Researcher to Study How Climate Warming Impacts Farm Ponds

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NORMAN, OKLA. – A University of Oklahoma researcher has received funding from the National Science Foundation to monitor farm ponds across Oklahoma. The research will improve understanding of how small bodies of water respond to human- and climate-based changes.

Farm ponds, like other comparably sized water bodies, are sensitive to environmental changes. When it comes to monitoring their size, the available products provide imperfect pictures: the nationwide product provides high-resolution data with the most accurate view of the water but does not update frequently, and the global surface water product that updates regularly is lower resolution, which does not capture bodies like ponds.

“If we can collect timely information on these ponds, not only can we enhance the resilience of the water availability and the aquatic system but also we may enhance the resilience of social and agricultural production system,” said Chengbin Deng, Ph.D., a professor in the OU Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, who is leading the research.

Deng is a remote-sensing scientist who uses satellite data and aerial photographs to study environmental change. To generate a complete view of these ponds on a sub-seasonal basis, Deng will leverage both optical data and other types of data, such as radar data. Radar can help acquire data on days when satellites are unable to see the ground.

Before coming to OU, Deng’s research focused on changes in urban environments. Now, it has expanded to include rural environments and climate change and adaptation.  

“While climate change is related to the urban environment, I’ve actually broadened my research view to include natural environments, such as farm ponds and surface water bodies,” Deng said. “One of the reasons for this change is how relevant such research is to the rural communities in Oklahoma and that the small farm ponds themselves are extremely sensitive to changes in climate.”

He says the data will be collected daily, providing near real-time updates on the changes happening in these ponds, but bi-weekly or even monthly data would be an improvement from what is currently available. Monthly updates will allow researchers to see how human variables, such as construction, impact water. This monitoring will allow Deng to dig deeper into the cause and effect of the populations and environment surrounding these ponds.

“We’ll look at how human beings try to alter or change the landscape, such as through agricultural activities. Or, in the case of climate change, that may be another reason for water changes. There could be a lot of different factors that dominate,” said Deng.

The answers given by these observations will help inform where water should be kept.

While Deng hopes that this can build to focus on a larger geographic area in the future, for now the observations will focus on the Great Plains area, predominantly Oklahoma, with a small amount of Texas as well. “Even doing one state like Oklahoma is already very challenging because of the number of datasets,” said Deng.

Deng hopes that in the future, the research can span beyond visual observations to include input from farmers and rural community members on their thoughts and perceptions of water.