Ajit Govind

Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Physique de l’Environnement (EPHYSE)
Institut national de la recherche agronomique
71, Avenue Edouard Bourlaux
33140 Villenave d'Ornon
France

Tél 05 57 12 23 71
Email:ajit.govind@bordeaux.inra.fr

• PhD (Coupled Modeling of Carbon and Water Cycles) University of Toronto, Canada.
• MSc(Agricultural Physics) Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India.
• BSc (Agriculture) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India.

My research interests are aimed towards better understanding the influence of climate, topography, vegetation and disturbances (both natural and anthropogenic) on the terrestrial biogeochemical processes, using model-based approaches.
My research work started in 1999 with the development of empirical algorithms that predict nitrogen status of wheat crop using canopy spectral reflectance and biometric measurements. Further, in 2003, I joined the Canadian Carbon Program’s (CCP) Integrated Modeling and Scaling team to work on the simulation of the coupled hydro-ecological and biogeochemical processes in boreal ecosystems under climate change and management scenarios. I have been investigating hydrologically controlled ecophysiological and biogeochemical processes using a spatially explicit SVAT model [BEPS-TerrainLab V2.0], remotely sensed data and eddy covariance measurements. I also participated in the in the Historical Carbon Modeling Project of CCP where we analyzed the dynamics of C stocks and fluxes under the influence of climate, disturbance and management factors, using the InTEC model.
At EPHYSE, I am doing landscape-scale ecohydrological studies in the forest dominated Landes de Gascogne region located in SW France [STELLA project]. In this project, we are developing the STEPS model that can exploit remotely sensed and ground-based datasets. STEPS-Simulator of Terrestrial Ecohydrological Processes and Systems

Research Activities

Articles Published in Refereed Journals

Govind A., Chen J.M., Bernier P., Margolis H., Guindon L., Beaudoin A., 2011. Spatially distributed modeling of the long-term carbon balance of a boreal landscape. Ecological Modelling,, 222(15): 2780-2795, doi: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.04.007.

Govind A., Chen J.M., Mcdonnell J., Kumari J., Sonnentag O., 2010. Effect of lateral hydrological processes on photosynthesis and evapotranspiration in a boreal ecosystem. Ecohydrology, 4(3): 394-410, doi: 10.102/eco.141.

Govind, A., Chen, J.M.; and Ju, W.(2009). Spatially Explicit Simulation of Hydrologically Controlled Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles and Associated Feedback Mechanisms in a Boreal Ecosystem. Journal of Geophysical Research 114,G02006, (doi: 10.1029/2008JG000728).

Govind, A., Chen, J.M., Margolis, H., Ju, W., Sonnentag, O and Giasson, M.A. (2009). A Spatially Explicit Hydro-ecological Modeling Framework (BEPS-TerrainLab V2.0): Model Description and Test in a Boreal Ecosystem in Eastern North America, Journal of Hydrology. 367:200-216. (doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.01.006)

Sonnentag, O; Chen, J.M; Roulet, N.T; Ju, W; and Govind, A. (2008). Spatially Explicit Simulation of Peatland Hydrology and Carbon Dioxide Exchange: the Influence of Mesoscale Topography. Journal of Geophysical Research 113, G02005, doi:10.1029/2007JG000605.

Sonnentag,O; Chen, J.M; Roberts,D; Talbot, J; Halligan, K; Govind A., 2007. Mapping Tree and Shrub Leaf Area Indices in an Ombrotrophic Peatland Using Field Measurements and Multiple End Member Spectral Mixture Analysis. Remote Sensing of Environment. 109: 342-360.

Chen. J.M, Govind, A; Sonnentag, O; Zhang, Y; Amiro, B. and Barr, A. 2006. Leaf Area Index of Fluxnet Canada sites. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.140: 257-268.

Kumari J., Govind A., and Govind A., 2006. Entropy Change as Influenced by Anthropogenic Impact on a Boreal Land Cover-A Case Study. Journal of Environmental Informatics 7(2): 75-83.

Govind A., Bhavanarayana M., Kumari J., and Govind A., 2005. Efficacy of Different Indices Derived from Spectral Reflectance of Wheat for Nitrogen Stress Detection. Journal of Plant Interactions 1(2):93-105.

Articles in Progress

Govind A., Kumari J. Understanding the Terrestrial carbon Cycle: An Ecohydrological Approach. Earth Science Reviews. (in revision)

Z. Wang, Grant, R. ; Arain, A; Bernier, P; Chen, B; Chen, J; Govind, A.; Guindon, L; Kurz, W. A; Peng, C; Price, D. T; Stinson, G; Sun, J; Trofymow J. A. and Yeluripati, J. (2011) Model intercomparison to evaluate climate and disturbance effects on interannual variation in net ecosystem productivity of a boreal forest landscape. Ecol. Modeling (under review)

Book chapters

Govind, A. and Chen,J.M. 2009. Mapping of Terrestrial Carbon Sources and Sinks through Remote Sensing and Modeling. In: Geoinformatics for Natural Resource Management. Eds: Joshi,P.K; Pani,P; Mohapatra,S.N. Nova Science Publishers, Inc. ISBN:978-160692-211-8.

