Terrestrial Ecology Program

1
Terrestrial Ecology Program
Diane E. Wickland William Emanuel 1 May 2008
2
The NASA Mission Goals
To pioneer the future in space exploration,
scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.
Strategic Goal 3 Develop a balanced overall
program of science, exploration, and aeronautics
consistent with the redirection of the human
spaceflight program to focus on exploration
Sub-goal 3A Study Earth from space to advance
scientific understanding and meet societal needs.
3
CCE Focus Area Goals Objectives

• Quantify global land cover change and terrestrial
  and marine productivity, and improve carbon cycle
  and ecosystem models.
• Three objectives are identified for Carbon Cycle
  and Ecosystems research
• Document and understand how the global carbon
  cycle, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and
  land cover and use are changing
• Quantify global productivity, biomass, carbon
  fluxes, and changes in land cover and
• Provide useful projections of future changes in
  global carbon cycling and terrestrial and marine
  ecosystems for use in ecological forecasting and
  as inputs for improved climate change
  predictions.

4
Terrestrial Ecology Program

• Goal The goal of NASAs Terrestrial Ecology
  research is to improve understanding of the
  structure and function of global terrestrial
  ecosystems, their interactions with the
  atmosphere and hydrosphere, and their role in the
  cycling of the major biogeochemical elements and
  water.
• Science Questions
• How are global ecosystems changing?
• How do ecosystems, land cover and biogeochemical
  cycles respond to and affect global environmental
  change?
• What are the consequences of land cover and land
  use change for human societies and the
  sustainability of ecosystems?
• How will carbon cycle dynamics and terrestrial
  and marine ecosystems change in the future?

5
Terrestrial Ecology Program Research Topics

• Carbon Cycle Science
• Terrestrial Primary Productivity
• Ecosystem Response to Change (including
  Disturbance and Recovery Processes)
• North American Carbon Program (NACP)
• Large Scale Biosphere - Atmosphere Experiment in
  Amazonia (LBA)
• Land-Atmosphere Interactions (physical
  chemical)
• Remote Sensing Science / Biophysics of Remote
  Sensing
• Integrated Biogeochemical Cycles
• Other habitats human health, ecosystem
  services, fire, biodiversity, agricultural
  impacts/responses, invasive species

6

Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in
Amazônia (LBA)

• LBA is an international, multi-disciplinary
  cooperative research program led by Brazil. NASA
  leads the U.S. participation in LBA, working in
  close partnership with the Brazilian leaders and
  scientists. (1998 present).
• LBA research is focused on producing new
  knowledge about the - climatological,
  ecological, biogeochemical, and hydrological
  functions of Amazônia, - impact of land use
  change on these functions - interactions
  between Amazônia and the Earth system. LBA is
  the largest cooperative international scientific
  project ever to study the interaction between
  tropical forests and the atmosphere.
• NASA completed its field contribution in 2006.

The Amazon region of South America as viewed by
MODIS on NASAs Terra satellite.
The Amazon region of South America as viewed by
MODIS on NASAs Terra satellite.
7
LBA-ECO
LBA-ECO is NASAs Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems
Focus Area contribution to LBA. LBA-ECO
research (1998-2008) focuses on this science
question How do tropical forest conversion,
regrowth, and selective logging, influence carbon
storage, nutrient dynamics, trace gas fluxes, and
the prospect for sustainable land use in
Amazônia?
8

LBA Achievements and Results (as of
Summer, 2006)

• Discovered that forests green-up, are more
  productive, and store more carbon in the dry
  season. Light limitations in the wet season
  constrain productivity more than water
  limitations do in the dry season.
• Discovered that in the wet season, cloud cover
  and rain in the western Amazon resemble oceanic
  conditions. These green ocean conditions are
  controlled by natural particulate emissions from
  the vegetation.
• Developed new remote sensing methodologies to
  detect and quantify selective logging in the
  Amazon and quantify its effect on carbon budgets.
  
• Developed a Brazilian early warning system for
  deforestation (DETER) based on NASA MODIS
  technology.
• Developed a model (now operational in Brazil at
  CPTEC) using satellite fire detections to predict
  the transport of smoke.
• Produced 1154 research publications, including 8
  Special Issues.
• Trained 932 students, including 241 Ph.D.s.

