Erika Wise

Dr. Erika Wise is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Geography & Environment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She leads the Climate & Tree Ring Environmental Science (C-TRĒS) research group, focusing on synoptic climatology, dendrochronology, ocean-atmosphere oscillations, and water resources. Her work emphasizes understanding climate variability’s impacts on hydrology and ecosystems.

She holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Arizona’s Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research. Her research integrates tree-ring data with modern observations to reconstruct historical climate patterns and their effects on streamflow, biomass burning, and land-use changes.

Committed to diversity and inclusion, the C-TRĒS lab fosters an equitable environment through mentorship, community engagement, and anti-discrimination strategies. Dr. Wise has advised numerous graduate and undergraduate students in climate science and environmental studies.

Her recent work explores Missouri River streamflow trends, Pacific storm track dynamics, and the Great Plains Low-Level Jet’s role in moisture transport. She collaborates on projects addressing climate adaptation, wildfire impacts, and oil palm expansion’s ecohydrological consequences.