CMS

CMS Science Definition Team Projects

Arellano (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Development of a Carbon Monitoring System from an Ensemble Coupled Data Assimilation Perspective
Project Leader(s):	Avelino (Ave) Arellano, University of Arizona
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	This proposal is in response to the NASA ROSES 2010 A.39 solicitation. In particular, this is a request to participate on the development and evaluation of the NASA Integrated Emission/Uptake "Flux" pilot product as member a of the Carbon Monitoring System Science Definition Team (SDT). The NASA Center-led pilot study aims to provide global maps of surface carbon fluxes that are constrained by atmospheric observations of CO2 using data assimilation tools to combine information from observations and model output. A critical component of this study is the characterization of errors associated with a) prior estimates of carbon fluxes, b) modeling atmospheric transport, and c) atmospheric carbon observations. The ensemble approach proposed in the pilot study is an extremely useful application in characterizing these errors. However, intrinsic in this approach is the need to generate realistic and reasonable ensemble perturbations. As a member of the team, I propose to augment the activities of the pilot study by providing ensemble simulations derived from propagation of these errors within a system that mimics a numerical weather prediction with chemistry. Ensemble simulations of atmospheric CO2 and CO (and preselected CO2 and CO tagged tracers) will be generated and analyzed using perturbed meteorology and/or surface fluxes in the Community Earth System Model (CESM1). In conjunction with CO2, relatively well-observed species like CO offers a unique opportunity to investigate errors associated with modeling constituent transport. This work is an extension of current ensemble DA capabilities of CESM's Community Atmosphere Model with Chemistry (CAM-Chem) and National Center for Atmospheric Research Data Assimilation Research Testbed (DART) (e.g. joint assimilation of MOPITT CO and meteorological observations by Arellano et al., 2010 and Arellano et al., 2007). Results will be provided as independent model data to SDT and the pilot study production team. Expertise in ensemble data assimilation, inverse modeling of CO sources (Arellano et al., 2004; Arellano and Hess, 2006) and use of satellite data (Edwards et al., 2009) will be provided during the course of the pilot study.
Keywords:
Participants:	Avelino (Ave) Arellano, University of Arizona
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	Silva, S. J., Arellano, A. F., Worden, H. M. 2013. Toward anthropogenic combustion emission constraints from space-based analysis of urban CO 2 /CO sensitivity. Geophysical Research Letters. 40(18), 4971-4976. DOI: 10.1002/grl.50954

Brown (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Developing a Framework for Evaluating CMS Pilot Products to Promote Engagement with the User Community
Project Leader(s):	Molly Brown, University of Maryland
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	In this proposal for membership on the CMS Science Definition Team, I will focus on extending the user base and evaluating the usefulness of the biomass and flux pilot products. Through discussions with Dr. Molly Macauley of Resources for the Future, we will collaborate to develop an evaluation process for the pilot products so that they have the highest likelihood of developing products that can be incorporated into systems and processes used in decision-making. If selected for the SDT, I will have three roles in the SDT: 1) develop a framework that will enable quantitative evaluation program for both pilot projects and will assist the implementation of the evaluation of the biomass project; 2) develop long-term strategies for the science products that are in the appropriate spatial and temporal extent, precision and resolution that will be useful in for decision makers; and 3) provide a liaison with the broad science, applications and user communities in the US Federal agencies in order to reduce replication and improve knowledge of and ultimate use of the products. The proposal summarizes my background, expertise and ability to have these roles in the CMS SDT.
Keywords:
Participants:	Molly Brown, University of Maryland
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.

French (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Biomass Burning Assistance for NASA's Carbon Monitoring System
Project Leader(s):	Nancy French, Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI)
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	In support of the NASA Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI) proposes to provide expertise and outputs on aspects of carbon cycling related to wildland fire and agricultural burning (a.k.a. biomass burning). Under the proposed project Dr. Nancy French will serve as an expert in fire emissions estimation to provide needed expertise and data sets for aspects of the Integrated Emission/Uptake ("Flux") pilot project. Dr. French has been involved with geospatial evaluation of wildland fire effects for over 20 years and is currently funded to help quantify impacts of agricultural burning as a Co-I for a NASA Applied Science Program grant (A. Soja, PI). Her expertise in remote sensing of fire effects, including burn area mapping, fire severity, and emissions modeling, will provide an in-depth knowledge set for evaluation of the impacts of fire on carbon fluxes that are currently included within the CASA models being used in the pilot study. We propose to supply, as needed, both input and validation data for the biomass burning emissions part of the CASA-GFED land-atmosphere carbon model, and provide expertise from French and her team on interpretation of nuances related to fire effects, including remote measure of burn area and fire severity, that drive variability in emissions and post-fire vegetation function.
Keywords:
Participants:	Nancy French, Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI)
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.