9
LBA Synthesis Integration Phase

• Continued collaboration between Brazilian and U.
  S. scientists on LBA data analysis and
  interpretation, including
• Synthesis of carbon research results that will
  quantify the Amazons carbon budget, addressing
  interannual variations and whether it is a carbon
  source or sink.
• An integrated analysis of the meteorological
  conditions, ecological, economic, and social
  effects of the 2005 drought and forest fires in
  Western Amazônia.
• Analyses of remote sensing data on natural and
  anthropogenic disturbances to constrain the
  temporal and spatial variations in forest
  turnover and stream biogeochemistry.
• A rich, and well-documented archive of LBA data
  and data products will be publicly available for
  a wide variety of uses. It continues to be
  challenging to get investigators to make data
  delivery a priority.
• Continuation of training and education
  activities.

http//www.lbaeco.org
10
North American Carbon Program (NACP)

• The NACP has three overarching goals
• Develop quantitative scientific knowledge,
  robust observations, and models to determine the
  emissions and uptake of CO2, CH4, and CO, the
  changes in carbon stocks, and the factors
  regulating these processes for North America and
  adjacent ocean basins
• Develop the scientific basis to implement full
  carbon accounting on regional and continental
  scales
• Support long-term quantitative measurements of
  sources and sinks of atmospheric CO2 and CH4, and
  develop forecasts for future trends

A major step toward implementing the NACP was
achieved with the publication of The North
American Carbon Program (NACP) in 2002.
11
NACP Questions

1. What is the carbon balance of North America and
   adjacent oceans? What are the geographic
   patterns of fluxes of CO2, CH4, and CO? How is
   the balance changing over time? (Diagnosis)
2. What processes control the sources and sinks of
   CO2, CH4, and CO, and how do the controls change
   with time? (Attribution/Processes)
3. Are there potential surprises (could sources
   increase or sinks disappear)? (Prediction)
4. How can we enhance and manage long-lived carbon
   sinks ("sequestration"), and provide resources to
   support decision makers? (Decision support)

12
North American Carbon Program (NACP) Integration
The NACP will quantify the magnitudes and
distributions of carbon sources and sinks,
explain the processes controlling them, and
produce a consistent analysis of North Americas
carbon budget.
Observations
Dynamic Maps
Model-Data Fusion

Decision Support
Diagnostic Models
Field Studies
Predictive Models
NACP is a CCSP Interagency Collaboration
Observations Experiments ? Science Results ?
Estimates Uncertainties
13
Remote Sensing in the NACP
Net Change in Soil Carbon (30 m) 1991 2000
Leaf Area Index (5 km) June 26 July 3,
2006 MODIS data
R. Nemani, NASA ARC
0
3
6
T. West, ORNL
Landsat inventory data.
U.S. Carbon Biomass 2000 SRTM data
Disturbance Regrowth Dynamics
Aboveground Biomass
1972 2006 Landsat Data Forest inventory
data Ecosystem carbon models
Basal-Area Weighted Height
S. Goward, Univ MD J. Masek G. Collatz, GSFC
J. Kellndorfer, Woods Hole Research Inst.
14
North American Carbon Program Issues

• NACP Science Plan and CCRI NACP element call for
  a near-term integrated analysis of North
  Americas carbon budget and a capacity to
  continue this into the future.
• Eight agencies are working together to address
  NACP goals.
• NASA depends on the scientific data and research
  results of these partner agencies to achieve NACP
  goals.
• Expectations about products and time frames
  differ substantially.
• NASA expects substantial progress by 2010.
• Other agencies, particularly those that limit
  their research to the U.S. and neighboring
  countries, have a far longer-term view.
• Agencies with long-term, in situ monitoring
  responsibilities, particularly NOAA, USDA, and
  DOE, implement key NACP elements only as budgets
  and agency priorities permit.
• CCIWG is looking into the possibility of
  re-scoping NACP plans, and NASA is adapting its
  participation in the NACP to better insure that
  important results involving NASA remote sensing
  and analyses are achieved within the expected
  time frame while also meeting other agencies
  needs for remote sensing data products over the
  longer term.  

