World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
72
Citations
16139
World Ranking
1252
National Ranking
461

Philip A. Townsend publication distribution in Ecology and Evolution in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Ecology and Evolution in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Philip A. Townsend sits on this spectrum.

37–41 publications: 2 scientists 42–46 publications: 9 scientists 47–51 publications: 10 scientists 52–56 publications: 31 scientists 57–61 publications: 56 scientists 62–66 publications: 91 scientists 67–71 publications: 92 scientists 72–76 publications: 127 scientists 77–81 publications: 173 scientists 82–86 publications: 236 scientists 87–91 publications: 227 scientists 92–96 publications: 240 scientists 97–101 publications: 333 scientists 102–106 publications: 280 scientists 107–111 publications: 300 scientists 112–116 publications: 285 scientists 117–121 publications: 305 scientists 122–126 publications: 287 scientists 127–131 publications: 278 scientists 132–136 publications: 289 scientists 137–141 publications: 273 scientists 142–146 publications: 262 scientists 147–151 publications: 246 scientists 152–156 publications: 235 scientists 157–161 publications: 205 scientists 162–166 publications: 199 scientists 167–171 publications: 174 scientists 172–176 publications: 164 scientists 177–181 publications: 173 scientists 182–186 publications: 189 scientists 187–191 publications: 170 scientists 192–196 publications: 139 scientists 197–201 publications: 128 scientists 202–206 publications: 117 scientists 207–211 publications: 115 scientists 212–216 publications: 107 scientists 217–221 publications: 124 scientists 222–226 publications: 81 scientists 227–231 publications: 82 scientists 232–236 publications: 85 scientists 237–241 publications: 75 scientists 242–246 publications: 66 scientists 247–251 publications: 81 scientists 252–256 publications: 69 scientists 257–261 publications: 70 scientists 262–266 publications: 55 scientists 267–271 publications: 64 scientists 272–276 publications: 49 scientists 277–281 publications: 48 scientists 282–286 publications: 44 scientists 287–291 publications: 45 scientists 292–296 publications: 36 scientists 297–301 publications: 39 scientists 302–306 publications: 38 scientists 307–311 publications: 30 scientists 312–316 publications: 34 scientists 317–321 publications: 25 scientists 322–326 publications: 22 scientists 327–331 publications: 28 scientists 332–336 publications: 30 scientists 337–341 publications: 22 scientists 342–346 publications: 30 scientists 347–351 publications: 26 scientists 352–356 publications: 22 scientists 357–361 publications: 29 scientists 362–366 publications: 21 scientists 367–371 publications: 12 scientists 372–376 publications: 18 scientists 377–381 publications: 17 scientists 382–386 publications: 13 scientists 387–391 publications: 21 scientists 392–396 publications: 13 scientists 397–401 publications: 10 scientists 402–406 publications: 15 scientists 407–411 publications: 8 scientists 412–416 publications: 9 scientists 417–421 publications: 8 scientists 422–426 publications: 4 scientists 427–431 publications: 10 scientists 432–436 publications: 10 scientists 437–441 publications: 5 scientists 442–446 publications: 4 scientists 447–451 publications: 10 scientists 452–456 publications: 2 scientists 457–461 publications: 4 scientists 462–466 publications: 7 scientists 467–471 publications: 7 scientists 472–476 publications: 6 scientists 477–481 publications: 6 scientists 482–486 publications: 3 scientists 487–491 publications: 3 scientists 492–496 publications: 4 scientists 497–501 publications: 4 scientists 502–506 publications: 8 scientists 507–511 publications: 5 scientists 512–516 publications: 4 scientists 517–521 publications: 5 scientists 522–526 publications: 4 scientists 527–530 publications: 5 scientists 531+ publications: 100 scientists
37 publications 531+

This scientist: 255 publications — 86th percentile

86% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 531 publications or more.

Philip A. Townsend D-index placement in Ecology and Evolution in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Ecology and Evolution scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Philip A. Townsend sits on this spectrum.

