Susan Ustin University of California-Davis (530) 752-0621 slustin@ucdavis.edu
Derek Williamson The University of Alabama (205)-348-9931 dwilliamson@eng.ua.edu
Greg Asner Carnegie Inst. of Washington, Stanford, CA (650) 462-1047 x 210 gpa@stanford.edu
John Gamon
California State University,
Los Angeles, CA
(243) 323-2066
jgamon@gmail.com
The Consortium for Connectivity at Continental Scales (3CS) integrated response envisions using current and future satellite data packages and an integrated national and regional-scale system of data collection that is described herein. This integrated spatial data collection program will consist of both the national aircraft operations tool box and five “rapid response units” from the continental tool box. The integrated airborne system will allow the science questions proposed by these themes (as well as other continental observation and experimental RFIs) to be answered using high fidelity and consistent data collected by a series of replicated airborne packages. Two national “cutting edge” LIDAR/hyperspectral package (AOP) as well as 5 regional flux and multi-band remote sensing/sampling packages and platforms (rapid deployment assets) are envisioned to be the major NEON infrastructure (along with ground-based imaging and calibration systems) to compliment larger and less flexible satellite and aviation assets of other partnering federal agencies.
Summarizing the NEON Airborne Spatial Data Collection and Analysis Program
(1) High resolution semi-annual hyperspectral and LIDAR processed data at core, transect and relocatable tower sites describing canopy height and many physiological processes in the vegetation,
(2) Processed periodic (quarterly to monthly during growing seasons depending on satellite scheduling, launch dates and cloud cover) satellite data describing land cover changes over longer (multi years) time periods,
(3) More frequent (monthly or better) processed spatial measurements of carbon, water (ET), heat, and energy flux as well as selected remote sensing data over a sub-set of sites and over the landscape between measurement units to provide for placing site data within a regional context and to enhance connectivity and scaling by measuring comparable data in between instrumented ground sites from the regionally-based aircraft,
(4) On-location observation of rapidly changing ecosystem functions as a result of severe disturbance (i.e, drought, severe weather event, invasives or disease, or major land use change) with spatial flux and remote sensing from regional aircraft on a daily basis for up to several weeks or repeated site visits of several days each over a seasonal time-frame,
(5) On site calibration instruments at all of the core sites: these would include automated and robotic, non-imaging spectrometers, forming a “Spectral Network” akin to SpecNet (http://specnet.info), which would provide validation and primary standards for classification using airborne and satellite remote sensing and enhance site-activities by providing spatial and temporal spectral records of ecosystem functions and responses to changes. This ground sensor network would complement the aircraft program and facilitate calibration between spectral data and other variables of interests (e.g. fluxes, vegetation structure, etc.). Thus, the aircraft program would be the central part of a “scaleable remote sensing network” employing concurrent ground sensors for in-situ sampling and calibration, and satellite sensors for continental coverage,
(6) The ability to respond to rapidly changing conditions or extreme events both within and across regions through the use of dedicated, regionally distributed aircraft and continental platforms: (i.e., in the case of a large hurricane or major sets of fires one national platform may be deployed and waiting outside of probable impact zone while two or three regional platforms provide higher resolution coverage in selected subsets of the area. After impact, the continental platform may perform detailed survey work while the regional platforms fill in gaps and can remain or return to station frequently over many months to measure ecosystem response and recovery while the continental platform may return semi-annually). These aircraft and continental platforms would be supplemented with rapidly deployable, automated, in-situ sensors for calibration and linkage to ecological variables of interest as listed in the additional sensors template (4).
(7) The ability to add specific chemical sampling (nitrogen and organic carbon (e.g. fire signatures) in aerosols, fine particles for energy balance changes, or other pollutants or pathogens) or real-time measurement to layer sampling on-top of remote sensing and flux as a flexible, regionally-based asset to meet site specific or event specific sampling needs as they evolve within a theme or domain