NEON: the ground network for the next generation of carbon cycle and ecosystems missions

Andrew M Fox, National Ecological Observatory Network, afox@neoninc.org (Presenter)
Thomas Kampe, National Ecological Observatory Network Inc., tkampe@neoninc.org

Uncertainties in the feedbacks between the carbon cycle of terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere represent one of the greatest challenges to improving predictions of future climate change. As we enter a new era of earth observation that provides far more detail of the important components of the biosphere than ever envisioned before the potential to observe these critical systems has never been greater.

However, the ability of earth observation systems to both detect important changes in ecosystems, and attribute the causes requires a continued and enhanced network of in situ measurements that can be used in strategic combination. Such a network of in situ measurements provides a level of detailed insight that can be used to increase ecosystem process understanding and validate space-based observations that offer complimentary far greater temporal and spatial coverage.

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) provides just such in situ measurements. It is a continental-scale facility that will collect freely available biogeochemical and biophysical data. These data describe ecosystem and carbon cycle processes across the USA over 30 years from 60 sites whose location was selected through a rigorous statistical design process to minimize potential sample bias and represent many different ecosystems.

In this presentation we highlight relevant data for NASA missions. These include: (i) eddy covariance measurements of energy, water and carbon between the land surface and atmosphere that can be compared to MODIS and SIF-derived estimates of GPP; (ii) measurements of soil moisture conditions and freeze-thaw conditions that relate to SMAP data products for example; (iii) estimates of vegetation biomass that might inform the GEDI mission; and (iv) selected leaf traits and canopy chemistry that relate directly to HyspIRI or any other future spaceborne hyperspectral missions.

By using NEON’s airborne observation platform (AOP), that has an AVIRIS-ng type hyperspectral sensor paired with waveform lidar, ground and airborne observations can be combined to generate data products at a comparable spatial scale to many space borne sensor data products for validation and testing purposes. An example of this is provided here from the recent HyspIRI preparatory campaign in California.

The synergistic use of remote sensing and in situ measurements, coupled with the latest generation of earth system models through advanced data assimilation frameworks will enable us to significantly reduce future predictions of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle.

Presentation Type:  Poster

Session:  General Contributions   (Tue 4:35 PM)

Associated Project(s): 

• Related Activity: Related Activity or Previously Funded CC&E Activity not listed ...details

Poster Location ID: 144