30 D-Index: 95 scientists 31 D-Index: 123 scientists 32 D-Index: 191 scientists 33 D-Index: 245 scientists 34 D-Index: 252 scientists 35 D-Index: 244 scientists 36 D-Index: 249 scientists 37 D-Index: 244 scientists 38 D-Index: 254 scientists 39 D-Index: 254 scientists 40 D-Index: 280 scientists 41 D-Index: 274 scientists 42 D-Index: 266 scientists 43 D-Index: 233 scientists 44 D-Index: 248 scientists 45 D-Index: 208 scientists 46 D-Index: 201 scientists 47 D-Index: 213 scientists 48 D-Index: 207 scientists 49 D-Index: 172 scientists 50 D-Index: 209 scientists 51 D-Index: 199 scientists 52 D-Index: 153 scientists 53 D-Index: 169 scientists 54 D-Index: 163 scientists 55 D-Index: 148 scientists 56 D-Index: 120 scientists 57 D-Index: 146 scientists 58 D-Index: 137 scientists 59 D-Index: 140 scientists 60 D-Index: 104 scientists 61 D-Index: 119 scientists 62 D-Index: 118 scientists 63 D-Index: 99 scientists 64 D-Index: 77 scientists 65 D-Index: 100 scientists 66 D-Index: 86 scientists 67 D-Index: 83 scientists 68 D-Index: 75 scientists 69 D-Index: 94 scientists 70 D-Index: 57 scientists 71 D-Index: 68 scientists 72 D-Index: 59 scientists 73 D-Index: 63 scientists 74 D-Index: 66 scientists 75 D-Index: 60 scientists 76 D-Index: 42 scientists 77 D-Index: 49 scientists 78 D-Index: 39 scientists 79 D-Index: 37 scientists 80 D-Index: 43 scientists 81 D-Index: 41 scientists 82 D-Index: 45 scientists 83 D-Index: 34 scientists 84 D-Index: 40 scientists 85 D-Index: 35 scientists 86 D-Index: 55 scientists 87 D-Index: 24 scientists 88 D-Index: 24 scientists 89 D-Index: 30 scientists 90 D-Index: 23 scientists 91 D-Index: 25 scientists 92 D-Index: 27 scientists 93 D-Index: 27 scientists 94 D-Index: 13 scientists 95 D-Index: 23 scientists 96 D-Index: 12 scientists 97 D-Index: 14 scientists 98 D-Index: 19 scientists 99 D-Index: 16 scientists 100 D-Index: 14 scientists 101 D-Index: 5 scientists 102 D-Index: 21 scientists 103 D-Index: 16 scientists 104 D-Index: 10 scientists 105 D-Index: 7 scientists 106 D-Index: 7 scientists 107 D-Index: 7 scientists 108 D-Index: 6 scientists 109 D-Index: 9 scientists 110 D-Index: 11 scientists 111 D-Index: 12 scientists 112 D-Index: 9 scientists 113 D-Index: 7 scientists 114 D-Index: 3 scientists 115 D-Index: 8 scientists 116 D-Index: 5 scientists 117 D-Index: 11 scientists 118 D-Index: 4 scientists 119 D-Index: 2 scientists 120 D-Index: 5 scientists 121+ D-Index: 100 scientists
30 D-Index 121+

This scientist: 72 D-Index — 86th percentile

86% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 121 D-Index or more.

Overview

What is he best known for?

The fields of study he is best known for:

  • Ecology
  • Ecosystem
  • Biodiversity

Philip A. Townsend mainly investigates Remote sensing, Ecosystem, Canopy, Hydrology and Vegetation. His work in the fields of Remote sensing, such as Thematic Mapper and Remote sensing, intersects with other areas such as Radar imaging. To a larger extent, he studies Ecology with the aim of understanding Ecosystem.

His work focuses on many connections between Canopy and other disciplines, such as Photosynthetic capacity, that overlap with his field of interest in Temperate climate, Lignin, Nutrient cycle and Agronomy. His Hydrology research is multidisciplinary, relying on both Land cover and Urban heat island. His Vegetation research is multidisciplinary, incorporating elements of Similarity, Partial least squares regression, Imaging spectroscopy and Satellite imagery.

