Jennifer D. Watts Ph.D.

  • Associate Scientist
Jennifer Watts

I grew up in northern landscapes and feel a personal connection to the places and ecosystems I study. I am interested in patterns and mechanisms of change in terrestrial environments, particularly the tundra, wetlands and forests in the Arctic-boreal regions of Alaska and Canada. I am also very fond of the semi-arid grasslands in the Rocky Mountain West.

My work draws on remote sensing, carbon flux measurements, hydrology and ecosystem modeling to understand how climate change and human disturbance are affecting vegetation and soils and ultimately, the carbon cycle.

When I’m not in the field or at my computer, I enjoy mountain-biking, hiking, and skiing. I am based in Montana, and my happy places are in the Arctic and the open ranges of the Western US.

I’ve seen glaciers retreat. I’ve seen summer get warmer. The fact that I’ve seen the Arctic change with my own eyes is a sign of how quickly it’s happening.

Projects

Selected Publications

Examining climate benefits from rangeland and pasture management practices in the United States: opportunities, tradeoffs, and information gaps

Willard, S., S. Gennet, T. Anderson, C. Knapp, J. Lavallee, J. Ritten, E. Feldman V., K. Hulvey, M. Nasto, M. Jacobs, & J. Watts (2025). npj Sustainable Agriculture

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Methane emission hotspots in a boreal forest-fen mosaic potentially linked to deep taliks

Farina, M., W. Christian, N. Hasson, T. McDermott, S. Powell, R. Hatzenpichler, H. Webb, G. LaRue, K. Okano, E.A. Sproles, & J.D. Watts (2025). Environmental Research Letters

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WetCH4: a machine-learning-based upscaling of methane fluxes of northern wetlands during 2016–2022

Ying, Q., B. Poulter, J.D.Watts, et al. (2025). Earth System Science Data

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