Healey (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Assessing Potential Impacts of Ground Sample Bias in Global CMS Biomass Estimates, Now and in the DESDynI Era
Project Leader(s):	Sean Healey, USDA Forest Service
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	Sean Healey is proposed as a member of the Science Definition Team (SDT) of NASA's Carbon Monitoring System (CMS). He and the listed co-investigators are all affiliated with the Forest Service's FIA (Forest Inventory and Analysis) program, and as a group, they have extensive experience using FIA data both to develop official forest statistics and to calibrate and validate maps created with remotely sensed data. This proposal will add to the SDT a practical element related to the limits of FIA data and the data needs of the forest management community. In addition, independent research is proposed to leverage the properties of FIA's sample to better understand how CMS might perform both beyond the borders of the United States and in the DESDynI era. The optical satellite imagery which will form an important part of any near-term global CMS biomass product often does not offer good resolution of moderate and high levels of forest biomass. In the absence of predictors able to discriminate among levels of a particular target variable, many modeling approaches minimize prediction error by predicting toward the mean of the reference dataset. If that reference dataset is biased (not a representative sample), biomass predictions can be systematically skewed either up or down. While FIA in this country does comprise a representative sample, CMS in many parts of the globe will have to rely upon ad hoc collections of management inventory stand exams which are often skewed toward harvestable (high biomass) conditions. Over large areas, the potential for even small systematic prediction bias may create very large errors in carbon storage estimates. We will use intentionally biased sub-samples of FIA data from the state of Oregon as reference data to test the effect of such bias upon state-level CMS estimates of biomass. In addition, using these same biased sub-samples, we will replace optical data in the CMS system with pseudo-data representing the higher correlation with biomass anticipated with DESDynI-based predictors. DESDynl's increased prediction precision may reduce the rate at which predictions default toward the mean and may therefore reduce propagation of ground sample bias in the CMS mapping process. These activities should shed light upon: 1) the likely effects of non-representative reference data on the global CMS biomass product, and 2) the degree to which DESDynI may diminish prediction error related to ground sample bias.
Keywords:
Participants:	Sean Healey, USDA Forest Service
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	Healey, S. P., Patterson, P. L., Saatchi, S., Lefsky, M. A., Lister, A. J., Freeman, E. A. 2012. A sample design for globally consistent biomass estimation using lidar data from the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS). Carbon Balance and Management. 7(1). DOI: 10.1186/1750-0680-7-10 Healey SP, Patterson PL, Saatchi S, Lefsky MA, Lister AJ, Freeman EA, Moisen GG. (2012). Applying inventory methods to estimate aboveground biomass from satellite light detection and ranging (LiDAR) forest height data. In: RS Morin (ED) Moving from status to trends: Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) symposium 2012; Gen. Tech. Rep. NRS-P-105. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station. pp. 404-409. (http://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr-nrs-p-105papers/67healey-p-105.pdf)
2013 NASA Terrestrial Ecology Science Team Meeting Poster(s) The Global Forest Biomass Inventory -- (Sean P Healey, Erik Lindquist, Paul Patterson, Sassan Saatchi, Michael Lefsky, Michael Hernandez, Alicia Peduzzi) [abstract]
2011 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s) Using Sample Theory to Develop Forest Biomass Estimates from ICESat/GLAS Data -- (Sean P Healey, Paul Patterson, Sassan Saatchi, Michael Lefsky, Andrew Lister) [abstract]

Houghton (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:

Biomass for Carbon Budgeting

Project Leader(s):

Richard (Skee) Houghton, Woodwell Climate Research Center

Solicitation:

NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)

Abstract:

