Sami Rifai
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samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai
@samirifai.bsky.social
1.1K followers 360 following 22 posts

Ecosystem ecologist and remote sensing enthusiast.

Videos
Environmental science 80%
Geography 20%
Posts Replies Media Videos

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Aug 26
Big congrats to Duyen and you!

Reposted by Peter Thorne, Mark Lubell, Kevin J. Anchukaitis , and 5 more

voosen.me
Paul Voosen @voosen.me · Aug 25
My latest: The Trump administration is not waiting for the next fiscal year -- or Congress -- to cut climate science at NOAA. A new document details the money it won't spend *this* year on climate research.
Trump administration pushes ahead with NOAA climate and weather cuts
Despite congressional resistance, agency aims to cut research spending now
www.science.org

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Aug 18
Thanks Mostafa, that's great! I'll keep that one in mind. Am I correct that it has no NIR channel? I'm still searching for a low cost options (if there are any) that have an NIR band.

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Aug 18
Does anyone have suggestions for (moderately priced) phenocams with an NIR band that are still being manufactured?

I get the sense that the standard StarDot cameras are no longer being sold, but haven't found an alternative apart from Campbell's CCFC which looks amazing but is def not cheap.

Reposted by Michael E. Mann, Richard S.J. Tol, Stefan Rahmstorf , and 20 more

andrewdessler.com
Andrew Dessler @andrewdessler.com · Jul 31
🚨 If you're interested in working on a coordinated response to the DOE climate report, please enter your info on this google form 🚨

Please RT this so as many people see it as possible.

forms.gle/BL9xUAfRxA...
DOE climate report response form
We are collecting names to assemble a writing team to respond to the DOE climate working group report. If you'd like to contribute, enter your info below. At this point, there is no guarantee what we'll do (if anything), but we want to keep our options open by collecting names. If you have any further questions, feel free to email me. We are primarily looking for Ph.D. scientists at universities or government labs in appropriate fields. I realize that this will exclude some qualified people and I apologize, but we felt this was necessary for a variety of reasons.
forms.gle

Reposted by Yadvinder Malhi, Anurag A. Agrawal, Sami W. Rifai

natplants.nature.com
Nature Plants @natplants.nature.com · Jun 6
New Article: "Leaf venation network evolution across clades and scales" rdcu.be/epLNP

Evolution of leaf venation networks, from fewer, corrugated veins to high vein density and smoother loops. Herbivory as a potential driver of venation architectural changes.

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Jul 22
Rare(!) 4-year fellowship available here in South Australia, targeted to people with a few years of postdoc experience and < 8 years post PhD.

careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/51...
Learn more about South Australia's new university for the future.
careers.adelaide.edu.au

Reposted by Matthias Cuntz, Sami W. Rifai, María Poca , and 3 more

lucascernusak.bsky.social
Lucas Cernusak @lucascernusak.bsky.social · Jun 17
I have an opportunity for a new PhD student in tropical tree ecophysiology in my lab. Some more details at the link below. Please pass along!

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Responses of tropical forest trees to rising carbon dioxide - conifers versus angiosperms at James Cook University on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Responses of tropical forest trees to rising carbon dioxide - conifers versus angiosperms at James Cook University, listed on FindAPhD.com
www.findaphd.com

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Jun 6
www.usgs.gov/landsat-miss...

Because of everything that has been going on... this really hits deeper than it should.
A Final Farewell to Landsat 7
The Landsat 7 satellite will receive its final transmission from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on June 4, 2025, at 1:08 PM CST. The satellite launched in April 1999 and will be decommissioned afte...
www.usgs.gov

Reposted by Julia Koricheva, Paul I. Palmer, Rosie A. Fisher , and 5 more

forestplots.bsky.social
ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · May 16
Job Opportunity: Lecturer in Ecology and Global Change at University of Leeds.
We welcome dynamic applicants from across the world to join our team of tropical ecology and global change scientists.
jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

