Mark Mesarch

Mark Mesarch

  • Contact Information
  • My Story
  • Publications
  • Background
  • Interests
  • Grants

Contact Information

TitleSenior Web-Database Specialist
Address913 South Hardin Hall
3310 Holdrege Street
Lincoln NE
68583–0989

East Campus
Phone
  • office: 402-472-5904
  • fax: 402-472-4915
E-mailmmesarch1@unl.edu

 

Contact Preference

1st E-mail | 2nd Phone

Office Hours

M-F 8 am to 5 pm

My Story

Howdy, I'm Mark Mesarch a Senior Web\Database Specialist for the School of Natural Resources.

I've worked for the university since 1989 in mostly the agricultural meteorology research area, as well as, earth science education, atmospheric deposition measurements, database management/design and website management/design.

The major aspect of the agricultural meteorology research includes canopy reflectance, bidirectional reflectance and leaf optical properties. These are all related to remote sensing measurements. Our research sites have included areas close to my office on East Campus to the ARDC research site near Ithaca, NE to the Konza Prairie near Manhattan, KS to northern Oklahoma to north of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada to Kursk, Russia. Leaf optical refers to how light interacts with leaves and other plant parts. Light can either be reflected, transmitted or absorbed. The amount of light that is absorbed relates to the plants ability to photosynthesis. We cannot measure how much light is absorbed so we measure the amount that is reflected and transmitted; then we can calculate the amount that is absorbed. Our leaf optical measurements have ranged from corn and soybean leaves to pine needles. Our most recent research is part of the Carbon Sequestration Program (CSP) which looks at using typical farm management practices as a way of increasing carbon stored in the plants and soil. These "sinks" of carbon may help reduce global warming caused by the greenhouse effect.

Mark Mesarch install instrumentation for a Remote Sensing experiment

I also have been the site supervisor for the National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) that monitors precipitation chemistry. Most people are familiar with the term "acid rain." Our NADP site is one of over 250 sites across the US that collects weekly precipitation samples every Tuesday morning.

I enjoy working for the School because I have been allowed to use my talents and move in different directions as my learning and research continues.

Outside of my job at the university, I am an avid bicycler. In 2022, I completed my 15th trip of the Bicycle Ride Across Nebraska (BRAN) since 1984. I am also an avid supporter of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Women's Volleyball Team. I am a guest lighting designer at the Lincoln Community Playhouse and occasionally "walk the boards" as an actor, too. In the April 2013 I won the Best Lighting Design Award for the Region V Festival of the Association of Community Theaters in Fargo ND for my work with LCP production of "Doubt." I sing with the Lincoln Choral Artists.