R.A. Houghton is proposing to be a member of the Science Definition Team (SDT) for a Carbon Monitoring System (CMS). He would participate in development of the Biomass product. He has spent 25 years estimating the global net flux of carbon to the atmosphere from changes in land use, an estimation that requires information on biomass and carbon stocks. Over time his estimates have become more and more spatially detailed, and the next step is to co-locate changes in land use with carbon density at the spatial resolution of change. That will improve estimates of carbon flux enormously at all scales. The step after that will be to use multi-temporal, spatial data of aboveground biomass to estimate change more directly (without necessarily identifying land-use change first). That approach will identify additional sources and sinks of carbon, heretofore unobserved, and may help resolve and explain a large portion of the residual terrestrial sink. Both a one-time map of biomass and successive maps of biomass change will help with the monitoring, reporting, and verification of REDD and LULUCF, whether at the project or national level. Future demand for space-borne measurements of biomass and biomass change will only grow. The time is right for a carbon monitoring system, a major part of which will be measurement of aboveground biomass from space.R.A. Houghton is proposing to be a member of the Science Definition Team (SDT) for a Carbon Monitoring System (CMS). He would participate in development of the Biomass product. He has spent 25 years estimating the global net flux of carbon to the atmosphere from changes in land use, an estimation that requires information on biomass and carbon stocks. Over time his estimates have become more and more spatially detailed, and the next step is to co-locate changes in land use with carbon density at the spatial resolution of change. That will improve estimates of carbon flux enormously at all scales. The step after that will be to use multi-temporal, spatial data of aboveground biomass to estimate change more directly (without necessarily identifying land-use change first). That approach will identify additional sources and sinks of carbon, heretofore unobserved, and may help resolve and explain a large portion of the residual terrestrial sink. Both a one-time map of biomass and successive maps of biomass change will help with the monitoring, reporting, and verification of REDD and LULUCF, whether at the project or national level. Future demand for space-borne measurements of biomass and biomass change will only grow. The time is right for a carbon monitoring system, a major part of which will be measurement of aboveground biomass from space.
R.A. Houghton is proposing to be a member of the Science Definition Team (SDT) for a Carbon Monitoring System (CMS). He would participate in development of the Biomass product. He has spent 25 years estimating the global net flux of carbon to the atmosphere from changes in land use, an estimation that requires information on biomass and carbon stocks. Over time his estimates have become more and more spatially detailed, and the next step is to co-locate changes in land use with carbon density at the spatial resolution of change. That will improve estimates of carbon flux enormously at all scales. The step after that will be to use multi-temporal, spatial data of aboveground biomass to estimate change more directly (without necessarily identifying land-use change first). That approach will identify additional sources and sinks of carbon, heretofore unobserved, and may help resolve and explain a large portion of the residual terrestrial sink. Both a one-time map of biomass and successive maps of biomass change will help with the monitoring, reporting, and verification of REDD and LULUCF, whether at the project or national level. Future demand for space-borne measurements of biomass and biomass change will only grow. The time is right for a carbon monitoring system, a major part of which will be measurement of aboveground biomass from space.R.A. Houghton is proposing to be a member of the Science Definition Team (SDT) for a Carbon Monitoring System (CMS). He would participate in development of the Biomass product. He has spent 25 years estimating the global net flux of carbon to the atmosphere from changes in land use, an estimation that requires information on biomass and carbon stocks. Over time his estimates have become more and more spatially detailed, and the next step is to co-locate changes in land use with carbon density at the spatial resolution of change. That will improve estimates of carbon flux enormously at all scales. The step after that will be to use multi-temporal, spatial data of aboveground biomass to estimate change more directly (without necessarily identifying land-use change first). That approach will identify additional sources and sinks of carbon, heretofore unobserved, and may help resolve and explain a large portion of the residual terrestrial sink. Both a one-time map of biomass and successive maps of biomass change will help with the monitoring, reporting, and verification of REDD and LULUCF, whether at the project or national level. Future demand for space-borne measurements of biomass and biomass change will only grow. The time is right for a carbon monitoring system, a major part of which will be measurement of aboveground biomass from space.

Keywords:

Measurement Approaches:

Modeling

CMS Science Theme(s):

Land Biomass

Participants:

Richard (Skee) Houghton, Woodwell Climate Research Center

Project URL(s):

None provided.

Data
Products:

None provided.

Publications:

None provided.

Kasischke (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Evaluation of Approaches for Assessing the Impacts of Natural Disturbances on Aboveground Carbon Storage in and Emissions from U.S. Forests - A Carbon Monitoring System Science Definition Team Proposal
Project Leader(s):
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	The principal investigator proposes a set of activities that will be carried out as a member of the Science Definition Team (SDT) for NASA's Biomass and Carbon Storage Pilot Product (BCSPP). The PI would provide expertise in the broad area of impacts of natural disturbances (fire, insects, and hurricanes) on forest carbon stocks, with a strong foundation in research on the impacts of fire on carbon cycling in boreal forests. The foundation for serving on the SDT is based on > 20 years of research on satellite mapping of fires, using SAR to estimate aboveground biomass in boreal and temperate forests, using VIS/IR data to assess post-disturbance vegetation recovery, developing approaches to estimate biomass consumption during fires, and developing approaches to use information derived from remote sensing data in carbon cycle models. The PI also has directed and carried out field studies used to develop and validate remote sensing information products and has access to or knows of data sets that can be used for validation activities associated with the BCSPP. The PI organized and led a disturbance synthesis activity for the North American Carbon Program that involved 100 researchers from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. This activity not only provides an understanding of data sets needed to quantify the impacts of disturbance on terrestrial carbon budgets, but provides a foundation for liaisons with the broader scientific community (along with the extensive contacts the researcher has with scientists conducting carbon cycle research in the boreal forest). Specific expertise that the PI will provide to the BCSPP and its SDT include: (a) evaluation of the remotely-sensed data products being used in the BCSPP to map natural disturbances to forests; (b) evaluation of the approaches used to map aboveground biomass using PALSAR, with a specific focus on errors introduced by variations in soil moisture; (c) evaluate of approaches to estimate carbon consumed during fires; and (d) assessment of approaches needed to model how natural disturbances influence stand carbon cycle dynamics. The PI will provide written reports to the members of the BCSPP and SDT on his evaluations of specific products and approaches. The PI will also aid in identification of sites that could be used during validation activities, and identify additional field data sets that could be used. The PI will also participate in activities to define and develop products that can be used by policy makers and managers. Finally, the PI will work with members of the BCSPP and SDT in developing a plan for the development of global biomass product.
Keywords:
Participants:
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.

