Multi-scale Analysis of Moisture Patterns in Urbanizing Landscapes

The urbanization of ecosystems is a phenomenon of increasing importance, with ecological implications that are poorly characterized. A necessary first step in improving the characterization of these systems’ behavior is developing a better understanding of how terrestrial hydrological processes function in a landscape modified by urbanization. The strong spatial heterogeneity of the landscape necessitates examining how terrestrial hydrological processes operate as functions of catchment terrain structure, land-use/land cover composition, and with respect to natural and anthropogenic moisture forcings.