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Susan Jean Riha

Charles L. Pack Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Primary Research Areas

  • biocomplexity
  • biogeochemistry
  • climatology
  • computational biology
  • crop management or crop science
  • earth science
  • ecosystem biology
  • environmental sciences
  • forest management
  • hydrology
  • information science
  • integrated crop management
  • integrated pest management
  • international agriculture
  • land use
  • soil and crop science
  • surface processes, sedimentary basins, & paleontology
  • sustainable development
  • weed science

Graduate Fields

Research Focus

My research program addresses the dynamic interactions of plants with their physical environment. The general approach has been to use biophysical models to analyze experimental data collected as part of growth chamber, greenhouse and field studies. The studies undertaken have contributed to our understanding of the impact of flooding on plant water relations, the impact of soil drying on plant growth and water use, and the importance of different surfaces to vapor transport under various crop, forestry and agroforestry systems.||The process of utilizing biophysical models to analyze experimental data has in turn layed the groundwork for me to use plant-environmental simulation models to address a number of applied problems. These include such issues as the response of agriculture to climate change, the impact of climate variability on crop yield, improving the use of stored soil water by crops growing in a semi-arid environment, devising drought stress indicators for forest productivity and biodiversity, and enhancing water use in agroforestry systems.||As my research program centers on soil-plant atmosphere systems and involves both modeling and experimental work, the studies often cross boundaries between more traditional areas of research (for example, soil physics and plant physiology, or agronomy and forestry) and research methodologies(experimental and theoretical).

Educational Background

  • B.A., Smith College, 1971
  • M.S., Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 1974
  • Ph.D. , Soil Science, Washington State University, 1980

Research Grants

  • MASTER AGREEMENT FOR NYC DEC CONTRACT # C006094
  • EXTENDING SCIENCE BASED INFORMATION ON REACTIVE NITROGEN IN THE PECONIC ESTUARY
  • HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY MANAGMENT PROGRAM SUPPORT: ADMINISTRATION, OUTREACH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
  • USING THE GAPS MODEL WITH GLOBE STUDENT DATA FOR UNDERSTANDING SOIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESSES
  • JOINT HYDROLOGIC RESEARCH PROGRAM
  • NEW YORK STATE WASTEWATER REUSE EVALUATION

Selected Publications

PubMed Listings
  • Berger, A.B., A.J. McDonald and S.J. Riha. 2007. Does soil nitrogen affect early competitive traits of annual weeds with respect to maize? Weed Research 47(6): 509-516.
  • Johnson, M.S., M. Weiler, E.G. Couto, S. Riha and J. Lehmann. 2007. Storm pulses of dissolved CO2 in a forested headwater Amazonian stream explored using hydrograph separation. Water Resources Research. 43: W11201.
  • Feldpausch, T.R., C. Prates-Clark, E.C.M. Fernandes and S.J. Riha. 2007. Secondary forest growth deviation from chronosequence predictions in central Amazonia. Global Change Biology 13, 967-979.
  • Solomon, D. J. Lehmann, J. Kinynagi, W. Amelung, I. Lobe, A. Pell, S. Riha, S. Ngoze, L. Verchot, D. Mbugua, J. Skjemstad and T. Schafer. 2007. Long-term impacts of anthropogenic perturbations on dynamics and speciation of organic carbon in tropical forest and subtropical grassland ecosystems. Global Change Biology 13: 511-530.
  • Rebel, K.T., S.J. Riha, D. Karssenberg and J. R. Stedinger. 2007. Simulating Tritium Fluxes in the Vadose Zone under Transient Saturated Conditions. Vadose Zone J. 6: 387-396.
  • Jirka, S., A.J. McDonald, M.S. Johnson, T.R. Feldpausch, E.G. Couto, and S.J. Riha 2007. Relationships between soil hydrology and forest structure and composition in the southern Brazilian Amazon. J. Vegetation Science 18: 183-194.
  • Melkonian J, Riha SJ, Robin J, Levine E. (2007) Comparisons of measured stream flow with drainage and runoff simulated by a soil-vegetation-atmosphere transport model parameterized with GLOBE student data. J. of Hydrology 333:214-225.
  • Berger, A.G., A.J. McDonald, and S.J. Riha. 2006. Scaling plant size to belowground zone of influence in annuals under contrasting competitive environments. Functional Ecology 20(5): 770-777.
  • Feldpausch, T.R., A.J. McDonald, C.A.M. Passos, J. Lehmann, and S.J. Riha. 2006. Biomass, harvestable area, and forest structure estimated from commercial timber inventories and remotely sensed imagery in southern Amazonia. Forest Ecology and Management 233(1): 121-132.
  • Johnson, M.S., J. Lehmann, E.G. Couto, J.P. Novaes Filho, S.J. Riha. 2006. DOC and DIC in flowpaths of Amazonian headwater catchments with hydrologically contrasting soils. Biogeochemistry 81: 45-57.
  • Johnson, M.S., J. Lehmann, E.C. Selva, M. Abdo, S.J. Riha, and E.G. Couto. 2006. Organic carbon fluxes within and streamwater exports from headwater catchments in the southern Amazon. Hydrological Processes 20(12):2599-2614.
  • Berger, A.G., A.J. McDonald, and S.J. Riha. 2006. Scaling plant size to belowground zone of influence in annuals under contrasting competitive environments. Functional Ecology 20(5): 770-777.
  • Feldpausch, T.R., A.J. McDonald, C.A.M. Passos, J. Lehmann, and S.J. Riha. 2006. Biomass, harvestable area, and forest structure estimated from commercial timber inventories and remotely sensed imagery in southern Amazonia. Forest Ecology and Management 233(1): 121-132.
  • Johnson, M.S., J. Lehmann, E.G. Couto, J.P. Novaes Filho, S.J. Riha. 2006. DOC and DIC in flowpaths of Amazonian headwater catchments with hydrologically contrasting soils. Biogeochemistry 81: 45-57.
  • Johnson, M.S., J. Lehmann, E.C. Selva, M. Abdo, S.J. Riha, and E.G. Couto. 2006. Organic carbon fluxes within and streamwater exports from headwater catchments in the southern Amazon. Hydrological Processes 20(12):2599-2614.
  • McDonald, A.J., S.J. Riha, J.M. Duxbury, and J.G. Lauren.2006. Wheat responses to novel rice cultural practices and soil moisture conditions in the rice-wheat rotation of Nepal. Field Crops Research 98(2/3):116-126.
  • McDonald, A.J., P.R. Hobbs, and S.J. Riha. 2006. Does the system of rice intensification outperform conventional best management? A synopsis of the empirical record. Field Crops Research 96(1):31-36.
  • McDonald, A.J., S.J. Riha, J.M. Duxbury, and T.S. Steenhuis. 2006. Soil physical responses to novel rice cultural practices in the rice-wheat system: comparative evidence from a swelling soil in Nepal. Soil & Tillage Research 86(2):163-175.
  • McDonald, A.J., S.J. Riha, J.M. Duxbury, T.S. Steenhuis, and J.G. Lauren. 2006. Water balance and rice growth responses to direct seeding, deep tillage, and landscape placement: findings from a valley terrace in Nepal. Field Crops Research 95(2-3):367-382.