I am an Earth system scientist and educator dedicated to studying the Earth
as a complex, interconnected system through an interdisciplinary and holistic
approach. My research aims to enhance our understanding of the Earth's biosphere and its interactions with the atmosphere and climate by utilizing innovative modeling techniques and comprehensive observational data. This work provides actionable insights that support global efforts toward a sustainable future.
My primary focus is on the terrestrial biosphere and its critical roles in global biogeochemical cycles, including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as the budgets of major greenhouse gases such as CO2, CH4, and N2O. I also investigate the impacts of human activities on the terrestrial biosphere’s capacity to provide essential goods and services, including food, energy, and water. By employing an integrated systems approach that combines terrestrial biosphere modeling with AI and machine learning, along with satellite and ground observations, I aim to develop a predictive understanding of how climate change, land use, and atmospheric conditions influence ecosystem structure and function, particularly regarding carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles, as well as the food-energy-water nexus.
In addition to my research, I am passionate about teaching and mentoring. I strive to inspire the next generation of scientists by sharing knowledge and creating a supportive learning environment, equipping my students and mentees to tackle the pressing challenges of our time. My current and former graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have explored a range of cutting edge research themes, detailed below. I welcome highly motivated individuals to join my research team as graduate students or postdoctoral fellows.
Research Themes and Highlights:
- Terrestrial Biospheric Modeling (TBM): Developing and improving TBM for a predictive understanding of Ecosystem Dynamics and Global Ecology (EDGE). (Tian et al. 2015, 2019; Wang et al. 2020; Shi et al. 2021; You et al. 2022)
- Coupled Biogeochemical Cycles and Greenhouse Gas Budgets: Examining coupled C-N-P cycles, and quantifying sources and sinks of major greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O). (Tian et al. 2015; Tian et al. 2016; Tian et al. 2024).
- Global Nitrogen Budget: Investigating nitrogen flows and transformations across the Earth system to manage and mitigate impacts on ecosystems and human health. (Xu et al. 2018; Tian et al. 2020; Tian et al. 2022; Gong et al. 2024)
- Climate Extremes and Wildfires: Analyzing the impacts of extreme weather events (Shi et al. 2021) and wildfires (Yang et al. 2015) and developing adaptation strategies.
- Land-Ocean Aquatic Continuum (LOAC): Studying the interactions between terrestrial and aquatic systems, focusing on lateral fluxes of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water (Yao et al. 2020; Tian et al. 2023; Bian et al. 2023; Li et al. 2024).
- Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Exploring the interconnectedness of food, energy, and water systems and their sustainability under climate change (Tian et al. 2018; Shi et al. 2022; Zhang, J. et al. 2024; Zhang, L. et al. 2024)
- Nature-Based Solutions: Implementing and managing ecosystem-based approaches to enhance carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and resilience (Lu et al. 2022; You et al. 2024; Yu et al. 2024).
Recent Publications Selected from 400 Journal Articles (Google Scholar):
Tian, H., Pan, N., Thompson, R. L., Canadell, J. G., …… Zhu, Q. (2024) Global
nitrous oxide budget (1980–2020), Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 2543–2604, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-2543-2024.
Gong, C., H. Tian, H. Liao, N. Pan, S. Pan, …… S. Zaehle (2024) Global net climate effects of anthropogenic reactive nitrogen, Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07714-4.
Li, Y., H. Tian, Y. Yao, H. Shi, Z. Bian, …… S. Pan (2024) Increased nitrous oxide emissions from global lakes and reservoirs since the pre-industrial era, Nature Communications 15, 942 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45061-0.
You, Y., Tian, H., Pan, S., Shi, H., Lu, C., Batchelor, W.D., …… Reilly, J. (2023). Net greenhouse gas balance in U.S. croplands: How can soils be part of the climate solution? Global Change Biology, 30, e17109. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17109
Bian, Z., H. Tian, S. Pan, H. Shi, C. Lu, …… L. Kalin. (2023). Soil legacy nutrients contribute to the decreasing stoichiometric ratio of N and P loading from the Mississippi River Basin. Global Change Biology, 00, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.16976.