Kellndorfer (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Mapping Biomass - Past Experiences and Future Directions in Data Fusion and Product Validation
Project Leader(s):	Josef Kellndorfer, Earth Big Data, LLC
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	With the successful inclusion of REDD+ in the UNFCCC agreement of the Conference of the Parties 16 in Cancun, accurate and scientifically defendable measurements of forest carbon fluxes are ever more important. The science community is called to the task to provide solid data sets and methods for tracking forest carbon fluxes and assess accuracies, which are suitable for a carbon-trading framework. This initiative by NASA to lead the effort of global mapping is a welcome and needed step forward, in particular to gain broader community assessment of what is possible, and where there are limitations in current approaches to carbon flux measurements and monitoring. The PI and collaborators are keen to work with NASA HQ and Centers on the CMS biomass mapping pilot study. Presently, the PI is leading several related projects on biomass mapping with a major subset of data sets proposed for the biomass mapping pilot study. Also, he is leading a pan-tropical mapping project of forest cover and structure with ALOS-PALSAR radar data. Extension of gained expertise to global scale mapping is core to the PIâ€™s interest in reducing uncertainties in global carbon flux estimates from land cover change. Furthermore, as a member of the DESDynI Ecosystem Structure Science Study Group, keen interest in preparation for this mission is aligned with involvement in this pilot activity.
Keywords:
Participants:	Josef Kellndorfer, Earth Big Data, LLC
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.
2013 NASA Terrestrial Ecology Science Team Meeting Poster(s) Update of the National Biomass and Carbon Dataset 2000 using ALOS PALSAR L-band -- (Josef Kellndorfer, Oliver Cartus, Wayne Walker) [abstract]

Macauley (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Development and Evaluation of Pilot Projects for a Carbon Monitoring System
Project Leader(s):
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	The Carbon Monitoring System Science Definition Team (CMS SDT) will play a pivotal role in the stewardship of the CMS biomass and carbon flux pilot products during their research phase to help shape their policy relevance. My commitment in serving on the CMS SDT is to further the CMS goal of bringing enhanced understanding of carbon cycle science to bear in informing public policy. I bring experience as a research economist working to advance understanding of the public benefits of Earth science data and their economic value for decision making, including the role of measurement and monitoring of physical attributes of the carbon cycle in climate policy. I have led international teams of researchers using Earth science data products to improve resource management and have extensive experience in policy advisory roles to enhance the link between data and their application. The most salient climate policy issues for the CMS pilot products include newly emerging requirements of federal regulation of greenhouse gases (GHG), particularly under the Clean Air Act (CAA); a host of new regional and state initiatives; the longstanding challenge of improving GHG inventories under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and ongoing international concerns relating to the need for development of globally consistent measures and transparent means of measuring, monitoring, reporting, and validating (MMRV) biogenic sequestration and carbon fluxes. In serving on the CMS SDT, my commitment would be to identify, interpret, and integrate the aspects of these issues that are most relevant to the pilot projects. I propose three tasks to support this effort. One task is to provide guidance for ascertaining how good is good enough in the development of the CMS pilot products. Given the constraints of time and funding for the pilot products, to what extent can and should they be designed not only to enhance carbon science, but to support public decisions? What are the highest priorities and who will make use of the products in serving the public? What is the role of uncertainty characterization in the application of the products for policy? The second task includes characterization of the economic importance of the CMS data products. This effort would enable the CMS to align with priorities set forth by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) asking agencies to better assess the impact of their science, technology, and innovation investments (OMB 2010). The economic value of carbon cycle data products is underappreciated. In the case of carbon management, for example, federal agencies estimate that the management of biogenic carbon sequestration can reduce the economic cost of stabilizing GHGs by as much as 80 percent (US EIA 2009, 2010; US EPA 2009, US CBO 2009a). However, these agencies emphasize that realizing these savings will require significantly improved means of measurement and monitoring of carbon sources, sinks and fluxes. This sets the stage for demonstrating the value of CMS products. For this task, I will draw from my research on the value of information to outline a framework relevant for the CMS to use in defining and conveying the economic significance of its data products. The third task is to support the CMS goal of enhancing its relationships with the broader academic, applications, and user communities as well as activities of other agencies. For this task, I identify initial communities and propose a set of meetings, briefings, and other opportunities for the CMS SDT to engage with these groups. Taken together, these tasks will balance CMS science and its policy relevance in serving the public, integrate CMS products with decisionmaking, and put in place a framework for CMS to continue to meet these goals going forward.
Keywords:
Participants:
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.