15
Terrestrial Ecology Program Unique Role

• NASA Terrestrial Ecology leads in providing
  remote sensing data, remote sensing data
  analysis, and modeling also
• we are a champion for the global, synoptic
  perspective
• we are a major player in ecosystem, carbon
  cycle, and biogeochemical cycle model
  development, both diagnostic and prognostic
• we, rather uniquely, are able to organize and
  support focused field campaigns and other large,
  highly coordinated projects

16
Primary External Interfaces

• Interagency
• CCSP Carbon Cycle Science (CCIWG)
• CENR Subcom. on Ecological Systems
• DOE (NACP, AmeriFlux, Carbon Modeling, ORNL DAAC)
• USDA (Joint Working Group, LBA, Fire, NACP,
  Forest Cover, field studies)
• USGS (Landsat/LDCM, GLMDS, EDC DAAC, invasive
  species, NACP)
• NOAA (NPP/NPOESS, NACP)

• International
• LBA Brazil
• NACP Canada-Mexico-U.S. collaboration and
  cooperation with EU
• IGBP/IHDP/WCRP Global Carbon Project, Global
  Land Project
• CEOS, IGOS-P, GTOS, GOOS, IGOL
• ESSP, GEOSS

17
Recent Reviews and Advice

• Visiting Committee Reviewed NASA Earth Science
  Division in December 2007
• Noted there is a need for a compelling new vision
  to motivate and justify Earth Science (as Earth
  System Science did in the past 2 decades)
• Recommended NASA prepare ideas for a new
  initiative that could be ready to implement by a
  new Presidential Administration
• Noted that NASAs Earth Science Division is
  seriously understaffed for the work it is doing
  and identified a few critical areas
• NASA Advisory Councils Earth Science
  Subcommittee last met in January 2008
• Recommended a study as to why Earth Science
  missions cost so much more than Space Science
  missions
• Recommended studies of DESDynI and ICESat-II
  mission configurations to address
  incompatibilities
• Recommended steps be taken to reduce the time to
  implement new research awards

18
New Strategic Planning

• NASA Earth Science Division is likely to begin a
  new round of strategic planning soon
• U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP)
• New national assessment and CCSP Research
  Strategy update to be released in May 2008 (to
  comply with court orders)
• New CCSP Research Strategy to be developed in
  2009 IWGs working on building blocks now
• CCIWG discussing a new, updated A U.S. Carbon
  Cycle Science Plan with its CCSSG
• An Ocean Research Priority Plan is being
  developed by the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean
  Science and Technology (JSOST)

19
New Questions for the Focus Area?

• Coming soon from the CCE MOWG . . .

20
New Questions for the Focus Area?

• Science Themes for Understanding and Managing
  Ecosystems Key Questions
• Disruption of the carbon, water and nitrogen
  cycles
• Changing land and marine resource use
• Changes in disturbance cycles

- Suggestions from Decadal Survey
21
CCE Budget Issues

• ESD RA budget (one line for all research program
  elements) continues to decline some other budget
  lines that support research are declining, and
  others are stable or increasing
• This year Earth Science received a budget
  increase to begin work on the Decadal Survey
  missions new starts for SMAP and ICESat-II and
  funds to study and advance toward implementation
  of others (these funds came at the expense of
  NASAs space science divisions . . .)
• Full cost accounting implementation at NASA civil
  service Centers continues to complicate program
  management
• Congressionally mandated recission of unobligated
  FY2007 funds in December, 2007
• New NASA focus on early commitment and obligation
  of funds
• FY2007 funds to be obligated by end of March 2008
  (or lost)
• FY2008 funds to be nearly all obligated by Sept.
  30, 2008, but . . . that means much earlier for
  most of us!
• ? obligation occurs when funds are awarded on a
  contract or grant at the Centers, they do not
  obligate until the PI acts to spend them
• It is very likely that attention will turn back
  to costing soon some of the things we do to get
  funds obligated could come back to bite in the
  form or uncosted carryover. . .

