Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Focus Area

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Focus Area Diane E. Wickland Focus Area Lead, NASA HQ CC&E Joint Science Workshop 28 April – 2 May 2008

NASA CC&E Joint Science Workshop • Overview of Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems (CC&E) Focus Area • Goals and Objectives for the Workshop • Logistics

NASA Earth Science Focus Areas The complexity of the Earth system requires: • an organized scientific approach for addressing complex, interdisciplinary problems • integration across programmatic elements towards a comprehensive understanding of the Earth system Thus, NASA’s Earth Science is comprised of six interdisciplinary Science Focus Areas: • Atmospheric Composition • Weather • Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems • Water and Energy Cycle • Climate Variability and Change • Earth Surface and Interior These six focus areas include research that drives the development of an Earth observing capability and associated Earth system models

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Focus Area: Research Program Elements Land Cover and Land Use Change (LCLUC) Garik Gutman Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry Paula Bontempi Terrestrial Ecology Diane Wickland & Bill Emanuel Biodiversity Woody Turner

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Focus Area: Applied Sciences Program Elements Agricultural Efficiency Woody Turner (Acting) Ecological Forecasting Woody Turner Carbon Management Invasive Species

CC&E 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.

“Official” Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Questions • How are global ecosystems changing? • What trends in atmospheric constituents and solar radiation are driving global climate? ** • What changes are occurring in global land cover and land use, and what are their causes? • 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? • What are the consequences of climate change and increased human activities for coastal regions? ** • How will carbon cycle dynamics and terrestrial and marine ecosystems change in the future? • ** Question shared with other Focus Areas

CC&E 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.

CC&E 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), . . .

NRC Decadal Survey Missions

Scope of Focus Areas The Focus Area concept highlights the research areas, but was conceived to include all elements of the NASA Earth Science program. Research (R&A, Mission Science) Applied Sciences Data and Information Systems Technology Development Education, Outreach, and Public Affairs Flight Programs

CC&E Focus Area Researchers Program Component Number of PIs (2006) Research & Analysis (R&A) 171 Carbon Cycle Science 33 Interdisciplinary Science 31 EOS Science 39 EOS Algorithms 22 Education (NIP, NESSF) 67 Applied Sciences 38 Technology Development 25 Information Science 16 DAACs (EDC, ORNL, OCDPS) -- Mission Operations (Terra, Aqua, EO-1) -- Missions in Development (NPP, LDCM, OCO) -- Decadal Survey Mission Studies --

CC&E Focus Area Collaborations: Key National and International Partnerships • U.S. Coordination and Collaboration • U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCIWG, EIWG, LUIWG) • U.S. Ocean Action Plan Committees (ICOSRMI, JSOST, SIMOR, 4H, 2H, OHH, IWG-OP (NOPP), IWG-OO, IWG-Mapping, IWG-Facilities; ECOHAB) • CENR Subcommittee on Ecological Systems • International Coordination and Collaboration • International Ocean Color Coordinating Group (IOCCG) • Committee on Earth Observing Systems (CEOS), especially cal/val • With Brazil for the Large Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) • With Russia, China, Japan, European Union for the Northern Eurasia Earth System Partnership Initiative (NEESPI) • With Canada and Mexico for the North American Carbon Program and with the European Union for intercomparisons with CarboEurope and other studies • Global observing systems (GTOS, GOOS, GOFC-GOLD, IOOS, ORION)

New Strategic Planning • NASA Earth Science Division is likely to begin a new round of strategic planning • 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)

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 NPP’s 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 NRC’s Earth Science Decadal Survey recommendations for new measurements

Aligning CC&E 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 fundamental research that covers the breadth of science needed to address NASA and CCSP science goals. • 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 in some are severely 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 right now.

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!)

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Goals and Objectives for the Workshop: • to foster interactions among funded researchers within and across the Focus Area disciplines, • to share information about research results and progress, and • to discuss future plans and directions for the Focus Area and its program elements. Scope: The workshop includes all of the research and applications areas within the NASA Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Focus Area (i.e., land and ocean, natural and managed ecosystems, basic and applied research): • Land Cover and Land Use Change • Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry • Terrestrial Ecology • Biodiversity • Agricultural Efficiency • Ecological Forecasting

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Daily Themes and Activities: • Monday: Plenary: Biogeochemistry / Carbon Breakouts: Remote Sensing Observations • Tuesday: Plenary: Ecosystems / Disturbance Breakouts: Research Issues & Future Directions • Wednesday: Plenary: Impacts /Consequences of Global Change Breakouts: Contributions to Future Assessments • Thursday: Science Team Meetings (4)* • Friday: Continuing Science Team Meetings (2)* * Some are more focused on program business and discussion / resolution of issues (TE & OB) and others on invited oral presentations (LCLUC & Biodiversity)

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Structure Plenary Sessions (focus on science): • Synthetic and integrative science presentations • focus on the state-of-the-science, • feature recent NASA program remote sensing results • address the implications for future research • Brief break-out session reports • Panel discussion on scientific assessment (mainly IPCC WG1 & WG2) on Wednesday morning • Open discussions and summary of conclusions

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Structure Poster Sessions (Scientific Results Exchange): • Monday – Wednesday, 1:30-2:30 pm – will feature research and applications science results, 1/3 scientists at their poster each day) • Monday evening 6:00-8:00 pm – will feature Data and Information Systems, Technology Development, Education & Outreach, Flight Programs, and other aspects of the broader Focus Area (e.g., mission concept studies and Decadal Survey missions)– these presenters will be at their posters, so please make a special effort to see them! • Posters will be up continuously Monday-Thursday; you are encouraged to visit them whenever you have time through Thursday • Posters are on 2 levels (Main & Lower Concourses)– please visit both areas! • Posters minimally grouped - order is mainly as received; this was done to encourage you to explore and view those outside your disciplines/areas of interest as well as those within • We invited the NASA New Investigator and NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (formerly Earth System Science Fellowship) awardees to present posters; please seek them out and make them welcome!

