Erica Smithwick

Professor of Geography

Erica Smithwick

Research Summary

Understanding how a wide range of disturbances, especially fire, affect ecosystem function at landscape scales.

Huck Affiliations

Publication Tags

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Nitrogen Climate Change Planning Sulfur Climate Ecosystems Carbon Ecosystem Forests Turnover Phenology Quercus Deer Oak Longevity Prescribed Burning Rate Biodiversity Vegetation Fine Root Fine Roots Disturbance Forest Fires Pine Managers

Most Recent Publications

Quantifying spatial patterns of grass response to nutrient additions using empirical and neutral semivariogram models

Erica Smithwick, Douglas Baldwin, K Naithani,

Estimating Root Zone Soil Moisture Across the Eastern United States with Passive Microwave Satellite Data and a Simple Hydrologic Model

Douglas Baldwin, Salvatore Manfreda, Henry Lin, Erica Smithwick, Remote Sensing on p. 2013

Integrating Menominee model for sustainable forestry with Systems Thinking competency through 3D virtual tours

Ellie Nasr-Azadani, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Stuart J. Steidle, Melissa S. Lucash, Denice H. Wardrop, Nathan T. Fregien, Thomas R. Kenote, 2023, Sustainability Science on p. 2605-2628

Regenerative landscape design: an integrative framework to enhance sustainability planning

Erica Smithwick, Jennifer E. Baka, Douglas Warren Bird, Christopher Blaszscak-Boxe, Charles Andrew Cole, Jose D. Fuentes, Sarah E. Gergel, Leland L. Glenna, Caitlin Grady, Carter A. Hunt, Lisa Domenica Iulo, Jason Philip Kaye, Klaus Keller, 2023, Conservation Ecology

Testing presence, assessing attitudes: Study of a 3D virtual tour in an “aesthetically challenged” landscape

Stuart Steidle, Melissa Lucash, Ellie Nasr-Azadani, Erica Smithwick, 2023, Journal of Environmental Management

Public and manager perceptions about prescribed fire in the Mid-Atlantic, United States

Hong Wu, Zachary D. Miller, Rui Wang, Katherine Zipp, Peter Newman, Yau-Huo Shr, Cody L. Dems, Alan Taylor, Margot W. Kaye, Erica A.H. Smithwick, 2022, Journal of Environmental Management on p. 10

Interactions between landscape and local factors inform spatial action planning in post-fire forest environments

Jamie L. Peeler, Erica A.H. Smithwick, 2021, Landscape Ecology on p. 3523-3537

Landscape-Scale Forest Reorganization Following Insect Invasion and Harvest Under Future Climate Change Scenarios

Stacey K. Olson, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Melissa S. Lucash, Robert M. Scheller, Robert E. Nicholas, Kelsey L. Ruckert, Christopher M. Caldwell, 2021, Ecosystems on p. 1756-1774

Simulated fire regimes favor oak and pine but affect carbon stocks in mixed oak forests in Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Anthony Zhao, Alan H. Taylor, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Margot Kaye, Lucas B. Harris, 2021, Forest Ecology and Management

Prescribed fire alters structure and composition of a mid-Atlantic oak forest up to eight years after burning

Cody L. Dems, Alan H. Taylor, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Jesse K. Kreye, Margot W. Kaye, 2021, Fire Ecology on p. 1-13

Most-Cited Papers

Variability in root production, phenology, and turnover rate among 12 temperate tree species

M. Luke McCormack, Thomas S. Adams, Erica A.H. Smithwick, David M. Eissenstat, 2014, Ecology on p. 2224-2235

Improving the representation of roots in terrestrial models

Erica A.H. Smithwick, Melissa S. Lucash, M. Luke McCormack, Gajan Sivandran, 2014, Ecological Modelling on p. 193-204

Robust paths to net greenhouse gas mitigation and negative emissions via advanced biofuels

John L. Field, Tom L. Richard, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Hao Cai, Mark S. Laser, David S. LeBauer, Stephen P. Long, Keith Paustian, Zhangcai Qin, John J. Sheehan, Pete Smith, Michael Q. Wang, Lee R. Lynd, 2020, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America on p. 21968-21977

Representing climate, disturbance, and vegetation interactions in landscape models

