Terry Sohl
About Terry Sohl
Terry Sohl is a Research Physical Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey, where he has worked since 1993. He developed the FOREcasting SCEnarios of land-cover change model and leads land-cover modeling activities, contributing to various projects related to land management and climate impact assessments.
Work at U.S. Geological Survey
Terry Sohl has been employed at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a Research Physical Scientist since 1993. In this role, he leads land-cover modeling activities and is a member of the USGS EarthMAP Project Management Team. His work focuses on integrating historical, current, and future land-change data into land management and research workflows. Sohl has also contributed to the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) and the Land Change Monitoring, Assessment and Projection (LCMAP) initiative. His expertise includes linking modeled landscapes with assessments of climate impacts on biodiversity, water quality, and regional weather.
Education and Expertise
Terry Sohl studied at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology/Climatology from 1985 to 1991. He continued his education at the same institution, achieving a Master of Science in Geography from 1985 to 1992. His academic background provides a strong foundation for his research in land-cover change and climate variability.
Background
Before joining the USGS, Terry Sohl worked at the Defense Intelligence Agency as a Photographic Technologist from 1992 to 1993. His transition to the USGS marked the beginning of a long career focused on land-cover modeling and environmental research. Sohl has been involved in various projects, including a NASA-funded proposal initiated in 2005 that examined the impact of land-use and land-cover change on regional carbon and climate variability.
Achievements
Terry Sohl developed the FOREcasting SCEnarios of land-cover change (FORE-SCE) model, which extends USGS land-cover databases for periods lacking remote sensing data. He has facilitated the integration of comprehensive land-change data into practical applications for land management. Sohl has also been featured in the 'Eyes on Earth' podcast series, specifically in Episode 107, discussing land cover and its implications.