landslides, and other geologic events. We cover surface processes in hillslope, glacial, riverine, desert, and coastal environments. Upon completion of the course, students will have mastered knowledge about diverse surface processes and landforms and applied core geomorphic principles to a variety of landscapes. Students will also learn that understanding surface processes is important for managing natural hazards (e.g., landslides and floods). This course will draw from many disciplines, including geology, geography, physics, chemistry, and biology. The laboratory portion of the course will include quantitative problem solving and field trips to collect and analyze geomorphic data. Same as GEOL 4241.

GEOG 4371 - Forest Geography: Principles and Dynamics
Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Surveys principles of forest geography and ecology. Includes both individual tree responses to environmental factors and species interactions within communities. Emphasizes forest dynamics and their relation to management problems. Same as GEOG 5371.

GEOG 5093 - Remote Sensing of the Environment
Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Fall 2024
Covers acquisition and interpretation of environmental data by remote sensing. Discusses theory and sensors as well as manual and computerized interpretation methods. Stresses infrared and microwave portions of the spectrum. Same as GEOG 4093 and GEOL 4093 and GEOL 5093.

GEOG 5100 - Special Topics: Geography
Primary Instructor - Fall 2022
Covers various topics outside of the normal curriculum; offered intermittently depending on student demand and availability of faculty. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours.

GEOG 5203 - Geographic Information Science: Spatial Modeling
Primary Instructor - Fall 2024
Focuses on the use and development of advanced models for human and environmental applications in a geospatial environment integrating raster and vector data models. Covers terrain and hydrologic modeling, geostatistical modeling, dasymetric modeling, as well as multi-criteria modeling. Group projects critically design, implement and test spatial models to develop independent skillsets in a chosen problem setting. Recommended prerequisite: GEOG 4103 or GEOG 5103 or working knowledge of GIS software or instructor consent required. Same as GEOG 4203.

GEOG 5371 - Forest Geography: Principles and Dynamics
Primary Instructor - Fall 2022 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Surveys principles of forest geography and ecology. Includes both individual tree responses to environmental factors and species interactions within communities. Emphasizes forest dynamics and their relation to management problems. Same as GEOG 4371.

GEOL 4093 - Remote Sensing of the Environment
Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2022 / Fall 2024
Covers acquisition and interpretation of environmental data by remote sensing. Discusses theory and sensors as well as manual and computerized interpretation methods. Stresses infrared and microwave portions of the spectrum. Same as GEOG 5093 and GEOG 4093 and GEOL 5093.

GEOL 4241 - Earth Surface Processes
Primary Instructor - Fall 2020
Earth�s surface is constantly reshaped by water, ice, wind, and life. This class investigates the earth's landscapes and the processes that modify them, both gradually by slow weathering and erosion, and abruptly through the action of floods, landslides, and other geologic events. We cover surface processes in hillslope, glacial, riverine, desert, and coastal environments. Upon completion of the course, students will have mastered knowledge about diverse surface processes and landforms and applied core geomorphic principles to a variety of landscapes. Students will also learn that understanding surface processes is important for managing natural hazards (e.g., landslides and floods). This course will draw from many disciplines, including geology, geography, physics, chemistry, and biology. The laboratory portion of the course will include quantitative problem solving and field trips to collect and analyze geomorphic data. Same as GEOG 4241.

GEOL 5093 - Remote Sensing of the Environment
Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2024
Covers acquisition and interpretation of environmental data by remote sensing. Discusses theory and sensors as well as manual and computerized interpretation methods. Stresses infrared and microwave portions of the spectrum. Same as GEOL 4093 and GEOG 4093 and GEOG 5093.

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Background

education and training

Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University 2016
M.S., Texas A&M University 2007
B.A., University of Hawaii at Hilo 2001

Other Profiles

Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=8YUYs8IAAAAJ&hl=en

ResearchGate

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rachel-Isaacs-2

VIVO

Positions

Research Areas