Meet new PLOS Section Editors Alexander Winkler and César Terrer

We meet Alexander Winkler (AW) of the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry and César Terrer (CT) of MIT, new Section Editors on the Ecology & Biogeochemistry section of PLOS Climate

Could you tell us a bit about how you ended up in your area of research?

AW: When I studied climate system sciences in Hamburg, Germany, I had the unique opportunity to join an expedition to the Arctic permafrost regions. There, I conducted measurements to assess permafrost thawing and to determine whether the carbon stored in these ecosystems is becoming unstable under warming conditions. But I also worked as a student helper in the scientific team at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology, where I contributed to the development of a comprehensive Earth system model and learned how to use this tool to explore potential future climates.

Experiencing both field measurements focused on land-atmosphere exchange and working with large-scale models during my time as a student sparked a deep curiosity in me to learn as much as possible about the climate system. I am truly fascinated by the intertwined relationship between the biological and physical systems. Of course, the plants around us reflect the average climate of our region—such as temperature and rainfall—but they also shape local and global climates in various ways. They regulate water cycling, carbon uptake and storage, and modulate turbulent heat and radiative fluxes, to name just a few.

Over millions of years, the climate system has reached a stable state at approximately 280 parts per million (ppm) CO₂ concentration, balancing biological and physical processes, which we refer to as the pre-industrial state. Now, we find ourselves at around 420 ppm, and the system is drastically out of balance. Climate changes, shifts occur, ecosystems respond, and plants adapt and feed back, leading to unprecedented dynamics that raise many new pressing questions—questions I intend to explore in my research.

CT: My interest in the effects of elevated CO₂ on terrestrial ecosystems began when I worked at a Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment (FACE) experiment in Sydney, Australia. That hands-on experience showed me firsthand how increased CO₂ levels impact ecosystems at a local scale. Inspired by these observations, I pursued a PhD to explore these effects on a global level. Along the way, I developed a passion for data science and data synthesis, which allowed me to analyze broader patterns and better understand the complexities of ecosystem responses to global change.

What’s the focus of your current work, and what questions are you hoping to answer?

AW: In my research group, we focus on identifying feedbacks and causal links in the exchange of carbon, water, and energy fluxes between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere. A key theme emerging from our work is understanding the global feedbacks between the carbon cycle and a changing climate, particularly as CO₂ emissions continue to rise and the feedbacks that may arise when these emissions begin to level off.

It is essential to comprehend the land carbon cycle dynamics and the looming feedbacks in the transition into this post-peak CO₂ era. The key questions for driving our climate research include: How strong are the effects of rising CO₂ on the land carbon cycle? How long will the land carbon cycle continue to absorb human emissions? Is there a saturation point, and when and how will the land ecosystem return anthropogenic carbon to the atmosphere?

CT: In my group at MIT, we primarily use data synthesis to study the impacts of global change on terrestrial ecosystems and explore how we can leverage these systems to mitigate climate change through nature-based solutions. We focus on the global carbon cycle but also conduct regional studies across ecosystems ranging from boreal forests to tropical rainforests. By integrating both ground-based and airborne observations, we aim to look at ecosystems holistically—examining how interactions between vegetation and soils shape carbon dynamics and climate feedbacks. One of our key questions is how different ecosystems can enhance their carbon storage capacity in response to environmental changes, and how this knowledge can inform strategies to combat climate change.

Why does Open Science matter in your field?

AW: Open Science is essential in climate science. Easy access to open data, open code, and thorough documentation is crucial for ensuring reproducibility, inclusivity, and swift progress in the field. While some researchers still hesitate to share their developments or observational data due to the pressure to publish, it is vital for our community to develop ways to accelerate this process. We must continue on developing a fair system that gives due credit to those who collected the data or developed the models. As more journals require Open Science statements, the field of climate science is increasingly adopting an Open Science framework, and I am very much committed to contributing to this transition in my role as Section Editor.

CT: Open Science is crucial in our field because climate change is a global challenge that requires collaborative solutions. Sharing data and methodologies openly accelerates scientific discovery and allows researchers worldwide to build upon each other’s work. It enhances transparency and reproducibility, which are essential for advancing our understanding of complex ecosystem processes. Open Access to research findings ensures that policymakers, stakeholders, and the public can make informed decisions based on the latest scientific evidence. Ultimately, Open Science fosters a more inclusive and effective approach to addressing environmental issues that affect us all.

Why did you decide to join PLOS Climate’s editorial board?

AW: I decided to join PLOS Climate’s editorial board for a couple of reasons. First, I see it as an opportunity for community service and an opportunity to help shaping a young journal and its publishing formats. Being part of the editorial board not only allows me to contribute to the design of the journal, experience the publishing process from the other side, but also to value the interdisciplinary exchange with fellow editors. Finally, the ideology of PLOS, with its focus on nonprofit and Open Access publishing, deeply resonates with my values as a scientist.

CT: I joined PLOS Climate‘s editorial board because I believe in promoting accessible, high-quality research that can drive meaningful action against climate change. The journal’s commitment to Open Access aligns with my values of making scientific knowledge available to everyone without barriers. Being part of the editorial board allows me to support the scientific community by ensuring rigorous peer review and encouraging interdisciplinary research that can have a real-world impact. It’s an opportunity to help shape the direction of climate research and promote studies that offer innovative solutions to the challenges we face.

What kind of research would you be particularly excited to see submitted to your section of PLOS Climate?

AW: I would be particularly enthusiastic to see a wide variety of research submissions to our section of PLOS Climate. This includes fundamental research that offers in-depth insights into climate modeling, particularly in coupling the physical and biological subsystems, with a focus on leveraging observational data. Regarding the latter, I am also keen on research that develops and applies clever machine learning approaches in conjunction with observational data to enhance our understanding of the climate system’s dynamics. Additionally, I would be very excited to see more submissions of applied research, particularly impact studies that investigate the potential consequences of future climate change and extreme conditions on land ecosystems and the land surface in general. Such research is becoming increasingly critical for society, as we, of course, live on the land surface and most of our food is grown there.

CT: I’d be particularly excited to see research that provides new insights into the mechanisms of carbon cycling and storage in terrestrial ecosystems. Studies that use data synthesis to combine ground-based and airborne observations, and that look at ecosystems holistically—considering the interactions between vegetation and soils—are especially welcome. I’m also interested in interdisciplinary work that integrates ecological, biogeochemical, and socio-economic perspectives to address climate change mitigation and adaptation. Research that challenges existing paradigms and introduces innovative approaches to leveraging nature-based solutions for climate change would be fantastic to see.

Ready to submit to the Ecology & Biogeochemistry section of PLOS Climate?