HR: 1330h
AN: B22A-0809    [PDF]
TI: Automated Tram System for Ecosystem Optical Sampling in Flux Tower footprint
AU: * MacKinney, L
EM: lmackinney@altrionet.com
AF: California State University Los Angeles, 5151 state university drive, los angeles, CA 90032 United States
AU: Cano, J C
EM: nzsa_ventura@hotmail.com
AF: California State University Los Angeles, 5151 state university drive, los angeles, CA 90032 United States
AU: Houston, S
EM: shousto@calstatela.edu
AF: California State University Los Angeles, 5151 state university drive, los angeles, CA 90032 United States
AB: The need for adding non-intrusive remote sensing methods within the flux footprint has led to the development of an automated tram system. The system consists of a cart on a100m track running through the flux tower's footprint. The cart instruments include a dual-detector spectrometer and thermal sensor that collect optical and thermal samples at specified positions repeatedly over time. The two detectors allow correction for changing light conditions (e.g. clouds), and the addition of a programmable micro-controller allows the system to know its position and the time and date the data were collected. The cart also has the capabilities to recharge itself and shut down between sampling intervals, send data to a base station through a wireless link, and ultimately be controlled from a lab station through the internet. Automation of the system eliminates the disturbance that a field investigator would introduce as well as the need of regular field site visits. This system allows spatially and temporally explicit sampling of ecosystem optical and thermal properties within the flux tower footprint, improving our understanding of the controls on ecosystem carbon flux.
DE: 0400 Biogeosciences
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 1694 Instruments and techniques
DE: 1851 Plant ecology
DE: 3322 Land/atmosphere interactions
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting