A scientist looks at a Ponderosa Pine tree core using a rotary measuring stage. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
Rebecca Brice, Ph.D.
Becky Brice is an earth systems geographer using tree rings and lake sediments to study paleoclimate, hydroclimatic processes, and the interaction between the drought and human systems. She specializes in dendrochronological reconstructions over the Common Era and her research aims to understand the role of climate variability in changing environmental conditions.
Going to Extremes to Uncover the Secrets of Dinosaur's Ponderosa Pine
Going to Extremes to Uncover the Secrets of Dinosaur's Ponderosa Pine
Becky worked with Scientists and volunteers to collect tree measurements in Dinosaur National Monument.
Partnering with the National Park Service
Partnering with the National Park Service
Why I Volunteer: Veteran Supporting Dendrochronology Research at Dinosaur National Monument
Science and Products
USGS Fire Science Support for DOI Lands
The USGS Fire Science Support for DOI Lands project is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) effort to address key aspects of recent legislation concerning wildland fire on Department of the Interior (DOI) lands. The project was initiated in 2023, and work will continue through 2025. The project is comprised of four separate but interrelated tasks and is guided by the input of DOI bureau representatives...
Hydroclimate, fire, and human interactions in southwestern US tree ring records
We have identified areas of the southwestern US that do not contain paleorecords of precipitation, fire, and/or human activity. These records may be missing because, for example, lakes and forests are few and far between in much of the southwestern US. However, other sites exist that do not yet have paleorecords, but do have potential for providing lake cores and tree ring records.
Did we start the fire? Drought, Fire and Humans
The past decade encompasses some of the most extensive fire activity in recorded history. An area the size of Vermont (~24,000 km2) burned in a single Siberian fire in the summer of 2019 (Kehrwald et al., 2020 and references therein) while Australia, Indonesia and the Amazon have all experienced their most intense fires in recorded history (van Wees et al, 2021 and references therein). As more...
Looking at Tree Cores on Rotary Measuring Stage
A scientist looks at a Ponderosa Pine tree core using a rotary measuring stage. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
Ponderosa Pine Tree Core
One Green River Ponderosa Pine sample after mounting and sanding lab procedures. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
One Green River Ponderosa Pine sample after mounting and sanding lab procedures. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
Sunrise along the Green River
A stunning farewell to the field expedition in Dinosaur National Monument with early morning sunshine gleaming off the riverside cliffs. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
A stunning farewell to the field expedition in Dinosaur National Monument with early morning sunshine gleaming off the riverside cliffs. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
Collecting Ponderosa Pine Measurements
Scientists and volunteers collect other tree measurements in Dinosaur National Monument. On the left, tree diameter is measured and on the right, cone dispersion is measured. (Credit: Becky Brice, USGS)
Scientists and volunteers collect other tree measurements in Dinosaur National Monument. On the left, tree diameter is measured and on the right, cone dispersion is measured. (Credit: Becky Brice, USGS)
Confluence of Green and Yampa Rivers
Confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers (green color is the Green and yellow color is the Yampa). The color of the water is an indication of the very different streamflow patterns between the two rivers. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS
Confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers (green color is the Green and yellow color is the Yampa). The color of the water is an indication of the very different streamflow patterns between the two rivers. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS
Science and Products
USGS Fire Science Support for DOI Lands
The USGS Fire Science Support for DOI Lands project is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) effort to address key aspects of recent legislation concerning wildland fire on Department of the Interior (DOI) lands. The project was initiated in 2023, and work will continue through 2025. The project is comprised of four separate but interrelated tasks and is guided by the input of DOI bureau representatives...
Hydroclimate, fire, and human interactions in southwestern US tree ring records
We have identified areas of the southwestern US that do not contain paleorecords of precipitation, fire, and/or human activity. These records may be missing because, for example, lakes and forests are few and far between in much of the southwestern US. However, other sites exist that do not yet have paleorecords, but do have potential for providing lake cores and tree ring records.
Did we start the fire? Drought, Fire and Humans
The past decade encompasses some of the most extensive fire activity in recorded history. An area the size of Vermont (~24,000 km2) burned in a single Siberian fire in the summer of 2019 (Kehrwald et al., 2020 and references therein) while Australia, Indonesia and the Amazon have all experienced their most intense fires in recorded history (van Wees et al, 2021 and references therein). As more...
Looking at Tree Cores on Rotary Measuring Stage
A scientist looks at a Ponderosa Pine tree core using a rotary measuring stage. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
A scientist looks at a Ponderosa Pine tree core using a rotary measuring stage. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
Ponderosa Pine Tree Core
One Green River Ponderosa Pine sample after mounting and sanding lab procedures. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
One Green River Ponderosa Pine sample after mounting and sanding lab procedures. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
Sunrise along the Green River
A stunning farewell to the field expedition in Dinosaur National Monument with early morning sunshine gleaming off the riverside cliffs. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
A stunning farewell to the field expedition in Dinosaur National Monument with early morning sunshine gleaming off the riverside cliffs. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.
Collecting Ponderosa Pine Measurements
Scientists and volunteers collect other tree measurements in Dinosaur National Monument. On the left, tree diameter is measured and on the right, cone dispersion is measured. (Credit: Becky Brice, USGS)
Scientists and volunteers collect other tree measurements in Dinosaur National Monument. On the left, tree diameter is measured and on the right, cone dispersion is measured. (Credit: Becky Brice, USGS)
Confluence of Green and Yampa Rivers
Confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers (green color is the Green and yellow color is the Yampa). The color of the water is an indication of the very different streamflow patterns between the two rivers. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS
Confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers (green color is the Green and yellow color is the Yampa). The color of the water is an indication of the very different streamflow patterns between the two rivers. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS