My research effort is focused on studying and modeling the interactions between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere in a changing environment, particularly the hydrological and ecological processes involved. Recent activities include the use of regional climate and vegetation models to investigate potential future impacts of increased atmospheric CO2 on regional climates and ecosystems, and the integration of observational data (in situ and satellite-based) with land surface models to study space-time hydrologic variability.

Education:

Ph.D. University of Connecticut, 2009
Civil and Environmental Engineering (concentration in hydroclimatology and land-atmosphere interactions)
M.A. Clark University, 2004
Geographic Information Science for Environment \sand Development
B.S. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), 1992
Geomatic Engineering

Academic Appointments:

2011- present\s\sAssistant Professor\s Montclair State University
2010- 2011\s\sAssistant Research Scientist\s Johns Hopkins University
2009-2010\s\sPostdoctoral Fellow\s\s University of Connecticut
2004-2008\s\sGraduate Research Assistant\s University of Connecticut


Courses Taught at Montclair State University (and other institutions):

Planet Earth
Introductory undergraduate level course focusing on processes and interactions
of the components of the earth system.

Engineering Hydrology (University of Connecticut)\s\s\s\s 2008–2009
Undergraduate level course aimed at understanding and quantifying main
processes of the hydrologic cycle and the application of hydrologic knowledge
to design aspects relating to the use and control of water resources.

Hydraulic Engineering (University of Connecticut)\s\s\s\s 2009–2010
Upper level undergraduate course dealing with the application of fluid
mechanics principles to the solution of practical Civil Engineering
problems of water conveyance in pipes, open channels, and groundwater
flow in porous media, and the design of hydraulic structures.

Hydrometeorology (University of Connecticut) \s\s\s\s\s 2009
Graduate course focusing on land-atmosphere interactions via the hydrologic
cycle

Publications:

Justino, F., F. Stordal, C. A. Alo, E. Coppola, A. Setzer, E. Chaves, P. Rodrigues, F. Kucharski, D. Brumatti, and L. Costa (2011), Modeling current and global warming-induced fire risk in Africa, submitted to International Journal of Climatology

Alo, C. A., and E. N. Anagnostou (2011), Incorporating vegetation dynamics in regional climate change projections over the Mediterranean region, International Journal of Climatology, conditionally accepted

Wang G., and C. A. Alo (2011), Changes in precipitation seasonality in West Africa predicted by RegCM3 and the impact of dynamic vegetation feedback, International Journal of Geophysics, Special Issue on “Advances in Climate Processes, Feedbacks, Variability, and Change for the West Africa Climate System, in press

Wang G., C. A. Alo, R. Mei, and S. Sun (2010), Drought, hydraulic redistribution, and plant competition in tropical forests, Plant Ecology, DOI: 10.1007/s11258-010-9860-4

Alo, C. A., and G. Wang (2010), Role of vegetation dynamics in regional climate predictions over western Africa, Climate Dynamics, 35(5), 907-922, DOI: 10.1007/s00382-010-0744-z

Heald, C. L., M. J. Wilkinson, R. K. Monson, C. A. Alo, G. Wang, and A. Guenther (2009), Response of isoprene emission to ambient CO2 changes and implications for global budgets, Global Change Biology, 15, 4, 1127-1140

Alo, C. A., and G. Wang (2008), Hydrological impact of the potential future vegetation response to climate changes projected by 8 GCMs, Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences, 113, G03011, doi:10.1029/2007JG000598

Alo, C. A., and R. G. Pontius Jr. (2008), Identifying systematic land-cover transitions using remote sensing and GIS: the fate of forests inside and outside protected areas of Southwestern Ghana, Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 35(2), 280 – 295

Alo, C. A., and G. Wang (2008), Potential future changes of the terrestrial ecosystem based on climate projections by eight general circulation models, Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences, 113, G01004, doi:10.1029/2007JG000528

Regional Climate and Ecosystem Modeling
Land-Atmosphere Interactions
Surface Hydrology
Hydroclimatology
Ecohydrological Impacts of Climate Variability and Change

Prospective Students

I am looking for motivated students to join my group. If you are interested in pursuing graduate research in the areas of regional climate and ecosystem modeling, and integrated assessment and modeling of climate change impacts on water resources, please contact me.