Feature Stories

Selected Publications

Walter-Shea, E.A., K.G. Hubbard, M. A. Mesarch and G. Roebke. (2019) Improving the calibration of silicon photodiode pyranometers. Meteo. Atmos. Physics. 131:1111–1120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00703-018-0624-3Online
Arkebauer, T.J., E.A. Walter-Shea, M.A. Mesarch, A.E.Suyker, S.B. Verma. 2009. Scaling up of CO2 fluxes from leaf to canopy in maize-based agroecosystems. Agro. For. Meteo. doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2009.04.013Online
Antunes, M.A.H., Walter-Shea, E.A., Mesarch, M.A. 2001. Test of an extended mathematical approach to calculate maize leaf area index and leaf angle distribution. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 108:45-53 (Journal Series Number:13110)Online
Mesarch, M.A. 2001. Environmental Change and the Central Great Plains, Carbon Sequestration. Lincoln: Conservation and Survey Division, University of Nebraska. pp. 6.Online
Mesarch, Mark A., Steve J. Meyer and David C. Gosselin (2000, September) A flexible K-12 weather data collection and education program. Electronic Journal of Science Education [Online serial] 5(1).Online
Mesarch, M.A., E.A. Walter-Shea, G.P. Asner, E.M. Middleton, and S.S. Chen 1999. A revised measurement methodology for conifer needles spectral optical properties evaluating the influence of gaps between elements. Remote Sensing of Environment. 68:177-192Online
Blad B.L., E.A. Walter-Shea, M.A. Mesarch, C.J. Hays, P.J. Starks, D.W. Deering and T.F. Eck 1998. Estimating Net Radiation with Remotely Sensed Data: Resultsfrom KUREX-91 and FIFE Studies. Remote Sensing Reviews. 17:55-71.
Mesarch M.A., E.A. Walter-Shea, Blad B.L., C.J. Hays and E.M. Middleton 1998. Comparing Biophysical Properties of the Streletskaya Steppe Reserve and the Konza Prairie. Remote Sensing Reviews. 17:37-53.Online
Middleton,E.M., Walter-Shea, E.A., Mesarch, M.A., Chan, S.S., Rusin, R.J. 1998. Optical Properties of Canopy Elements in Black Spruce, Jack Pine and Aspen Stands in Saskatchewan, Canada. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing. 24(2): 169-186. Online
Starks, P.J., Blad B.L., E.A. Walter-Shea, C.J. Hays, and M.A. Mesarch 1998. Estimating emitted longwave components of the radiation balance in the KUREX-91 and FIFE studies. Remote Sensing Reviews. 17:73-87.
Walter-Shea E.A., Blad B.L., M.A. Mesarch, C.J. Hays, D.W. Deering, and T.F. Eck 1998. Absorbed Photosyntheticdally Active Radiation and Sun-View Geometry Effects on Remote Sensing Relationships. Remote Sensing Reviews. 17:89-102.
Walter-Shea, E.A., J. Privette, D. Cornell, M.A. Mesarch, and C.J. Hays 1997. Relations between directional spectral vegetation indices and leaf area and absorbed radiation in alfalfa. Remote Sensing of Environment. 61:162-177.Online
Gosselin, D.C., D.R. Mohlman, M.A. Mesarch, and S.J. Meyers. 1996. Nebraska Earth Science Education Network, A University-Teacher Connection. Science Education International 7(2):4.
Walter-Shea, E.A., Mesarch, M.A. 1996. Conifer Shoot Bidirectional Scattering: Methodology and Preliminary Results. International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium.Online
Walter-Shea, E.A., C.J. Hays, and M.A. Mesarch 1993. An Improved Goniometer System for Calibrating Field Reference-Reflectance Panels. Remote Sensing of Environment. 43:131-138.Online
Walter-Shea E.A., Blad B.L., C.J. Hays, M.A. Mesarch, D.W. Deering, and E.M. Middleton 1992. Biophysical Properties Affecting Vegetative Canopy Reflectance and Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation at the FIFE Site. Journal of Geophysical Research.Online
Walter-Shea, E.A., Blad, B.L., Hays, C.J., Mesarch, M.A. 1991. Slope Effects on Shortwave Radiation Components and Net Radiation: Interim Report for Period April 1, 1991- December 31, 1991. Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. pp. 18. Online
Blad, B.L., Walter-Shea, E.A., Hays, C.J., Mesarch, M.A. 1990. Calibration of Field Reference Panel and Radiometers Used in FIFE 1989: Semi-annual report for period February 1- September 30, 1990. Department of Agricultural Meteorology, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources. pp. 14.Online
Scheduling Irrigation with a High Speed Center Pivot to Reduce Heat and Moisture Stress in Corn (RS-1296). Mark Mesarch, Blaine L. Blad and John M. Norman. 44 pp., 8.5 x 11.

Background

Education

DegreeMajorInstitutionYear Awarded
Master of ScienceAgronomyUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln1985
Bachelor of ScienceMeteorologyPennsylvania State University1983

 

Affiliations

 

Awards

TitleAwarded byYear Awarded
Staff Recognition AwardSchool of Natural Resources | UNL2011

 

Websites

 

SNR Program Areas

  • Applied Climate and Spatial Science

Areas of Interest/Expertise

  • Web Programming and Development
  • Web Usability
  • Database Development
  • Database/Web interactions
  • Canopy Remote Sensing
  • Leaf Optical properties (reflectance and transmittance)
  • Bidirectional reflectance
  • Assist in teaching NRES 408/808

Grants

Currently this page only displays grants that were awarded on 1/1/ 2009 to the present. If a grant was awarded prior to 1/1/ 2009 and is still active, it will not be displayed on this page.

Grant TitleCSD Participation as a Data Provider in the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network
Starting Date08/15/2016

Investigator(s)

Ending Date08/14/2017
Funding Level$42,387.00
Funding AgencyUSGS