Metz, E.-M., S. N. Vardag, S. Basu, M. Jung, B. Ahrens, ….. H. Tian, ….A. Butz. (2023). Soil respiration–driven CO2 pulses dominate Australia’s flux variability. Science, 379(6639), 1332-1335. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.add7833.
Tian, H., Y. Yao, Y. Li, H. Shi, S. Pan, R. G. Najjar, …… L R. Leung (2023). Increased terrestrial carbon export and CO2 evasion from global inland waters since the preindustrial era. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 37(10), e2023GB007776. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GB007776.
Lu, N., H. Tian, B. Fu, H. Yu, S. Piao, S. Chen, Y. Li, X. Li, M. Wang, and Z. Li. (2022). Biophysical and economic constraints on China’s natural climate solutions. Nature Climate Change, 12(9), 847-853. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01432-3.
Tian, H., Z. Bian, H. Shi, …… G. Conchedda. (2022). History of anthropogenic Nitrogen inputs (HaNi) to the terrestrial biosphere: a 5 arcmin resolution annual dataset from 1860 to 2019. Earth System Science Data, 14(10), 4551-4568. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-4551-2022.
Shi, H., H. Tian, S. Lange, J. Yang, S. Pan, B. Fu, and C. P. Reyer. (2021). Terrestrial biodiversity threatened by increasing global aridity velocity under high-level warming. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(36), e2015552118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2015552118.
Shi, H., H. Tian, N. Pan, C. P. Reyer, P. Ciais, ……Yang. (2021). Saturation of global terrestrial carbon sink under a high warming scenario. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 35(10), e2020GB006800. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GB006800.
Shi, Y., Zhang, Y., Wu, B…..H. Tian, Q. Yu. (2022) Building social resilience in North Korea can mitigate the impacts of climate change on food security. Nature Food 3, 499–511 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00551-6
Tian, H., R. Xu, J. G. Canadell, R. L. Thompson, W. Winiwarter, …… Y. Yao. (2020). A comprehensive quantification of global nitrous oxide sources and sinks. Nature, 586(7828), 248-256. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2780-0.
Tian, H., R. Xu, S. Pan, Y. Yao, Z. Bian, …… J. Yang. (2020). Long‐Term Trajectory of Nitrogen Loading and Delivery From Mississippi River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 34(5), e2019GB006475. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GB006475.
Yao, Y., H. Tian, H. Shi, S. Pan, R. Xu, N. Pan, and J. G. Canadell. (2020). Increased global nitrous oxide emissions from streams and rivers in the Anthropocene. Nature Climate Change, 10(2), 138-142. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-019-0665-8.
Wang, S., Y. Zhang, W. Ju, J. M. Chen, P. Ciais, …… H. Tian, …… J. Penuelas. (2020). Recent global decline of CO2 fertilization effects on vegetation photosynthesis. Science, 370(6522), 1295-1300. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb7772.
Tian, H., J. Yang, R. Xu, C. Lu, J. G. Canadell, E. A. Davidson, ……B. Zhang. (2019). Global soil nitrous oxide emissions since the preindustrial era estimated by an ensemble of terrestrial biosphere models: Magnitude, attribution, and uncertainty. Global change biology, 25(2), 640-659. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14514.
Xu, R., H. Tian, S. Pan, S. A. Prior, Y. Feng, W. D. Batchelor, J. Chen, and J. Yang. (2019). Global ammonia emissions from synthetic nitrogen fertilizer applications in agricultural systems: Empirical and process‐based estimates and uncertainty. Global Change Biology, 25(1), 314-326. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14499.
Buermann, W., M. Forkel, M. O’Sullivan, S. Sitch, P. Friedlingstein, ……H. Tian, …A. D. Richardson. (2018). Widespread seasonal compensation effects of spring warming on northern plant productivity. Nature, 562(7725), 110-114. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0555-7.
Schwalm, C. R., W. R. Anderegg, A. M. Michalak, J. B. Fisher, …… H. Tian. (2017). Global patterns of drought recovery. Nature, 548(7666), 202-205. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature23021.
Tian, H., C. Lu, P. Ciais, A. M. Michalak, J. G. Canadell, E. Saikawa, …… S. C. Wofsy. (2016). The terrestrial biosphere as a net source of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Nature, 531(7593), 225-228. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16946.
