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Growing new generations of critical zone scientists |
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| Authors: | Adam S Wymore Nicole R West Kate Maher Pamela L Sullivan Adrian Harpold Diana Karwan Jill A Marshall Julia Perdrial Daniella M Rempe Lin Ma |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA;2. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA;3. Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA;4. Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA;5. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV, USA;6. Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA;7. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA;8. Department of Geology, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA;9. Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, TX;10. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA |
| Abstract: | Critical zone (CZ) science is entering its second decade. A new generation of scientists is emerging trained specifically in CZ science and are contributing to advances in environmental science across disciplines. Concurrently, the global scope of CZ science is being elevated as new countries invest in CZ observatories. Global CZ science has great potential to address a diverse array of questions beyond any single discipline. In this commentary we discuss a series of CZ science grand challenges that should be targeted by early‐career researchers: understanding water availability in the CZ; expanding CZ science into new environments; communicating the societal relevance of CZ science including earthcasting to the public; seamlessly integrating biological sciences within the CZ framework; and scaling CZ processes over large spatial and temporal gradients. Targeting these grand challenges will push CZ science well into the future. We also highlight mechanisms for increased leadership within the CZ community. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
| Keywords: | critical zone science critical zone observatories early‐career grand challenges earth systems research |