Michalak (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Carbon Monitoring System Science Definition Team membership proposal (Integrated Emission/Uptake Pilot Product)
Project Leader(s):	Anna Michalak, Carnegie Institution for Science
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	Through this proposal, Dr. Anna M. Michalak is requesting to become a member of the NASA Carbon Monitoring System Science Definition Team (SDT) for the Integrated Emission / Uptake ('Flux') Pilot Product. Dr. Michalak will contribute to each of the key activities of the SDT, and brings considerable expertise to each aspect of the SDT's role. In addition, several ongoing project currently led by Dr. Michalak had direct relevance to these roles outlined in the call for proposals. In brief, the SDT roles and Dr. Michalak's expertise are: (i) Review and provide scientific and technical input regarding the overall development plan for a pilot product (Dr. Michalak has over a decade of experience in inverse modeling, including a proven track record in estimating carbon fluxes using atmospheric observations); (ii) Recommend refinements to the product development approach, algorithms, and/or models (Dr. Michalak has pioneered the development of the geostatistical approach to atmospheric inverse modeling, has developed approaches for parameterizing inversions including covariance parameter estimation, has coordinated the computational development associated with large-scale atmospheric inverse problems); (iii) Provide guidance for the development of an evaluation plan that includes both validation and characterization of uncertainties associated with a product and participate in product evaluation activities (Dr. Michalak's research group has made substantial contributions to uncertainty assessment in atmospheric inverse modeling and the evaluation of flux estimates); (iv) Provide guidance on the nature of the data sets and initial pilot product(s) to be produced and how they may be used for carbon policy and carbon management decisions (Dr. Michalak is co-lead for the development of the new U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan); (v) Provide liaison with the broader science, applications, and user communities or the related activities of other U.S. Federal agencies (Dr. Michalak has worked with the Carbon Cycle Interagency Working Group through her work on the U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Plan, has been an associate member of the OCO science team, has been the co-lead of the ASCENDS science definition committee, etc.); (vi) Work in close association with NASA HQ and the NASA Center-led teams implementing the development of the pilot products to achieve the CMS goals (Dr. Michalak has long-standing collaborations with carbon scientists at JPL and GSFC). Dr. Michalak is the PI on several research projects that are directly relevant to the Flux Pilot Product, including three ongoing NASA-funded projects, one ongoing NSF-funded project, and one ongoing DoE-funded project.
Keywords:
Participants:	Anna Michalak, Carnegie Institution for Science
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.

Shugart (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Carbon Monitoring
Project Leader(s):	Herman (Hank) Shugart, University of Virginia
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	This proposal is a response to funding opportunity number NNH10ZDA001N-CMS. The PI, H.H. Shugart, proposes for membership on the Science Definition Team for the Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) as a scientific and technical expert. He has worked on several projects in the past with NASA centers, notably Goddard and Langley Space Flight Centers and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is enthusiastic for the opportunity to continue to work with the NASA Centers in the production and validation of the two CMS pilot products. Much of the PI's research for the last several years has emphasized the importance of understanding the structure of vegetation and the influence of vegetation structure on the compositional and functional dynamics of natural vegetation. The PI is familiar with a variety of forest survey systems used for the development of basic data for the quantification of biomass levels in forests and other ecosystems. He also is familiar with process-based carbon-flux models and has reviewed these models in scholarly books. He has worked with several different approaches to modeling the carbon dynamics of forests and other ecosystems. The PI has used vegetation data and global-carbon-budget-related data for several decades. He currently serves on the ad hoc committee for the DESDynI satellite system and as a NASA observer on the European Space Agency BIOMASS satellite instrument team. He has several different channels for liaison with other Federal Agencies and with the international community as well. Over his career, the PI has worked in close association with NASA-HQ and the NASA Center-led teams on planning and research design projects. He is enthusiastic about the goals go the carbon monitoring systems and its importance to national and international environmental science and policy. The intent of this proposal is to show from the PI's past and present scientific work an indication of his potential contribution to the several capabilities and products that are outlined in the NSPIRES announcement.
Keywords:
Participants:	Herman (Hank) Shugart, University of Virginia
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.

