Hej! My name is AJ Garnello, and I'm an Arizona Wildcat, hailing from the beautiful town of Sedona, Arizona.  I'm studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and have two years of remote sensing research experience in Scott Saleska's lab at the University of Arizona.  Fortunately, I am working with Dr. Michael Palace here at UNH, investigating species, soil, and topographical compositions using an ASD FieldSpec 4 hyperspectral camera.  Wicked Cool! I also play on the Men's Ultimate Frisbee team at Arizona, and am an academic tutor as well as a Resident Assistant in the undergraduate halls.

Hyperspectral imaging is a fast-growing field of ecological monitoring, and has uses ranging from enhancing climate change models, identifying species compositions in the constantly-changing ecosystem of tropical rainforests, and even identifying the damage done by invasive insect species on regional scales.  My goal is to use satellite hyperspectral imaging to advance carbon flux models, thereby enhancing our understanding of global climate change.  Understanding sub-arctic permafrost thaw and the effect on plant species is my specific task for Abisko. Advancing our spectral knowledge of plant species in the area will be used to make satellite imagery more accurate, a technique known as ground truthing.

This will be my first trip out of North America, and I'm very amped to hike and take pictures in the beautiful area of Stordalen Mire.  I am also excited to try out the local Swedish cuisine, including the deliciously-described treat called Lutefisk.