Breakout Session I—Science Enabled by New Measurements

These discussions will allow workshop participants to consider the scientific questions and issues that will be addressed by planned space-based observations. It will be an opportunity to learn about what the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) and the missions recommended in the NRC's Decadal Survey will enable through their measurements. These sessions will provide background on mission specifications and planning, but the focus is to be on the science enabled by the measurements. These sessions will provide an opportunity to identify opportunities and recommend new studies as well as to raise issues or concerns to be addressed by the Focus Area. Most sessions will start with brief, invited presentations on:

• The anticipated scientific uses and payoffs of the planned new measurement/mission (10-15 min.)
• The new mission (or missions) and what was learned in any relevant NASA mission concept studies (10-15 min.)

The first breakout, Science Enabled by New Measurements of CO₂, will be a double session spanning Breakout Sessions I and II (2:30-6:00 pm) and follow somewhat different format than the one described above.

• What are the priority science uses of the new measurement(s)? (participants may choose to confirm/validate existing science questions/applications and/or may identify new uses)
• What do we need to do scientifically to use these new measurements and/or to get ready for the mission?
• Are there any major issues to be resolved before this science is enabled, and if so, what are they and what needs to be done?

Breakout Session II—Data Records and Related Observations

These discussions will allow workshop participants to consider the scientific questions and issues that are being addressed by existing space-based observations (mainly systematic observations) and other existing or new suborbital observations. It will be an opportunity to discuss current time series data products and their scientific applications as well as to consider their future as Climate Data Records (CDRs) and/or Earth System Data Records (ESDRs). It will provide an opportunity to discuss calibration/validation, airborne science, in situ observational needs for the Focus Area and/or its program elements. These sessions will provide an opportunity to identify opportunities and recommend priorities as well as to raise issues or concerns to be addressed by the Focus Area. Most sessions will start with brief, invited presentations on:

• The data products/records to be discussed and questions/issues to be addressed

NOTE: A breakout session on CDRs/ESDRs that was originally scheduled for Breakout Session II has been moved to Breakout Session IV (Wednesday, 11:00 am) so that scientists interested in the time series data products that constitute the Focus Area's CDRs/ESDRs can attend both sessions.

• What does the carbon cycle and ecosystems community expect of this effort?
• What are our biggest challenges in this area, and how do we address them?
• Is our list of identified data records complete, or is something missing?
• Does the carbon cycle and ecosystems community need to establish priorities for these and other activities, and, if so, how should they be established?

Breakout Session III—Science, Emerging Issues and Future Directions

Discussions should allow workshop participants to consider scientific questions and issues that will shape future directions for the NASA Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Focus Area. There is an emphasis on cross-cutting topics that involve more than one of the Focus Area's program elements and/or applications areas. All of the session topics are areas for future research by NASA and/or the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Many have already been the subject of NASA solicitations.
 
Individual topic breakouts will identify opportunities and priorities for NASA as well as raise issues or concerns for the Focus Area to address. Topic breakouts may start with brief, invited presentations on the scientific topic: why it is important, the role of remote sensing in addressing it, and what has been done and what may be proposed in the near future in this regard. Then, the breakouts will open up to allow for general discussion in order to raise and address questions and issues. One issue that is open for discussion is the ability of upcoming NASA missions to address these scientific topics.

• Considering what NASA is currently doing and could do in the near future, what are the most important science questions to address (in the topic area of the breakout)? Which are especially "ripe" with a high likelihood of producing major results?
• Is there a need for additional coordination of existing research activities in this topic area?
• What are the most promising opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration (especially within the CC&E Focus Area, but also with other disciplines and programs) to answer compelling global change research questions? Where will there be strong societal benefit?

Breakout Session IV—CC&E Contributions Towards Analyzing Impacts and Consequences of Global Change

Discussions should allow workshop participants to consider how their research has contributed to scientific assessments and what could be done to support future assessments. Breakout sessions will provide an opportunity to suggest studies or actions that would enable remote sensing data and NASA research results to make stronger contributions to contributions to future scientific assessments, especially those focused on ecosystem impacts and consequences (including feedbacks to the climate system). Specific questions should be posed to particular breakouts.
 
Individual topic breakouts will identify opportunities and priorities for NASA as well as raise issues or concerns for the Focus Area to address. Topic breakouts may start with brief, invited presentations on the topic: why it is important, the role of remote sensing in addressing it, and what has been done and what may be proposed in the near future in this regard. Then, the breakouts will open up to allow for general discussion in order to raise and address questions and issues.
 
NOTE: A breakout session on CDRs/ESDRs that was originally scheduled for Breakout Session II has been moved to Breakout Session IV (Wednesday, 11:00 am) so that scientists interested in the time series data products that constitute the Focus Area's CDRs/ESDRs can attend both sessions.

• What research can we conduct to better address the impacts and consequences of global change?
• What actions would be most useful to or supportive of future assessments?
• What are the greatest challenges and opportunities (relevant to the breakout topic)?