Sun (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Proposal to be a member of the Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (CMS)
Project Leader(s):	Guoqing Sun, NASA GSFC/University of Maryland
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	Spatial structure of vegetation including plant height and biomass are important factors that influence the exchanges of matter and energy between the landscape and atmosphere, and the biodiversity of ecosystems. The combined use of lidar's direct sampling measurements and the areal mapping capabilities of radar and optical sensors create a real possibility and opportunity to map global ecosystem structures and functions that link to carbon dynamics. Current data sources (imagery data from LANDSAT, MODIS, SRTM, PALSAR, and lidar data from GLAS, LVIS) provide adequate data for producing regional biomass maps with the accuracies and spatial resolutions that couldn't be achieved before. Since early 1980s, I have been an investigator of various projects in NASA Programs such as SIR-B, SIR-B continuation, SIR-C/XSAR, FED, BOREAS, LCLUC, TE, and others. During these projects, I have developed radiative transfer models for microwave (3D polarimetric and interferometric radar backscatter models), and for lidar remote sensing (lidar waveform model), and algorithms of using combined forest growth and remote sensing models, and neural networks or statistic models for retrieval of forest parameters from radar, lidar and optical data. Biomass mapping from SAR data were investigated at both flat and mountainous areas. Regional biomass maps at Central Siberia and Russian Far East/Northern China have been produced using GLAS samples and MODIS data from our projects. In responding to NASA's call for investigators to participate in the pilot initiative for the development of a Carbon Monitoring System (CMS). I'm eager to be involved in the efforts on production and evaluation of a U.S. biomass and carbon storage product, and make my contributions to the goal. This proposal is for a membership in the Science Definition Team working closely with the NASA Centers in the production and validation of the CMS biomass and carbon storage pilot products for Carbon Monitoring System (CMS). In addition to participate in reviewing and providing scientific and technical input regarding the overall development plan for the biomass product, I will spend additional time to 1) test our current algorithms for biomass estimation at other sites in US; 2) improve data processing method and algorithm for biomass mapping in mountainous areas from lidar and SAR data; and 3) investigate the scale issue between field plot, lidar footprint, SAR and optical sensors (LANDSAT and MODIS) data when the biomass estimation models developed at one scale being used in another scale.
Keywords:
Participants:	Guoqing Sun, NASA GSFC/University of Maryland
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	None provided.
2015 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s) G-LiHT: Multi-Sensor Airborne Image Data from Denali to the Yucatan -- (Bruce Cook, Lawrence A Corp, Douglas Morton, Joel McCorkel) [abstract] [poster]

Treuhaft (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Data Fusion, Error Analysis, and a Global Biomass Product: Proposal for Membership on the Carbon Monitoring System Science Definition Team
Project Leader(s):	Robert Treuhaft, Jet Propulsion Laboratory / Caltech
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	This proposal for Robert Treuhaft's (proposer) membership in the Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) Science Definition Team (SDT) pertains to the Biomass and Carbon Storage Pilot Product (BCSP). In order to develop national and eventually global carbon storage and change products, the proposer will focus on the following objectives: 1) Organize a systematic review of all technical approaches to remote biomass estimation, including their interrelations and complementarity, for the use of SDT members in guiding core efforts; 2) Review and recommend refinements to data fusion strategies, providing guidance on systematic, and, where possible, model-based modes of combining data types; 3) Guide quantitative error analysis used to validate the BCSP, addressing errors in both field and remotely sensed biomass estimates; and 4) Develop a plan for global biomass monitoring articulating the technical challenges and possible alternative data fusion strategies for tropical forests. The first objective will address the wide variety of approaches to biomass estimation to bring all SDT members to the "same page". In the second objective, "data fusion" means the combining of several observations to estimate one quantity, biomass in this case. Undoubtedly a variety of sensors will be needed to estimate biomass with the best accuracy and coverage. The third objective on error analysis is aimed at a quantitative evaluation plan in the form of an error budget, modeled after more recent publications in which both remote sensing and field measurement errors are considered. The fourth objective addresses the plans for a global biomass product by concentrating on the complexities and challenges of remote sensing of tropical forests outside of the continental United States. The approach and methodology of the proposal is based on a conceptual picture which breaks biomass estimation into three categories: 1) Model-based estimation uses structural features of forests, such as height or profile moments, estimated from remote sensing data, along with ancillary data types to derive correlations between the remote sensing data and biomass. 2) Structure-based estimation draws correlations between structural features of forests from either lidar or InSAR. 3) Observation-based estimation uses remote sensing observations directly without first estimating structure. Because the BCSP must be a multi-sensor product, the first two objectives are significant in that they will enable guidance from the SDT on the optimal use of many different sensors toward the most accurate biomass estimates. Parameter estimation approaches used by the proposer in previous work will be part of his guidance as to methods for combining data types. The third objective on error analysis is significant in that the SDT is charged to establish an evaluation plan for the BCSP. The significance of developing a plan for global monitoring lies in the inclusion of tropical forests in biomass estimation algorithms. Because they are the most complex forest target, constitute about 50% of the Earth's biomass, and there have been a few different approaches to biomass estimation in tropical forests published, it will be important for the SDT to guide the Centers regarding tropical forests in a global product. The proposer has spent most his time in the last 6 years working on tropical forests. The proposer's experience in the correspondence between bulk canopy structural characteristics from lidar or interferometric SAR and biomass will also contribute to actuating the above objectives.
Keywords:
Participants:	Robert Treuhaft, Jet Propulsion Laboratory / Caltech
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	Treuhaft, R., Gonzalves, F., dos Santos, J. R., Keller, M., Palace, M., Madsen, S. N., Sullivan, F., Graca, P. M. L. A. 2015. Tropical-Forest Biomass Estimation at X-Band From the Spaceborne TanDEM-X Interferometer. IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Letters. 12(2), 239-243. DOI: 10.1109/LGRS.2014.2334140 Treuhaft, R., Lei, Y., Goncalves, F., Keller, M., Santos, J., Neumann, M., Almeida, A. 2017. Tropical-Forest Structure and Biomass Dynamics from TanDEM-X Radar Interferometry. Forests. 8(8), 277. DOI: 10.3390/f8080277 Treuhaft R, Gonçalves FG, Chapman B, Neumann M, dos Santos JR, Graça PMLA. (2013) Relationships Between Remotely Sensed Forest Structure and Biomass: Fourier Structure From Lidar and InSAR and Penetration at Microwave Frequencies, Revista Brasileira de Cartografia 65(4), 747-755, ISSN: 1808-0936
2013 NASA Terrestrial Ecology Science Team Meeting Poster(s) Tropical Forest Structure and Biomass Estimation from Bistatic InSAR at X-band (TanDEM-X), Small-Spot Lidar, and Field Measurements in the Amazonian Basin -- (Robert Neil Treuhaft, Fabio G. Goncalves, Joao Roberto dos Santos, Soren Madsen, Michael Palace, Michael Keller, Scott Hensley) [abstract]

