Timo Vesala

Timo Vesala is Professor of Meteorology and Academy Professor at the University of Helsinki’s Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR). He is also affiliated with the Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS) and serves as a supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Atmospheric Sciences.

Research Interests:

• Micrometeorology and biogeochemical cycles
• Ecosystem–atmosphere exchanges of greenhouse gases
• Eddy-covariance methodology and flux networks
• Boreal lakes, wetlands, and forests as components of the climate system
• Development of long-term observational infrastructures such as ICOS-Finland

Recent research output (2023–2025) is dominated by high-impact articles in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, Biogeosciences, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, and Geophysical Research Letters, reflecting a balanced portfolio of process understanding, methodological advances, and large-scale synthesis studies.

Scientific Awards:

• Academy Professor (Akatemiaprofessori) – awarded by the Academy of Finland

Doctoral Advising & Grants:

• Supervised or co-supervised doctoral theses of Sheila Wachiye, E. Lopez-Blanco, and X. Li
• Principal Investigator on Academy of Finland project “The Hidden Role of Gases in Trees” (2021–2025)
• Project leader for “Kasvihuonekaasujen maa-ilmakehävaihto järvi- ja suoekosysteemeille” (2024–2026)
• Co-leader of the art-science initiative “Periferia – Metsätaiteeellinen asema” (2021–2031)
• Participant in EU flagship EMME-CARE (2017–2026)

Labs & Teams:

Timo Vesala heads the Micrometeorology Group at INAR and leads the Finnish ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System) network node. His team operates multiple eddy-covariance towers across boreal lakes, wetlands, and forests, integrating field observations with modeling and remote-sensing data.