Russell Scott

Russell L. Scott, Ph.D. Research Hydrologist Southwest Watershed Research Center USDA-Agricultural Research Service 2000 E. Allen Road Tucson, AZ  85719 Tel: (520) 647 - 2971                          Email: russ.scott@usda.gov

Research interests

I study the hydrological and ecological exchanges of energy, water and carbon dioxide at the soil, vegetation, and atmospheric interface, particularly in water-limited dryland areas. Some of my specific research topics include:

1. understanding the consequences of land-cover change and climate variability on ecosystem water and carbon cycling,
2. improving hydrological and land-atmosphere models,
3. determining the role that vegetation plays on vadose zone soil water redistribution and respiration, and
4. partitioning water vapor and net carbon dioxide flux into their component fluxes.

Education

University of Arizona	Hydrology and Water Resources	Ph.D. 1999
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	Civil and Environmental Eng./Hydrology	M.S. 1994
Colorado State University	Mathematics/Philosophy	B.S. 1990

Ten representative publications

(a complete list and pdf's available here)

Scott, R.L., Johnston, M.R., Knowles, J.F., MacBean, N., Mahmud, K., Roby, M.C., and Dannenberg, M.P. 2023. Interannual variability of spring and summer monsoon growing season carbon exchange at a semiarid savanna over nearly two decades. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 339, 109584. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2023.109584

Scott, R.L., Knowles, J.F., Nelson, J.A., Gentine, P., Li, X., Barron-Gafford, G., Bryant, R., and Biederman, J.A. 2021. Water Availability Impacts on Evapotranspiration Partitioning. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 297, 108251. doi:10.1016/j.agrformet.2020.108251

Scott, R.L. and Biederman, J.A. 2019. Critical zone water balance over thirteen years in a semiarid savanna. Water Resources Research, 55, 574-588, doi: 10.1029/2018WR023477 

Scott, R.L., Biederman, J.A., Hamerlynck, E.P. and Barron-Gafford, G.A. 2015. The carbon balance pivot point of southwestern U.S. semiarid ecosystems: Insights from the 21st century drought. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 120, 2612-2624. doi: 10.1002/2015JG003181 

Scott, R.L., Huxman, T.E., Barron-Gafford, G.A., Darrel Jenerette, G., Young, J.M. and Hamerlynck, E.P. 2014. When vegetation change alters ecosystem water availability. Global Change Biology, 20, 2198-2210. doi:10.1111/gcb.12511

Scott, R.L., Hamerlynck, E.P., Jenerette, G.D., Moran, M.S., and Barron-Gafford, G. 2010. Carbon dioxide exchange in a semidesert grassland through drought-induced vegetation change.Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences, 115, G03026. doi:10.1029/2010JG001348.

Scott, R.L., Cable, W.L., Huxman, T.E., Nagler, P.L., Hernandez, M., and Goodrich, D.C. 2008. Multiyear riparian evapotranspiration and groundwater use for a semiarid watershed. Journal of Arid Environments, 72, 1232-1246. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2008.01.001

Scott, R.L., Cable, W.L., and Hultine, K.R. 2008. The ecohydrologic significance of hydraulic redistribution in a semiarid savanna. Water Resources Research, 44, W02440, doi:10.1029/2007WR006149 

Scott, R.L., Williams, D.G., Goodrich, D.C., Cable, W.L., Levick, L.R., McGuire, R., Gazal, R.M., Yepez, E.A., Ellsworth, P., and Huxman, T.E. (2006) Chapter D: Determining the riparian groundwater use within the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and the Sierra Vista Subwatershed, Arizona. In Hydrologic Requirements of and Consumptive Ground-Water Use by Riparian Vegetation along the San Pedro River, Arizona, U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5163 (eds Leenhouts JM, Stromberg JC, Scott RL), pp. 107-142.

Scott, R.L., Shuttleworth, W.J., Keefer, T.O., and Warrick, A.W. 2000. Modeling multiyear observations of soil moisture recharge in the semiarid American southwest. Water Resources Research, 36, 2233-2247. doi: 10.1029/2000WR900116