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Energy geographer studying photovoltaic environmental impacts and sustainable land-use transitions I received my Ph.D. in Physical Geography from the College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, where I was advised by Prof. Zehao Shen. During my doctoral training, I was also a joint Ph.D. researcher in Public Administration at Baruch College, CUNY, where I worked with Prof. Gang He. My current research is in energy geography, with a focus on renewable energy systems, spatial planning, land-use optimization, and environmental impacts under climate change. I received my B.S. in Ecology from Guizhou University. Energy geography · Photovoltaic environmental impacts · Renewable energy planning · GIS and remote sensing · Land-use optimization Email: wgrao [at] stu [dot] pku [dot] edu [dot] cn CV / 简历 / Google Scholar / ResearchGate / Twitter |
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My research sits at the intersection of energy geography, physical geography, and landscape ecology. I use GIS, remote sensing, and spatial optimization to evaluate renewable energy potential, land-use tradeoffs, and ecological impacts under climate change. I am especially interested in how renewable energy siting and regional planning can support low-carbon transitions while reducing pressure on ecosystems. My earlier work on soil erosion, drought vulnerability, and mountain biodiversity provides a landscape-ecological foundation for my current energy-environment research. |
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Photovoltaic Impacts
Quantifying PV-induced thermal effects, soil moisture changes, evapotranspiration, and vegetation responses across large solar landscapes. Energy Land Use
Modeling tradeoffs between renewable energy potential, agricultural land protection, and ecological risk for sustainable siting. Climate Vulnerability
Linking remote sensing, GIS, and landscape ecology to assess drought vulnerability, soil erosion, and ecosystem resilience. |
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My Ph.D. dissertation examined the environmental effects of large-scale photovoltaic infrastructure in arid and semi-arid landscapes. I investigated how PV construction reshapes local thermal conditions, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and vegetation dynamics, and how these biophysical responses should inform sustainable solar siting.
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Wenge Rao, Zehao Shen, Xingwu Duan CATENA, 2023 abstract Our historical assessments and future forecasts urge vegetation protection in karst areas and restoration in southern Yunnan for future soil erosion control and regional ecological security. |
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Yuyang Xie, Zehao Shen, J. Julio Camarero, Josep Peñuelas, Xianliang Wang, Jitang Li, Wenge Rao, Xiangwu Chen, Fu Zhao, Fahu Xiao Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2025 This study examines the climatic controls of global treeline formation, distinguishing thermal constraints on treeline position from moisture-driven taxon-specific variation. |
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Caiwen Ning#, Wenge Rao#, Jitang Li, Yuyang Xie, Xiangwu Chen, Hujiao Cheng, Yun Su, Zehao Shen* Preprint, 2024 This suggests that drought and moisture availability are the primary drivers, with climate constraints shifting from drought to temperature at higher altitudes. |
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Fu Zhao, Tao Yang, Caifang Luo, Wenge Rao, Gengchen Yang, Guo Li, Zehao Shen Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2022 paper We investigate biodiversity patterns and underlying mechanisms in the Hengduan Mountains of Southwest China and highlight the priorities for biodiversity conservation in this region. |
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