Woodcock (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Quantifying the accuracy and uncertainty in remote sensing products of land use change: implications for carbon monitoring
Project Leader(s):	Curtis Woodcock, Boston University
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	We propose to contribute to the Biomass Pilot of the carbon monitoring system by working closely with and providing guidance to the investigators involved in the estimation of land use change rates. Our experience concerning the effect of uncertainty in estimates on land use change rates on terrestrial carbon budgets indicates: (1) close attention to accuracy assessment is essential; (2) integration of the accuracy assessment results into the final estimates of land use change rates often leads to surprising large differences from the original remote-sensing based rates and (3) quantifying the uncertainty (or confidence intervals) in the land use change rates is the best measure of the value of remote sensing estimates; and (4) large uncertainties in land use change rates translate into large uncertainties in terrestrial carbon budgets. Our guidance and recommendations will derive from our experience over the past few years quantifying the effect of land use change on terrestrial carbon budgets in a variety of locations around the world (Olofsson et al., 2010; Kummerle et al., 2010; Jeon et al., 2011b). Additionally, we propose to serve as a liaison to several key groups with significant interest and expertise related to carbon monitoring. Woodcock is Team Leader for the Landsat Science Team and will facilitate coordination of efforts as they relate to the Landsat Program. Woodcock also serves as Co-Chair of the Land Cover Implementation Team in GOFC-GOLD (Global Observation of Forests and Land Cover Dynamics), and will serve as liaison to this group of international scholars that has worked for over a decade to promote monitoring of the world's forests, including carbon dynamics. As part of his role in GOFC-GOLD, Woodcock is involved in the GEO Forest Carbon Tracking Task, and can work to coordinate efforts between the NASA Carbon Monitoring System and this international group. Similarly, Woodcock contributes to the GOFC-GOLD Sourcebook for REDD reporting.
Keywords:
Participants:	Curtis Woodcock, Boston University
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	Holden, C. E., Woodcock, C. E. 2016. An analysis of Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 underflight data and the implications for time series investigations. Remote Sensing of Environment. 185, 16-36. DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2016.02.052
2011 NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Joint Science Workshop Poster(s) Carbon implications of forest restitution in post-socialist Romania -- (Pontus Olofsson, Tobias Kuemmerle, Curtis Woodcock) [abstract]

Xiao (CMSSDT 2010) (2011)

