Interview with Russ Limber, recent PhD Graduate, University of Tennessee
Russ Limber, a recent PhD graduate in data science and engineering with the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK), specializing in environmental and climate sciences, focuses on modeling river ice breakup timing in high-latitude regions. By using deep learning techniques like LSTMs (Long Short-Term Memory models), he predicts river ice breakup based on meteorological data with the goal of providing valuable forecasts for communities that rely on river ice for transportation and access to resources. His research leverages remotely sensed as well as modeled spaceborne data. In addition to river ice, Russ’ work spans other topics pertaining to environmental disturbance, which has led him to develop a deep appreciation for the interconnection between hydrology, local communities and ecosystems. This perspective has shaped his understanding of how environmental change affects both the natural world and human livelihoods. Rising temperatures disrupt migratory species and ecosystems that inhabitants rely on, while thawing permafrost increases the potential for erosion and threatens infrastructure. Russ carries out his research through the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education. Looking ahead, Russ is focused on the intersection of water, remote sensing and geospatial technology. He thinks spaceborne observations and derived products will be crucial for monitoring and predicting environmental changes and he is excited to contribute to the ongoing advancements in this field.