De Melo-Abreu , J-P; Ahmed,D.M; Andrews, P.L; Bastos, T.X; De Groot, W,J; Fleming,R; Fleming,R; Fujioka,F; Goldammer,J.G; Govind,A; Harrison, J; Keenan,T; Price,D; Statheropoulos, M; Stigter,K and Wain,A (2006). Chapter 8-: Weather Hazards to Forest and Non-Forest Trees.In Applications of meteorology to forestry and non-forest. In: WMO/CAgM Guide to Agricultural Meteorological Practices (GAMP).Ed: Stigter,K; WMO, Geneva.

Kumari, J; Govind, A. and Himashu Pathak (2003). International Initiatives on Combating Global Warming. In: Soil and Greenhouse Effect, Monitoring and Mitigation. Ed, H. Pathak and S. Kumar, CBS Publishers, New Delhi. pp 115-123.

Stigter, K. and Govind, A. (2011). Improving the Issuing, Absorption and use of Climate Forecast Information in Agricultural Production. In: Applied Agrometeorology. Ed, Stigter,K. Springer, Heidelberg/New York. xxxviii + 1101 pp.)

Govind, A. and Stigter, K (2011). The Sustainable Development and Use of Agro-ecosystems. In: Applied Agrometeorology. Ed, Stigter,K. Springer, Heidelberg/New York. xxxviii + 1101 pp.)

Conference Presentations

Govind, A; Kumari, J; Brown, M.E; Samalens, J.C; Wigneron, J.P; Myneni, R.B; Loustau, D; Lagouarde, J.P; Kathilankal, J and Guyon, D (2010) Global Trends in Vegetation Dynamics: Lessons Learnt from 25 Years of Earth Observation from Space, The 3rd International Symposium on Recent Advances in Quantitative Remote Sensing: RAQRS'III, Torrent, Valencia, Spain. 27th Sept -1st October 2010 (oral presentation).

Govind, A; Guyon, D; Wigneron, J-P (2010) Effect of Canopy Architecture on Carbon and Water Fluxes: A Numerical Experiment. LANDMOD 2010: International Conference on Integrative Landscape Modelling,February 3rd to 5th, 2010, SupAgro, Montpellier, France.

Govind, A; Kathilankal, J; Kumari, J; Wigneron, J.-P. and Guyon, D; (2010) Global Trends in Vegetation Dynamics: Lessons Learnt from 25 years of Earth Observation from Space. The 3rd International Symposium on Recent Advances in Quantitative Remote Sensing: RAQRS'III, Valencia, Spain 27 Sept- 1 Oct 2010 (oral presentation)

Wigneron, J. P. ; Novello, N.; Kerr, Y.; Cabot, F.; Delwart, S.; Demontoux, F.; Govind, A.; Guyon, D.; E. Jacquette, H. Lawrence, E. Lopez-Baeza, A. Mahmoodi, C. Mattar, Mecklenburg, S.; Mialon, A.; Moisy, C. ; Richaume, P. ; Saleh, K.; Schwank, M.; Sobrino, J.A. (2010) First evaluation of SMOS observations and L2 soil moisture products over a variety of biomes at global scale. The 3rd International Symposium on Recent Advances in Quantitative Remote Sensing: RAQRS'III, 27 Sept- 1 Oct 2010 (oral presentation)

Bernier,P.Y; Wang, Z; Grant,R.F; Arain,A; Chen,B; Chen,J; Coops,N; Govind, A; Guindon,L; Hember,R; Kurz,W; Price,D.T; Stinson,G; Trofymow,T; and J. Yeluripati A model inter-comparison study of forest growth on two coastal and boreal forest landscapes in Canada. AGU Spring Meeting, (Session-B06 CarboNA: Continental Carbon Cycle Studies in North America) 24-27 May, Toronto, Canada. (Invited Presentation).

Chen, J. M; Ju,W; Govind, A; Sonnentag, O (2009). A Spatially Explicit Modeling Approach to Capture the Hydrological Effects on Biogeochemical Processes in a Boreal Watershed. AGU Spring Meeting, (Session-H08: Coupled Carbon, Water and Nutrient Cycling in Complex Terrain) 24-27 May, Toronto, Canada. (Invited Presentation).

Govind, A. and Chen, J. M. (2009). A Spatially Explicit Modeling Approach to Capture the Hydrological Effects on Biogeochemical Processes in a Boreal Watershed, AGU Spring Meeting (Session-H08: Coupled Carbon, Water and Nutrient Cycling in Complex Terrain) 24-27 May, Toronto, Canada. (Oral Presentation).

Wang, Z; Grant,R.F; Arain,A; Bernier,P.Y; Chen,B; Chen,J; Coops,N; Govind, A; Guindon,L; Hember,R; Kurz,W; Price,D.T; Stinson,G; Trofymow,T; and J. Yeluripati (2009) Climate and Disturbance Effects on Forest Productivity in Oyster River and Chibougamau Study Areas. 2nd North American Carbon Program (NACP) All-Investigators Meeting. Feb 17-20, 2009. San Diego, CA. (Poster Presentation).