22
Aligning CCE Research with Missions

• With a strong focus on space-based measurements
  and a shrinking budget for research, we are
  increasingly challenged to achieve a reasonable
  mix of investments in analysis of data from
  existing missions, preparing scientifically for
  future missions, conducting field programs and
  campaigns, and research to answer global change
  questions that covers the breadth of science
  needed to address our goals and engage our
  community.
• We depend heavily on other NASA programs for
  support of data and information systems, data
  record production, technology development,
  airborne platforms and some instruments, and
  other infrastructure necessary to enable the
  scientific research we fund. Priorities in these
  areas are evolving and resources are constrained.
• Achieving the right balance is a continual
  challenge, and given that we are experiencing
  difficulties with our missions in development and
  facing interesting challenges in responding to
  the Decadal Survey, there is a lot at stake.

23
New Processes for Research Management in NASA
Science Mission Directorate

• SARA Web site
• NSPIRES enhancements, and move to totally
  electronic procurement packages
• 4-year awards as a new norm
• Proposal Handling / Peer review Process Changes
• Budgets no loner redacted for peer review (ROSES
  2008)
• Only Panel Consensus or Summary Review provided
  to proposers as feedback/documentation of the
  peer evaluation
• More standardized procedures in how peer reviews
  are run

24
Recent Events and Milestones

• Research Opportunities in ROSES-2007
• Carbon Cycle Science
• Terrestrial Ecology (Structure/PFT, Integrative
  Studies, Advanced Models)
• Land Cover and Land Use Change
• Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry (pending)
• Decision Support through Earth Science Research
  Results (DECISIONS)
• New Investigator Program (pending)
• Advancing Collaborative Connections for Earth
  System Science
• ROSES-2008 Released (LCLUC, TE (tbd), OBB,
  Biodiversity, DECISIONS, Applications Feasibility
  Studies, AIST)
• OCO on schedule for December 2008 launch
• NPP launch revised to June 2010 (OMPS Limb, CERES
  added)
• New starts for SMAP and ICESat-II and funds for
  other decadal survey mission studies
• New Web site for CCE Focus Area
  http//cce.nasa.gov/ (suggestions for
  improvements welcome)

25
Carbon Cycle Ecosystems Announcing Our New
Web Site

• Please visit our new Focus Area Web site at
• http//cce.nasa.gov/
• (Comments and suggestions for improvements are
  welcome!)
• A new Terrestrial Ecology Web Site linked to the
  one above is being planned for the near future.
  Ideas are welcome!

26
CCE Upcoming Meetings

• CCE Management Operations Working Group (MOWG)
  to meet Apr. 17-18, 2008 (Greenbelt)
• CCE Joint Science Workshop April 28-May 2, 2008
  (UMUC)
• LBA/GEOMA/PPBio Scientific Conference November
  17-21, 2008 (Manaus)
• NACP Investigators Workshop February 17-20, 2009
  (San Diego)
• ASCENDS and HyspIRI Workshops soon . . .

27
Terrestrial Ecology Issues to Discuss

• Breakout Discussions Issues Opportunities in
  the Context of our Science

28
A Terrestrial Ecology Annual Meeting?

• To cultivate a stronger sense of community
• To engage TE researchers in some problem solving
  and priority setting for the program
• To exchange research results
• Other?
• If so, we think an organizing committee that
  includes scientists participating in the TE
  research program would be a good idea. Ideas,
  volunteers?
• Lets discuss in the wrap-up session. . .

29
Measurements for the Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems
Focus Area

• Measurements are dominating current NASA
  priorities and activities they present both our
  greatest problems and opportunities
• Delays in both NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP)
  and Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)
• Performance issues with NPPs VIIRS for ocean
  color
• Launch this year of the Orbiting Carbon
  Observatory (OCO)
• Identifying our Earth System Data Records (or
  Climate Data Records) and how to support them
• Preparing to implement the NRCs Earth Science
  Decadal Survey recommendations for new
  measurements

30
CCE Focus Area Missions in Development

• Key missions now in development to address these
  objectives
• Well-calibrated and validated systematic
  observations of moderate-resolution ocean color,
  vegetation biophysical properties, fire, and land
  cover as well as high-resolution land cover are a
  critical foundation.
• The National Polar Orbiting Environmental
  Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project
  (NPP) and
• Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)
• ?The focus area depends on the continued
  availability of these climate-quality systematic
  observations.
• The Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) will
  measure atmospheric CO2 concentrations and
  advance our ability to locate and quantify
  regional carbon sources and sinks by dramatically
  increasing the number of global measurements over
  what can be provided with ground-based
  networks and aircraft.