His most cited work include:

  • The Future of Evapotranspiration: Global requirements for ecosystem functioning, carbon and climate feedbacks, agricultural management, and water resources (243 citations)
  • Remote sensing change detection tools for natural resource managers: Understanding concepts and tradeoffs in the design of landscape monitoring projects (243 citations)
  • Modeling floodplain inundation using an integrated GIS with radar and optical remote sensing (219 citations)

What are the main themes of his work throughout his whole career to date?

Philip A. Townsend mostly deals with Remote sensing, Ecology, Ecosystem, Canopy and Vegetation. Remote sensing is represented through his Hyperspectral imaging, Remote sensing, Imaging spectroscopy, Satellite imagery and Thematic Mapper research. His Hyperspectral imaging study combines topics in areas such as Spectral bands and Partial least squares regression.

When carried out as part of a general Ecosystem research project, his work on Terrestrial ecosystem is frequently linked to work in Trait, therefore connecting diverse disciplines of study. He interconnects Photosynthetic capacity, Forest ecology and Atmospheric sciences in the investigation of issues within Canopy. Philip A. Townsend has included themes like Hydrology and Growing season in his Vegetation study.

He most often published in these fields:

  • Remote sensing (31.22%)
  • Ecology (27.80%)
  • Ecosystem (17.07%)

What were the highlights of his more recent work (between 2018-2021)?

  • Remote sensing (31.22%)
  • Ecosystem (17.07%)
  • Ecology (27.80%)

In recent papers he was focusing on the following fields of study:

Philip A. Townsend spends much of his time researching Remote sensing, Ecosystem, Ecology, Canopy and Imaging spectroscopy. His Remote sensing research incorporates themes from Optimal estimation, Partial least squares regression and Vegetation. The Ecosystem study combines topics in areas such as Biodiversity and Grassland.

His Productivity and Abundance study in the realm of Ecology connects with subjects such as Outbreak and Dendrochronology. His Canopy research incorporates elements of Integrated pest management, Temperate climate, Physical geography, Scale and Blowing a raspberry. In his study, Forestry, Quercus garryana, Scale, Leaf mass per area and Broadleaf forest is strongly linked to Lidar, which falls under the umbrella field of Imaging spectroscopy.

Between 2018 and 2021, his most popular works were:

  • Global photosynthetic capacity is optimized to the environment (56 citations)
  • Mapping foliar functional traits and their uncertainties across three years in a grassland experiment (33 citations)
  • Detecting prairie biodiversity with airborne remote sensing (25 citations)

In his most recent research, the most cited papers focused on:

  • Ecology
  • Ecosystem
  • Biodiversity

His scientific interests lie mostly in Remote sensing, Canopy, Biodiversity, Blight and Trait. His research in the fields of Imaging spectroscopy overlaps with other disciplines such as Earth observation. His Imaging spectroscopy research focuses on Forest ecology and how it relates to Hyperspectral imaging.

His research in Biodiversity intersects with topics in Agronomy, Caterpillar, Asclepias syriaca, Competition and Plant ecology. Within one scientific family, Philip A. Townsend focuses on topics pertaining to Pathogen under Blight, and may sometimes address concerns connected to Horticulture, Inoculation and Cultivar. His Ecosystem research is multidisciplinary, incorporating perspectives in Range and Atmospheric sciences.

Best Publications

  • The future of evapotranspiration: global requirements for ecosystem functioning, carbon and climate feedbacks, agricultural management, and water resources.

