Peter M. Groffman

Peter M. Groffman is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Brooklyn College, part of the Environmental Sciences Initiative. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. Previously, he served as a Senior Scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. His research focuses on terrestrial biogeochemistry, nitrogen dynamics, and climate change impacts, with work spanning microbial to regional scales. Groffman is actively involved in the National Science Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) programs at Hubbard Brook and Baltimore sites.

His research employs geochemical methods, isotopes, remote sensing, and GIS modeling. Over 300 publications include contributions to the U.S. National Climate Assessment and IPCC reports. Key areas of study include nitrogen cycling in forests, urban watershed biogeochemistry, and climate-driven ecosystem shifts. Groffman’s work bridges ecological processes with human impacts, emphasizing urban and natural environment interactions.

Recent studies address snowmelt effects on nitrogen availability, post-hurricane mangrove recovery, and lawn management impacts on urban ecosystems. He has also explored soil science’s societal role and urban soil survey methodologies. Groffman’s interdisciplinary approach integrates socio-environmental systems, highlighting the urgency of sustainable land management and climate adaptation strategies.