Kate Johnson
Kate Johnson
Qualifications
BSc (hons) in Environmental Science, Lancaster University (2008);
MSc in Geography/Dendroglaciology, University of Victoria, Canada (2010)
Postgraduate
Email: kjohnson03@qub.ac.uk
Address
School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology (GAP)
Queen’s University Belfast
Belfast, BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland, UK
Telephone
+44 (0)28 9097 5287
Current Research: Environmental Change
Late-Glacial and Holocene environmental variability of southern South America
Background
To predict future climate change and vegetation scenarios, one must first understand the processes and mechanisms that have driven past changes in a region. Climate changes within the Holocene (c. 20-10 k yr before present (BP)) is of particular interest due to the differences in climate scenarios in the Southern and Northern hemispheres.
This research aims to further our understanding of climate change (and subsequent vegetation change and fire history) in Southern South America – an area where previous research is sparse and often criticised. The research will utilise high resolution analyses of sediment cores to investigate the timing and pattern of shifts in vegetation ecotones and the frequency and regimes of fire in the region. Phylogeography techniques will also be employed to investigate the post-glacier spread of trees.
It is anticipated that this research will contribute to a wider understanding of the vegetation and fire history in the region and it will assess the extent to which climate has driven major changes in the environment.
Publications:
Johnson, K., and Smith, D.J. Dendroglaciological reconstruction of late Holocene glacier activity at White and South Flat Glaciers, Boundary Range, northern British Columbia Coast Mountains, Canada. The Holocene. [accepted for publication]
Presentations:
Johnson, K and Smith, D. J. (2009) Dendroglaciological evidence for Late Holocene glacier activity at White and South Flat glaciers, Cambria Icefield, northern British Columbia Coast Mountains. 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Geographers. March 22-27, 2009. Rivera Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Johnson, K.; and Smith, D.J. (2009) Dendroglaciological evidence for Late Holocene glacier activity at White and South Flat glaciers, Cambria Icefield, northern British Columbia Coast Mountains. 51st Annual Meeting of the Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers. March 5-7, 2009. Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia.
Johnson, K.; and Smith, D.J. (2009) Late Holocene glacial activity of White and Souther Flat Glaciers, Northern British Columbia Coast Mountains, Canada. CANQUA–CGRG Biennial Meeting. May 3-8, 2009. Simon Fraser University, Burnaby Campus, Burnaby, British Columbia.
Johnson, K.; and Smith, D.J. (2010) Dendroglaciological reconstruction of late Holocene glacier activity at White and South Flat Glaciers, Boundary Range, northwestern British Columbia Coast Mountains. Prairie Summit , Joint Conference of Canadian Association of Geographers, Canadian Cartographic Association, Canadian Geomorphology Research Group, Canadian Remote Sensing Society. June 1 to 5, 2010. Regina, Saskatchewan.
Johnson, K.; and Smith, D.J. (2010) Dendroclimatological reconstruction of Summer air-temperature near Stewart, BC. WDCAG 2010: A Spatial Odyssey. 52nd Annual Meeting of the Western Division of the Canadian Association of Geographers. March 25-27, 2010. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Johnson, K. (2011) Palaeoecological and Phylogenetic investigations in southern South America. QRA Postgraduate Symposium 2011. QRA. August 31st - September 1st 2011, Durham, UK.