Reposted by Ankur R. Desai, Christine Wiedinmyer, Todd Campbell , and 9 more

mzahneis.bsky.social
Megan Zahneis @mzahneis.bsky.social · Apr 18
Here's a copy of an NSF grant termination notice that went out today. "NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant...on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities." Not subject to appeal. #HigherEd #AcademicSky
Text of email: Dear [redacted], The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has undertaken a review of its award portfolio. Each award was carefully and individually reviewed, and the agency has determined that termination of certain awards is necessary because they are not in alignment with current NSF priorities. Effective immediately, the following are terminated: [redacted] NSF is issuing this termination to protect the interests of the government pursuant to NSF Grant General Conditions (GC-1) term and condition entitled Termination and Enforcement; on the basis that they no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities. This is the final agency decision and not subject to appeal. Costs incurred as a result of this termination may be reimbursed, provided such costs would otherwise be allowable under the terms of the award and the governing cost principles. In accordance with your award terms and conditions, you have 30 days from the termination date to furnish a summary of progress under the award and an itemized accounting of allowable costs incurred prior to the termination date. Sincerely, [redacted] Division Director Office of Budget Finance and Award Management (BFA) Division of Grants and Agreements (DGA)

Reposted by Monica G. Turner, Craig R. Primmer, Sami W. Rifai

shannonskalos.bsky.social
Shannon Skalos, PhD @shannonskalos.bsky.social · Apr 19
All wildlife research at USGS will be eliminated. All research and science centers. All coop units. BBS, BBL…. gone.

www.science.org/content/arti...
Trump swings budget ax at USGS biology research
Plan to eliminate $307 million ecosystem program could face obstacles in Congress
www.science.org

Reposted by Olivier Giménez, Hilde Van den Bulck, Brian Medeiros , and 9 more

noamross.net
Noam Ross @noamross.net · Apr 19
🚨Report your NSF grant terminations! 🚨

We are starting to collect information on NSF grant terminations to create a shared resource as we have for NIH. The more information we collect, the more we can organize, advocate, and fight back! Please share widely!

airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...
NSF Grant Termination Information Collection Form Please use this form to submit information identifying specific NSF grants that have been cancelled for any reason after January 20, 2025. We are tracking these grants to increase transparency, organize affected PIs, and facilitate responses, including via litigation. Please share the form as widely as possible with your networks. We are actively building a pipeline to organize these terminations and will soon have a tracker akin to our NIH grant tracker at https://airtable.com/appjhyo9NTvJLocRy/shrNto1NNp9eJlgpA WE WILL NOT DISCLOSE THE IDENTITY OF ANYONE WHO USES THIS FORM TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. We will keep your identity confidential. These resources are maintained by Noam Ross of rOpenSci and Scott Delaney of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, with input and support from additional volunteers. For any questions, please contact Scott Delaney on Signal (sdelaney.84). THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE!

Reposted by Sari Kovats, Halley E. Froehlich, Sami W. Rifai

cwiedinm.bsky.social
Christine Wiedinmyer @cwiedinm.bsky.social · Apr 18
Here is an article and a list of NOAA datasets expected to end and be unavailable in the next few weeks. Please make sure you get in and download what you need!!
eos.org/research-and...
NOAA Datasets Will Soon Disappear - Eos
NOAA has quietly reported that they will soon decommission 14 datasets, products, and catalogs related to earthquakes and marine, coastal, and estuary science.
eos.org

Reposted by Marten Winter, Sami W. Rifai

laylugli.bsky.social
Laynara F. Lugli @laylugli.bsky.social · Apr 14
Come work with us @AmazonFACE! We have 4 postdoc positions open:
1) Wood Traits and Growth Relationships
2) Impacts on Biogeochemical Cycling
3) Vegetation Modelling – hydrological/hydraulic processes
4) Functional Traits related to Photosynthesis
More info: amazonface.unicamp.br/oportunidade...
Oportunidades - AmazonFACE
O AmazonFACE está com quatro vagas de pós-doutorado disponíveis. Veja abaixo mais informações
amazonface.unicamp.br

Reposted by Sami W. Rifai, Daniel Zuleta

forestplots.bsky.social
ForestPlots @forestplots.bsky.social · Mar 31
INPA procura candidato(a) para pós-doutorado no Projeto “Integrando a hidrologia do solo e características hidráulicas para entender os riscos de mortalidade às secas das árvores gigantes” com o projeto “GIGANTE” (www.caryinstitute.org/science/rese...).
@treeco-db.bsky.social @evangora.bsky.social