Robert E. Keane, Donald McKenzie, Donald A. Falk, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Carol Miller, Lara Karena B. Kellogg, 2015, Ecological Modelling on p. 33-47

Root stress and nitrogen deposition: Consequences and research priorities

Erica A.H. Smithwick, David M. Eissenstat, Gary M. Lovett, Richard D. Bowden, Lindsey E. Rustad, Charles T. Driscoll, 2013, New Phytologist on p. 712-719

Regional scale patterns of fine root lifespan and turnover under current and future climate

M. Luke McCormack, David M. Eissenstat, Anantha M. Prasad, Erica A.H. Smithwick, 2013, Global Change Biology on p. 1697-1708

Reconstructing disturbances and their biogeochemical consequences over multiple timescales

Kendra K. McLauchlan, Philip E. Higuera, Daniel G. Gavin, Steven S. Perakis, Michelle C. Mack, Heather Alexander, John Battles, Franco Biondi, Brian Buma, Daniele Colombaroli, Sara K. Enders, Daniel R. Engstrom, Feng Sheng Hu, Jennifer R. Marlon, John Marshall, Matt McGlone, Jesse L. Morris, Lucas E. Nave, Bryan Shuman, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Dunia H. Urrego, David A. Wardle, Christopher J. Williams, Joseph J. Williams, 2014, BioScience on p. 105-116

Predicting root zone soil moisture with soil properties and satellite near-surface moisture data across the conterminous United States

D. Baldwin, S. Manfreda, K. Keller, E. A.H. Smithwick, 2017, Journal of Hydrology on p. 393-404

Growth and survival relationships of 71 tree species with nitrogen and sulfur deposition across the conterminous U.S.

Kevin J. Horn, R. Quinn Thomas, Christopher M. Clark, Linda H. Pardo, Mark E. Fenn, Gregory B. Lawrence, Steven S. Perakis, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Douglas Baldwin, Sabine Braun, Annika Nordin, Charles H. Perry, Jennifer N. Phelan, Paul G. Schaberg, Samuel B.St Clair, Richard Warby, Shaun Watmough, 2018, PLoS One

Deer feeding selectivity for invasive plants

Kristine M. Averill, David A. Mortensen, Erica A.H. Smithwick, Eric Post, 2016, Biological Invasions on p. 1247-1263

News Articles Featuring Erica Smithwick

Nov 06, 2023

Collaborative landscape design approach may improve resiliency, human well-being

A newly proposed landscape stewardship framework may lead to a more resilient and adaptable environment and improved quality of life for people.

Full Article

Sep 22, 2023

From Jane to the Octonauts, Children’s TV Is Taking on the Climate Crisis

Including climate change in children's tv shows are helping parents talk with their kids about the topic

Full Article

Sep 13, 2023

PSU expert shares advice on how to navigate extreme heat closures with students

Changes in the climate have been forcing many schools to temporarily close or cancel activities

Full Article

Sep 03, 2023

Climate change strains Pa. farmers with extreme heat, floods, droughts

Climate change is impacting Pennsylvania farmers

Full Article

Aug 02, 2023

How much good does recycling do these days?

What can and cannot be recycled and what impact it has

Full Article

Aug 02, 2023

Erica Smithwick: A practical, financially helpful way to fight climate change

The impact heat pumps can help make a difference on climate change

Full Article

Jul 14, 2023

A Penn State expert on learning to live with wildfires, as climate change heats up

Wildfires in Canada are breaking records this year, burning more than 20 million acres so far. One effect has been days of haze and unhealthy air in Pennsylvania.

Full Article

Jun 12, 2023

'This is on our doorstep now': Wildfire smoke is new hazard in upper Midwest

Smoke from Canadian wildfires that turned skies along the East Coast a sickly yellow also brought air quality alerts to much of the Midwest last week. State health departments cautioned people with heart and lung conditions to reduce outdoor exposure.

Full Article

Jun 10, 2023

Canada Wildfires and Air Quality Impact

This broadcast TV segment features Erica Smithwick, Distinguished Professor of Geography and director of the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute. Similar segments aired on at least a dozen local stations across the country.

Full Article

Jun 09, 2023

'This is on our doorstep now': Wildfire smoke a reminder that climate change impacts human health

Smoke from Canadian wildfires that turned skies along the East Coast a sickly yellow has become yet another illustration of how changes in our climate foster extreme weather events.

Full Article