Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for Biogeochemical Dynamics
Robert
B.
Cook, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, cookrb@ornl.gov
(Presenting)
Robin
L.
Graham, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, grahamrl@ornl.gov
Bruce
E.
Wilson, Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, wilsonbe@ornl.gov
The ORNL DAAC archives and distributes biogeochemical dynamics data and information collected as part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Earth Observing System (EOS) Program to study Earth systems. Data holdings are primarily from ground-based field investigations, and augmented by data collected through remote-sensing techniques. Archived products at the ORNL DAAC result from and support four core activities: (1) intensive field campaigns, (2) validation of remote sensing products, (3) regional and global data for terrestrial ecosystem modeling, and (4) numerical model archive.
Intensive field campaigns combine ground-, aircraft-, and satellite-based measurements of biogeochemical features in specific ecosystems over a one to six year period. These types of studies focus on a particular issue or set of issues and are crucial to providing an integrated understanding of biogeochemical dynamics that can be extended across spatial and temporal scales. The ORNL DAAC supports the validation of remotely sensed measurements by compiling data, such as leaf area index (LAI), net primary productivity (NPP), and Vegetation Indices Data from global test sites for comparison with satellite products. The ORNL DAAC offers two tools to subset MODIS Land Products at a scale and in a format useful for comparing with ground-based measurements. Realistic models that simulate ecosystem properties and processes are needed to improve our understanding of the structure and function of these ecosystems. Regional and global biogeochemical dynamics data, such as those available from the ORNL DAAC, can be used to parameterize and validate terrestrial ecosystem models at local, regional, and global scales. Archived numerical models provide the methodological detail of numerical modeling studies to recreate published modeling results, enabling the synthesis of results across modeling studies and the investigation of new hypotheses.
Although our efforts focus on NASA-funded data and data products, we also hold selected biogeochemical dynamics data collected by non-NASA researchers worldwide. Data at the ORNL DAAC are available to the global change research community, policy makers, educators, and the general public at no charge.