Project Title:	Providing Scientific and Technical Guidance to the Development and Evaluation of the Integrated Flux Pilot Product: Forcing Evaluation, Parameter Optimization, Uncertainty Assessment and Product Validation
Project Leader(s):	Jingfeng Xiao, University of New Hampshire
Solicitation:	NASA: Science Definition Team for Carbon Monitoring System (2010)
Abstract:	More accurate quantification of net carbon dioxide exchange over regions, continents, or the globe can improve our understanding of the feedbacks between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere in the context of global change and facilitate climate policy-making. The development of a benchmark carbon flux product using NASA's state-of-the-art models and observational constraints is essential for improved understanding of the global carbon cycle and carbon policymaking. I believe that my research experience and expertise can significantly contribute to the pre-Phrase A and pilot initiatives for the development of the Carbon Monitoring System. I propose to provide scientific and technical input to the development and evaluation of the Integrated Flux Product. The guidance and insights I propose to provide can be summarized as follows: (1) provide guidance and recommendation to the overall development plan for the Flux Product; (2) evaluate and/or calibrate key spatial input data to the CASA model that can lead to significant biases in flux estimates; (3) optimize the key parameters of CASA using carbon fluxes measured at eddy covariance flux towers (e.g., Fluxnet) and state-of-the-art data assimilation techniques; (4) conduct uncertainty assessment of the bottom-up flux estimates derived from CASA; (5) produce global gridded flux fields for the period April 2009 - April 2010 from Fluxnet data, MODIS data streams, and aboveground biomass data using our EC-MOD upscaling system; (6) develop an evaluation plan and validate bottom-up flux estimates (CASA) using our independent, novel gridded flux fields; (7) evaluate the top-down fluxes derived from GOSAT observations using our EC-MOD flux fields. In addition, although I only propose for Science Definition Team (SDT) membership for the Flux Product, I plan to assimilate the global aboveground biomass and tree height maps and the Pilot Biomass Product that will also be developed for the Carbon Monitoring System into our EC-MOD upscaling system to account for the effects of disturbance and stand age, which will improve our flux estimates and also demonstrate how the pilot biomass product can be used to improve the estimates of flux fields and the constraining of terrestrial carbon budgets. I will be happy to work closely with NASA Headquarters and the NASA Center core teams in the production and validation of the Integrated Flux Product. I will attend the SDT meetings and be available for teleconferences as needed.
Keywords:
Participants:	Jingfeng Xiao, University of New Hampshire
Project URL(s):	None provided.

Data Products:	None provided.

Publications:	Zhang, L., Guo, H., Jia, G., Wylie, B., Gilmanov, T., Howard, D., Ji, L., Xiao, J., Li, J., Yuan, W., Zhao, T., Chen, S., Zhou, G., Kato, T. 2014. Net ecosystem productivity of temperate grasslands in northern China: An upscaling study. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 184, 71-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.09.004 Raczka, B. M., Davis, K. J., Huntzinger, D., Neilson, R. P., Poulter, B., Richardson, A. D., Xiao, J., Baker, I., Ciais, P., Keenan, T. F., Law, B., Post, W. M., Ricciuto, D., Schaefer, K., Tian, H., Tomelleri, E., Verbeeck, H., Viovy, N. 2013. Evaluation of continental carbon cycle simulations with North American flux tower observations. Ecological Monographs. 83(4), 531-556. DOI: 10.1890/12-0893.1 Xiao, J., Sun, G., Chen, J., Chen, H., Chen, S., Dong, G., Gao, S., Guo, H., Guo, J., Han, S., Kato, T., Li, Y., Lin, G., Lu, W., Ma, M., McNulty, S., Shao, C., Wang, X., Xie, X., Zhang, X., Zhang, Z., Zhao, B., Zhou, G., Zhou, J. 2013. Carbon fluxes, evapotranspiration, and water use efficiency of terrestrial ecosystems in China. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 182-183, 76-90. DOI: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.08.007 John, R., Chen, J., Ou-Yang, Z., Xiao, J., Becker, R., Samanta, A., Ganguly, S., Yuan, W., Batkhishig, O. 2013. Vegetation response to extreme climate events on the Mongolian Plateau from 2000 to 2010. Environmental Research Letters. 8(3), 035033. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/8/3/035033 Deng, F., Chen, J. M., Pan, Y., Peters, W., Birdsey, R., McCullough, K., Xiao, J. 2013. The use of forest stand age information in an atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> inversion applied to North America. Biogeosciences. 10(8), 5335-5348. DOI: 10.5194/bg-10-5335-2013 Zhang, L., Xiao, J., Li, J., Wang, K., Lei, L., Guo, H. 2012. The 2010 spring drought reduced primary productivity in southwestern China. Environmental Research Letters. 7(4), 045706. DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/7/4/045706 Xiao, J., Chen, J., Davis, K. J., Reichstein, M. 2012. Advances in upscaling of eddy covariance measurements of carbon and water fluxes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. 117(G1). DOI: 10.1029/2011JG001889 Xiao, J. 2013. Assessing Net Ecosystem Exchange of Carbon Dioxide Between the Terrestrial Biosphere and the Atmosphere Using Fluxnet Observations and Remote Sensing in: Springer Remote Sensing/Photogrammetry: Biophysical Applications of Satellite Remote Sensing. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 149-169. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-25047-7_6 Xiao, J., Zhang, L., Chen, J., John, R. (2013) Dynamics of vegetation productivity in Dryland East Asia from 1982 to 2010. In: Dryland East Asia (DEA): Land Dynamics Amid Social And Climate Change, Chen J, Wan S, Henebry G, Qi J, Gutman G, Sun G, Kappas M (eds.) HEP and De Gruyter, pages 125-147.