    Joshua B. Fisher;Forrest S. Melton;Elizabeth M. Middleton;Christopher Hain;Christopher Hain

  • Observing terrestrial ecosystems and the carbon cycle from space

    David Schimel;Ryan Pavlick;Joshua B. Fisher;Gregory P. Asner

  • Remote sensing change detection tools for natural resource managers: Understanding concepts and tradeoffs in the design of landscape monitoring projects

    Robert E. Kennedy;Philip A. Townsend;John E. Gross;Warren B. Cohen

  • Modeling floodplain inundation using an integrated GIS with radar and optical remote sensing

    Philip A. Townsend;Stephen J. Walsh

  • Spectroscopic determination of leaf morphological and biochemical traits for northern temperate and boreal tree species

    Shawn P. Serbin;Aditya Singh;Brenden E. McNeil;Clayton C. Kingdon

  • Changes in the extent of surface mining and reclamation in the Central Appalachians detected using a 1976-2006 Landsat time series

    Philip A. Townsend;David P. Helmers;Clayton C. Kingdon;Brenden E. McNeil

  • Integrating remote sensing with ecology and evolution to advance biodiversity conservation

    Unknown

  • Leaf optical properties reflect variation in photosynthetic metabolism and its sensitivity to temperature

    Shawn P. Serbin;Dylan N. Dillaway;Eric L. Kruger;Philip A. Townsend

  • NASA's surface biology and geology designated observable: A perspective on surface imaging algorithms

    Kerry Cawse-Nicholson;Philip A. Townsend;David Schimel;Ali M. Assiri

  • Plant spectral diversity integrates functional and phylogenetic components of biodiversity and predicts ecosystem function.

    Anna-Katharina Schweiger;Jeannine Cavender-Bares;Philip A Townsend;Sarah E Hobbie

  • Imaging spectroscopy algorithms for mapping canopy foliar chemical and morphological traits and their uncertainties

    Aditya Singh;Shawn P. Serbin;Brenden E. McNeil;Clayton C. Kingdon

  • Global photosynthetic capacity is optimized to the environment.

    Nicholas G. Smith;Nicholas G. Smith;Trevor F. Keenan;Trevor F. Keenan;I. Colin Prentice;Han Wang

  • Temperature-driven range expansion of an irruptive insect heightened by weakly coevolved plant defenses

    Kenneth F. Raffa;Erinn N. Powell;Philip A. Townsend

  • Remote Sensing of Plant Biodiversity

    Jeannine Cavender-Bares;John A. Gamon;John A. Gamon;Philip A. Townsend

  • Remote sensing of forested wetlands: Application of multitemporal and multispectral satellite imagery to determine plant community composition and structure in southeastern USA

    Philip A. Townsend;Stephen J. Walsh

  • Principles and Applications of Imaging Radar: Manual of Remote Sensing

    Philip A Townsend

  • Mapping Seasonal Flooding in Forested Wetlands Using Multi-Temporal Radarsat SAR

    Philip A. Townsend

  • Urban heat island impacts on plant phenology: intra-urban variability and response to land cover

    Samuel C Zipper;Jason Schatz;Aditya Singh;Christopher J Kucharik

  • Estimating the effect of gypsy moth defoliation using MODIS

    K. M. deBeurs;P. A. Townsend

  • Application of imaging spectroscopy to mapping canopy nitrogen in the forests of the central Appalachian Mountains using Hyperion and AVIRIS

    P.A. Townsend;J.R. Foster;R.A. Chastain;W.S. Currie

  • Relationships between forest structure and the detection of flood inundation in forested wetlands using C-band SAR

    P. A. Townsend

  • Estimation of forest structural parameters using 5 and 10 meter SPOT-5 satellite data

    Peter T. Wolter;Phillip A. Townsend;Brian R. Sturtevant

Frequent Co-Authors

Shawn P. Serbin
Shawn P. Serbin Brookhaven National Laboratory
John A. Gamon
John A. Gamon University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Jeannine Cavender-Bares
Jeannine Cavender-Bares University of Minnesota
Eric L. Kruger
Eric L. Kruger University of Wisconsin–Madison
Ankur R. Desai
Ankur R. Desai University of Wisconsin–Madison
Benjamin Zuckerberg
Benjamin Zuckerberg University of Wisconsin–Madison
Sarah E. Hobbie
Sarah E. Hobbie University of Minnesota
Brian R. Sturtevant
Brian R. Sturtevant US Forest Service
Kenneth F. Raffa
Kenneth F. Raffa University of Wisconsin–Madison
Joshua B. Fisher
Joshua B. Fisher Chapman University

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