Govind, A; Law,B.E; Chen,J.M; Turner,D (2008). Long-term Carbon Balance of Oregon’s Landmass under Disturbances, Changes in Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate. Ameriflux Annual General Meeting, Oct 2008, Boulder, CO, USA (Poster Presentation).

Wang, Z; Grant,R.F; Arain,A; Bernier,P.Y; Chen,B; Chen,J; Coops,N; Govind,A; Guindon,L; Hember,R; Kurz,W; Price,D.T; Stinson,G; Trofymow,T; and J. Yeluripati (2008). Model Intercomparison: Disturbance Effects on Forest Productivity in Oyster River and Chibougamau Study Areas.14th International Boreal Forest Research Association (IBFRA) Conference, september 22 -27 2008 in Harbin China (Poster Presentation).

Govind, A; Chen,J.M; and Margolis, H. (2007). Spatially explicit simulation of hydrologically controlled carbon and nitrogen cycles and associated feedback mechanisms in a boreal ecosystem in Eastern Canada. American Geophysical Union, Fall 2007 Meeting, Dec 2007, San Francisco, CA, USA (Conference Oral Presentation).

Govind, A; Bhavanarayana,M; and Kumari,J (2007). Simulation of Winter Wheat growth under different levels of Nitrogen using a process based modeling approach. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Nov. 4-8, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Wang,Z; Grant,R.F; Trofymow,T; Bernier,P.Y; Kurz,W; Stinson,G; Guindon,L; Chen,J.M; Arain, M.A; Peng,C; Govind, A; Yeluripati,J; and Sun, J (2007). Modeling of Spatial and Temporal Variabilities of Forest above Ground Biomass in Oyster River and Chibougamau Sites, Canada (poster presentation). ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, Nov. 4-8, New Orleans, LA, USA.

Govind ,A. ; Chen,J.M; Bernier,P.Y; Margolis,H; Ju,W; (2007). Linking long term and short term modeling frameworks to reconstruct historical carbon balance at the Eastern Old Black Spruce site. 5th Annual General Meeting of the Fluxnet Canada Research Network, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, February, 2004. (Poster Presentation).

Wang,Z; Grant,R.F; Trofymow,T; Bernier,P.Y; Kurz,W; Stinson,G; Guindon,L; Chen,J.M; Arain, M.A; Peng,C; Govind,A; Yeluripati,J; and Sun,J (2007). Modeling of Temporal Variability of Forest above Ground Biomass in Oyster River and Chibougamau Sites FCRN General Meeting, Ottawa (Poster presentation).

Govind,A; Chen,J.M; Margolis,H; Bernier,P.Y; (2006) Topographically driven lateral water fluxes and their influence on carbon assimilation of a black spruce ecosystem. American Geophysical Union, Fall 2006 Meeting, Dec 2006, San Francisco, CA, USA (Conference Oral Presentation).

Wang,Z; Grant,R.F; Trofymow,T; Bernier,P.Y; Kurz,W; Stinson, G; Guindon,L; Chen,J.M; Price, D and Govind, A (2006) Grid-based Modelling of Temporal and Spatial Variability of Forest Carbon Fluxes at Oyster River Watershed and Chibougamau Site (poster presentation). AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA.

Govind,A; Chen,J.M; Margolis,H; Bernier,P.Y; Ju,W; Beaudoin,A; Guindon,L (2006) Modeling the carbon and hydrological cycles in a black spruce-moss dominated ecosystem in boreal eastern Canada. (Conference Oral Presentation). 40th Congress of Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, Toronto, May 29th - June 1st, 2006.

Govind,A; Chen,J.M; Margolis,H; Bernier,P.Y; Ju,W; Beaudoin,A; Guindon; Giasson,MA. (2006) Coupled Carbon and Hydrological Cycle Modeling at Watershed Scale at the eastern Old Black Spruce Site of FCRN in 2004. 4th Annual General Meeting of the Fluxnet Canada Research Network, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, February, 2006. (Poster Presentation).

Chen, J.M., Ju, W., Govind, A., Sonnentag, O., Chen, X. El-Maayar, M. (2004). Modelling hydrological and carbon cycles at tower sites and upscaling from site to region (poster presentation). 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Fluxnet Canada Research Network, Banff, Alberta, Canada, February, 2004. (Poster Presentation).

Govind,A; Bhavanarayana,,M; Gupta,V.K; Tomar,R.K(2001) Comparative Study of Broad band and Hyperspectral Indices as an Indicator of Nitrogen Stress in Wheat Crop. National Symposium on Advances in Remote Sensing Technology with Special emphasis on High Resolution Imagery, organized by Indian society of Remote Sensing (ISRS), Ahmedabad (Conference Oral Presentation).

Govind, A; Bhavanarayana (2003) Quantification of Nitrogen Stress Using La*b* Color System. 2 nd International Congress on Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. (Conference Poster Presentation).