JJ (Jelmer) Nijp, MSc

I am employed at the KWR Water Research Institute as a researcher in ecohydrology. At SLM, I work as a Guest Researcher, aiming to bridge the gap between science and practice on topics related to quantifying the impact of changes in climate, land use, and water management on natural vegetation.

My research focuses on understanding how interactions between water, soil, and vegetation shape the response of ecosystems to climate change. I have a special interest in peatland ecosystems, where water availability and ecosystem functioning are tightly connected. These ecosystems are critical carbon stores on a global scale, but changes in climate and land use threaten to release this stored carbon into the atmosphere, further accelerating climate change.

Main topics include

• Ecosystem Monitoring & Modelling: Measuring and modelling how ecosystems respond to environmental changes, including climate change, water management, and to a lesser extent also nitrogen deposition.
• Peatland ecohydrology: Quantifying the role of peatlands in the water cycle (flood protection and drought mitigation) and improving how ecohydrological processes are represented in predictive models
• Including dynamic soil properties in models to improve respresentation of water - soil - vegetation feedbacks in peatland soils.
• Nature Conservation & Groundwater: Impact assessment of (lack of) groundwater availability and soil moisture on nature conservation areas

WIth my research I aim to contribute to a better understanding on how to maintain and improve the quality of vulnerable water-dependent ecosystems in the face of global environmental change.

Students: contact me if you are interested in a thesis topic on ecohydrology, peatlands, natural processes, modelling, or field work!