31
Terrestrial Ecology Issues to Discuss

• Decadal Survey Recommended Missions Terrestrial
  Ecology

32
CCE Focus Area Priority New Missions from the
NRC Decadal Survey

• Measurements of vegetation height and profiles
  of three-dimensional ecosystem structure to
  estimate aboveground biomass and carbon stocks to
  characterize species habitats and biodiversity
  DESDynI, ICESat-II, LIST
• Well-calibrated measurements of the coastal
  ocean that allow discrimination and
  quantification of dissolved and particulate
  organic matter, phytoplankton pigments, and
  sediments to deduce the fate of carbon in the
  coastal ocean ACE, GEO-CAPE
• Measurements of plant groups with important
  ecological and physiological functions (e.g.,
  nitrogen-fixing species, invasive species, plants
  with differing photosynthetic pathways or growth
  rates) to be used to improve models and develop
  more refined land cover analyses. HyspIRI
• Advanced, high resolution measurements of
  atmospheric profiles of carbon dioxide and
  methane to further refine our ability to quantify
  global sources and sinks. ASCENDS
• Others of interest soil moisture (SMAP),
  lakes/wetlands (SWOT), cold land process (SCLP),
  . . .

33
NRC Decadal Survey Missions

34
Vegetation 3-D Structure DESDynI

Challenges Learning how to use InSAR in
combination with lidar building the community
partnerships.
35
Plant Physiology and Functional Types HyspIRI

36
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ASCENDS

Challenges Being ready scientifically so soon
after OCO addressing policy needs for accuracy
with well-characterized uncertainties.
37
Other Key Recommendations of NRC Decadal Survey

• Continuity of existing data records in there
  (e.g., land cover also implement re-baselined
  NPOESS and GOES), but not addressed fully (was
  not in their charge)
• Also recommendation to NASA to develop a strategy
  for long-term observations distinct from what is
  needed for numerical weather prediction . . .
• Airborne science should be restored and unmanned
  aerial vehicles (UAV) increasingly factored into
  the plan for Earth Science
• Science questions/rationale posed in panel
  chapters (for CCE land-use change, ecosystem
  dynamics, biodiversity)
• Venture class missions (100-200M) for more
  frequent launch opportunities and to demonstrate
  innovative ideas and higher-risk technologies
  also training future leaders

38
Importance of NRC Decadal Survey

• Senior NASA managers are accustomed to using NRC
  Decadal Survey recommendations as the science
  communitys definitive statement on what
  space-based observations are of highest
  scientific priority for the nation and expect to
  implement them as resources and technical
  realities permit.
• Other measurements, missions, or science,
  lacking the imprimatur of a Decadal Survey, are
  not likely to be considered.
• Suggestions that a Decadal Survey recommendation
  may not represent the highest priorities of the
  scientific community are likely to be perceived
  as a rationale for not pursuing any new
  observations for that scientific area at least
  until an new scientific consensus has been
  achieved and vetted through the NRC.

39
Terrestrial Ecology Issues to Discuss

• Data Records Terrestrial Ecology

40
Climate Data Records

• A climate data record is a time series of
  measurements of sufficient length, consistency,
  and continuity to determine climate variability
  and change. (NRC, 2004)
• The NRC further segmented satellite-based CDRs
  into
• fundamental CDRs (FCDRs), which are calibrated
  and quality-controlled sensor data that have been
  improved over time, and
• thematic CDRs (TCDRs), which are geophysical
  variables derived from the FCDRs, such as sea
  surface temperature and cloud fraction.