Reposted by Sami W. Rifai, Encarni Montoya, Daniel Zuleta , and 1 more

ymalhi.bsky.social
Yadvinder Malhi @ymalhi.bsky.social · Mar 7
In our new paper in @science.org, we show that tropical forests are changing over time, but too slowly to track climate change. Our article, led by @jeaggu.bsky.social just out:

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

@oxfordgeography.bsky.social
@naturerecovery.bsky.social
@forestplots.bsky.social
Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change
Understanding the capacity of forests to adapt to climate change is of pivotal importance for conservation science, yet this is still widely unknown. This knowledge gap is particularly acute in high-b...
www.science.org

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Mar 6
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Canopy functional trait variation across Earth’s tropical forests - Nature
Data from a variety of sources—including satellite, climate and soil data, as well as field-collected information on plant traits—are pooled and analysed to map the functional diversity of tropical fo...
www.nature.com

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Mar 6
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Reposted by Mathias Disney, Valério D. Pillar, Julian Schrader , and 4 more

jeaggu.bsky.social
Jesús Aguirre Gutiérrez @jeaggu.bsky.social · Mar 6
Are tropical forests in the Americas changing as adaptation to ongoing climate change? Yes, they are!
Are these changes enough to track their suitable climate?
Not quite! Check out our paper in @science.org www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... to see more of what our network has been working on!
Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change
Understanding the capacity of forests to adapt to climate change is of pivotal importance for conservation science, yet this is still widely unknown. This knowledge gap is particularly acute in high-b...
www.science.org

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Jan 15
Join us in sunny South Australia! Postdoc position in my group at the University of Adelaide to use UAV LiDAR and remote sensing to examine forest recovery and responses to weather extremes: careers.adelaide.edu.au/cw/en/job/51...
Come and celebrate our 150th year. Explore our events, our history, and the foundation we’ve built for the future.
careers.adelaide.edu.au

Reposted by Sami W. Rifai

erikaberenguer.bsky.social
Erika Berenguer @erikaberenguer.bsky.social · Dec 28
Post-doc opportunity in Oxdord for those with a background in Ecology and remote sensing:
my.corehr.com/pls/coreport...
Job Details
my.corehr.com

Reposted by Belinda E. Medlyn, Sami W. Rifai, Daniel Zuleta

mdekauwe.bsky.social
Martin De Kauwe @mdekauwe.bsky.social · Dec 11
📢 18-month postdoc in my lab doing drought modelling with either the UK land surface model JULES or machine learning. Up to you which. Please share widely (thanks)

www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...

Closes: 18th January
European summer drought JULES land surface model

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Nov 29
Using remote sensing to study climate impacts on vegetation? Consider submitting an abstract to "CCS.18: Monitoring Climate Change Impacts on Vegetation"

2025 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium is coming to Brisbane, Australia Aug 3-8

Submission due by 10 January 2025!

Reposted by Sami W. Rifai

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Jul 13
Ah Delve is a great word though. A colleague assumed I was using a chat bot because I used 'delve' in a course description because of this figure!

Reposted by Sami W. Rifai

cboettig.bsky.social
Carl Boettiger @cboettig.bsky.social · Jun 26
This rather fantastic recent piece is a great illustration of the value of code review, as well as sensitivity analyses. doi.org/10.1038/s414...

But I think it is particularly instructive as commentary on our scientific process today. 🧵
Mathematical biases in the calculation of the Living Planet Index lead to overestimation of vertebrate population decline - Nature Communications
The Living Planet Index is a widely used metric to measure the global population trends of vertebrates. This in-depth analysis of the methodology underlying the index reveals fundamental issues and id...
doi.org

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · May 13
Here we show how (1) not accounting for VPD can confound the temperature effect, and (2) generalized additive models can be used to separate the effects of temperature from VPD. (2/2)

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · May 13
Air temperature and vapor pressure deficit are highly correlated, yet they can have somewhat opposed effects on photosynthesis. (1/2)

nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The stomatal response to vapor pressure deficit drives the apparent temperature response of photosynthesis in tropical forests
<em>New Phytologist</em> is an international journal owned by the New Phytologist Foundation publishing original research in plant science and its applications.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

samirifai.bsky.social
Sami Rifai @samirifai.bsky.social · Apr 25
Thanks for the explanation and photos. Very interesting to see and think about! Can only dream of trying this in Australia... VPD can reach 7+ kPa around Adelaide.