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Structure Break-out Sessions: • Opportunities to: • learn about new observations and science plans • discuss current issues and future plans • identify new issues and make recommendations for future action • consider alternative or improved processes • provide feedback to the NASA HQ Focus Area managers & scientists • Monday: Focus on observations I – Science enabled by new measurements (NRC Decadal Survey) II – Data Records and Related Observations & Activities • Tuesday: Focus on emerging issues and future directions for our science III – 7 topics representing areas of current and future research interest • Wednesday: Focus on NASA contributions to scientific assessments IV – 5 topics relevant to IPCC WG2-type analyses and 1 topic moved forward from Breakout II (ESDR/CDR)

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Structure Lunch-time Presentations: • Monday-Thursday: 25 min. after start of the lunch period, there will be a 10-15 min. presentation • Monday – Mike Behrenfeld, Co-Chair of Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Management Operations Working Group • Tuesday – Jack Kaye, Associate Director for ESD Research • Wednesday – Theresa Fryberger, Associate Director for ESD Applied Sciences • Thursday – Steve Volz, Associate Director for ESD Flight Program TANSTAAFL

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Structure Other Events / Activities: • Demonstrations (data systems, tools, data sets, etc.) • Recruiting (education & outreach; jobs board) • Side meetings and workshops (see organizer for details on content, participants; registration staff for logistical information only) • Media telecon – not a formal part of the JSW, but if anyone wants to listen in using their computers/laptops, they may log onto this link to listen to the event live (1:30-2:30 pm, April 29): http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Logistics Because of the large size and length of this workshop, we will be taking steps to smooth the flow as much as possible: • Speakers in plenary sessions will be timed and cut off when their allotted time expires • Questions & comments in Plenary Session should be made – as much as possible – from the microphones in the aisle (speakers should queue up behind them) • All sessions will be expected to start and end on time • Summary* break-out reports in Plenary Session will not exceed 5 minutes per breakout • Reports will be given in the order the session is listed on the agenda (you can trade with someone in your group, but you must make sure the AV technician is prepared) • Breakout report speakers should queue up in front so that transition time in minimized * Full break-out reports will be available in the Discussion Forum on the meeting Web site; only summaries will be presented in plenary Session

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Logistics Several Break-out Sessions are quite large and time is short (1 ½ hours). This may limit the quality of discussion or the level of detail that can be addressed. • We may split some sessions into 2, using the 1-2 spare rooms we have booked and recruiting additional co-chairs and rapporteurs in near real time (further, informal splits may be possible, but we do not have additional rooms to offer . . .) • We would encourage other large sessions to keep the discussion at a high level and strive to agree on a few very important issues / topics to discuss (don’t try to be comprehensive or exhaustive) • For some sessions, particularly the ones on science enabled by new observations, focusing on information exchange may be more important than answering all of the questions • Participants are encouraged to move to smaller break-out sessions if theirs is particularly large (teams should consider dispersing to cover different sessions) • Also, participation in break-out sessions is not required

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Logistics We ask that each break-out group attempt to address the questions posed, but also feel free to move on to other topics and use their allotted time as they see fit If a break-out session realizes it cannot answer an important question or identifies a critical new issue, a recommendation focused on what would need to be done to get the answer or solve the problem can be a valuable finding (e.g., a workshop is needed; a review process needs to be set up) The full Break-out Session Report can be modified by the Co-Chairs for up to a week after the workshop adjourns (through 5/12/2008) – this will be desirable if the Discussion Forum’s comment feature is active . . .

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Product We request that all presenters upload to the meeting Web site final versions of their posters, plenary presentations, break-out session presentations, and break-out session reports (both summary and full). • If there are materials you do not want to share with everyone, you may remove those charts/parts prior to posting them • For your convenience and ours, we will take the Plenary presentations off the projection computer – all Plenary speakers need to do is to tell us if they want to edit it first (within 24 hours, please!) The meeting Web site, with all poster papers, plenary presentations, full break-out session reports, and final recommendations will constitute the final product of the workshop. There will be no separate report.

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop: Web Site Peter Griffith will now present information about the meeting Web resources Please be thoughtful in your use . . . i.e., remember why you are here!

Things to do! Plenary Speakers: • Bring your presentation on a USB “data stick” to AV technician in auditorium well before start of your session • You may upload your presentation at any time from your “My Account” page • We will upload a pdf of your presentation within 48 hours UNLESS you email peter.griffith@nasa.gov to request otherwise Poster Presenters: • You may upload your poster file at any time from your “My Account” page Breakout leaders: • Bring your plenary breakout report on a USB “data stick” to AV technician in auditorium before start of your session • Please upload the full breakout report to the discussion forum for your breakout Everyone: • Downloading any presentation/poster/report requires that you sign into your account

END

Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Focus Area