96th ESA Annual Meeting (August 7 -- 12, 2011)

Wednesday, August 10, 2011: 8:15 AM

Ballroom G, Austin Convention Center

Nathan Phillips, Earth and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, Lucy Hutyra, Earth & Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, Mark Friedl, Earth and Environment, Boston University, Suchi Gopal, Boston University, Boston, MA, Robert Kaufmann, Department of Geography and Environment, Boston University, Boston, MA, Joseph Ferreira, Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, Peter Furth, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, David, Y. Hollinger, Northern Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Durham, NH, David R. Foster, Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, MA and Stephen Wofsy, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Background/Question/Methods

Urban Metabolism - the transport and transformation of matter and energy in cities - is a conceptual framework by which we are investigating coupling of human and natural systems in metropolitan Boston, from its urban core to rural hinterlands. Within this framework, our exploratory research analyzes carbon as a central currency in the economy of urban metabolism. Movement and transformation of carbon cuts across and integrates all aspects of urban function and ultimately influences planetary health.

Results/Conclusions

We describe key current ULTRA-ex activities and preliminary results that explore patterns and drivers of space-time variation in urban-to-rural carbon metabolism, and describe how this research serves as a catalyst and springboard for a more comprehensive long term urban research vision in metropolitan Boston.

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SYMP 11-2 - The metabolism of Boston