41
Earth System Data Records

• Earth System Data Records (ESDRs) are
  observations of a parameter of the Earth system
  optimized to meet requirements to address Earth
  science questions and to provide for
  applications.
• Low level and high level products are involved in
  ESDRs
• Higher level products depend on products such as
  reflectance and vegetation index.
• Hierarchical organization is useful
• Need to derive priority from the importance of
  the end use
• Explicit attention to error, uncertainty, and
  precision is required in definition and
  production.
• Issue of consistency between user sub-groups and
  ESDRs important for the modeling community
• Need to consider what will be needed to create
  the retrospective data record (e.g.,
  re-processing)

42
Earth System Data Records

• The Focus Area has a long list of candidate
  CDRs/EDRs
• SeaWiFS and MODIS data products
• Landsat data products
• REASoN data products
• New MEaSUREs data products
• Some RA sponsored data products
• How do we decide which are CDRs/ESDRs?
• What level of support is required for each
  (calibration, validation, accessibility, multiple
  versions/formats, scheduled reprocessings)?
• Is periodic review of quality and use desirable,
  and if so, how should this be done?
• How much of this is NASAs job after the NASA
  mission(s) has ended?

43
Terrestrial Ecology Issues to Discuss

• Field Campaigns Terrestrial Ecology

44
Terrestrial Ecology Field Campaigns

• TE has a long history of sponsoring major field
  campaigns that have kept the program vital,
  trained our next generation of researchers, and
  addressed both important remote sensing
  challenges and science questions.
• FIFE
• BOREAS
• Supporting role in HAPEX-MOBHILY, HAPEX-Sahel,
  EFEDA
• LBA-ECO
• More focused multi-sensor airborne campaigns
• Mac-Europe, several hydrological, COBRA
• What should be next? What type of coordinated
  program focused on a single question or set of
  issues would most advance our science and program?

45
LBA Scaling Strategy
100 - 10,000 kmPan-Amazonian Region
1 - 100 kmStudy Areas(e.g., Para, Rondônia)
1 kmFlux Tower Sites
1 - 10 m Process Study PlotsValidation Sites
Validation Sites Process Study Plots
46
Terrestrial Ecology Discussion Topics

• Function, including vegetation physiology,
  biogeochemistry
•  
• Vegetation structure
• Disturbance (fire and others)
• Ecosystem services
•  
• Ecosystem climate Interactions

47
Breakout Co-Chairs

• Function, including vegetation physiology,
  biogeochemistry-- Xiangming Xiao, Steve Prince 
• Vegetation structure-- Marc Simard, Sassan
  Saatchi
• Disturbance (fire and others) -- Mark Chopping,
  Richard Houghton 
• Ecosystem services-- Randy Wynne, Stephen Ogle 
• Ecosystem climate Interactions-- Randy Kawa,
  Jeff Richey

48

• END

49

• Backup Slides

50
NASA Focus Areas Climate Change Science Program
(CCSP) Research Elements
NASA
CCSP
Climate Variability Change Atmospheric
Composition Land Use/Land Cover Change Global
Carbon Cycle Ecosystems Global Water
Cycle Human Contributions Responses

• Climate Variability Change
• Weather
• Atmospheric Composition
• Carbon Cycle Ecosystems
• Water Energy Cycle
• Earth Surface Interior

51
The NASA Mission Goals
To pioneer the future in space exploration,
scientific discovery, and aeronautics research.
Strategic Goal 3 Develop a balanced overall
program of science, exploration, and aeronautics
consistent with the redirection of the human
spaceflight program to focus on exploration
Sub-goal 3A Study Earth from space to advance
scientific understanding and meet societal needs.
52
Other Key Recommendations of NRC Decadal Survey

• Continuity of existing data records in there
  (e.g., land cover also implement re-baselined
  NPOESS and GOES), but not addressed fully (was
  not in their charge)
• Also recommendation to NASA to develop a strategy
  for long-term observations distinct from what is
  needed for numerical weather prediction . . .
• Airborne science should be restored and unmanned
  aerial vehicles (UAV) increasingly factored into
  the plan for Earth Science
• Science questions/rationale posed in panel
  chapters (for CCE land-use change, ecosystem
  dynamics, biodiversity)
• Venture class missions (100-200M) for more
  frequent launch opportunities and to demonstrate
  innovative ideas and higher-risk technologies
  also training future leaders

