Dr. Paul Treitz

I was born in Pelham, in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario. My undergraduate training in Biology and Geography was obtained at Brock University (B.Sc. (Hons) –1983, BEd – 1986) and my graduate degrees were acquired at the University of Waterloo (M.A. – 1986, PhD – 1997). From 1989-1995, I was a research scientist in the Earth Observations Laboratory at the University of Waterloo. In 1995 I accepted an academic appointment in the Department of Geography and Faculty of Environmental Studies at York University in Toronto. I moved to the Department of Geography at Queen’s University in Kingston in 1999. While at Queen’s, I have served the Department as Graduate Chair (2002-2006), Acting Head of Department (2007-2008), Head of Department (2010-2016) and Interim Head of Department (2019-2022).

Credentials:

• B.Sc. (Brock)
• M.A., Ph.D.(Waterloo, 1997)
• Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (FRCGS)

Links:

• LaRSEES

Research Interests:

My research focus, and that of my students is on the application of remote sensing data for estimating biophysical variables (e.g., percent cover, aboveground biomass, leaf area index (LAI), fPAR) of Arctic and Boreal ecosystems. These biophysical variables are linked to many ecosystem processes. For example, biomass information plays a significant role in assessing carbon stocks; is an important element in global change and productivity models; and is a measure of vegetation community structure which influences biodiversity. Current research projects include the examination of tolerant hardwood and boreal forests using LiDAR data to characterize forest stand structure and estimate biophysical/physiological variables. In addition, we are examining satellite remote sensing data and spectral derivatives to classify Arctic vegetation communities and estimate biophysical/ecosystem variables with the purpose of linking these to carbon dioxide exchange at study sites on Boothia Peninsula, Melville Island, and Baffin Island, Nunavut. Further, we are also examining the utility of RADARSAT synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data to model soil moisture and permafrost degradation across Arctic watersheds. Central to these studies, and our research, is the influence of spatial resolution on the estimation of these ecosystem/biophysical variables at local and regional scales. Finally, all of these research efforts (Arctic and Boreal) are supported by extensive field campaigns.

Curriculum Vitae (PDF 446 kB)