53
Climate Data Records Earth System Data Records

• A climate data record is a time series of
  measurements of sufficient length, consistency,
  and continuity to determine climate variability
  and change (NRC, 2004). The NRC further
  segmented satellite-based CDRs into
• fundamental CDRs (FCDRs), which are calibrated
  and quality-controlled sensor data that have been
  improved over time, and
• thematic CDRs (TCDRs), which are geophysical
  variables derived from the FCDRs, such as sea
  surface temperature and cloud fraction.
• Earth System Data Records (ESDRs) are
  observations of a parameter of the Earth system
  optimized to meet requirements to address Earth
  science questions and to provide for applications.

54
Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems
Knowledge of the interactions of global
biogeochemical cycles and terrestrial and marine
ecosystems with global environmental change and
their implications for the Earths climate,
productivity, and natural resources is needed to
understand and protect our home planet.

• Important Concerns
• Potential greenhouse warming (CO2, CH4) and
  ecosystem interactions with climate
• Carbon management (e.g., capacity of plants,
  soils, and the ocean to sequester carbon)
• Productivity of ecosystems (food, fiber, fuel)
• Ecosystem health and the sustainability of
  ecosystem goods and services
• Biodiversity and invasive species

NASA provides the global perspective and unique
combination of interdisciplinary science,
state-of-the-art Earth system modeling, and
diverse synoptic observations needed to document,
understand, and project carbon cycle dynamics and
changes in terrestrial and marine ecosystems and
land cover.
55
Integrated global analyses
Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Roadmap
Human-Ecosystems-Climate Interactions (Model-Data
Fusion, Assimilation) Global Air-Sea Flux
Sub-regional sources/sinks

T
Funded
High-Resolution Atmospheric CO2
Unfunded
Process controls errors in sink reduced
Southern Ocean Carbon Program, Air-Sea
CO2 Flux
Partnership
Models w/improved ecosystem functions
T Technology development
Physiology Functional Types
T
Reduced flux uncertainties coastal carbon
dynamics
Coastal Carbon
Field Campaign
Reduced flux uncertainties global carbon
dynamics
Global Ocean Carbon / Particle Abundance
Goals Global productivity and land cover change
at fine resolution biomass and carbon fluxes
quantified useful ecological forecasts and
improved climate change projections
Vegetation 3-D Structure, Biomass, Disturbance
T
Terrestrial carbon stocks species habitat
characterized
CH4 sources characterized and quantified
Global CH4 Wetlands, Flooding Permafrost
Knowledge Base
Global Atmospheric CO2 (OCO)
Regional carbon sources/sinks quantified for
planet
N. American Carbon Program
N. Americas carbon budget quantified
Effects of tropical deforestation quantified
uncertainties in tropical carbon source reduced
Land Use Change in Amazonia
2002 Global productivity and land cover
resolution coarse Large uncertainties in
biomass, fluxes, disturbance, and coastal events
Models Computing Capacity
Process Understanding
Case Studies
Improvements
P
Land Cover (Landsat)
LDCM
Land Cover (OLI)
Systematic Observations
Ocean Color (SeaWiFS, MODIS)
Ocean/Land (VIIRS/NPP)
Ocean/Land (VIIRS/NPOESS)
Vegetation (AVHRR, MODIS)
Vegetation, Fire (AVHRR, MODIS)
IPCC
IPCC
2010
2012
2014
2015
2008
2002
2004
2006
Global C Cycle
Global C Cycle
NA Carbon
NA Carbon
56
Vegetation 3-D Structure DESDynI

Challenges Learning how to use InSAR in
combination with lidar building the community
partnerships.
57
Plant Physiology and Functional Types HyspIRI

58
Aerosol Cloud Properties, Ocean
Biogeochemistry ACE

Challenges cost, need for coincident aerosols,
ocean chemistry
59
Short-Duration, Focused Ocean Color GEO-CAPE

Challenges extremely limited spatial and
spectral scope
60
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide ASCENDS

Challenges Being ready scientifically so soon
after OCO addressing policy needs for accuracy
with well-characterized uncertainties.