HR: 0830h
AN: H41A-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Satellite Remote Sensing of Pan-arctic Vegetation Productivity, Soil Respiration and net CO2 Exchange Using MODIS and AMSR-E Data
AU: * Nirala, M L
EM: mohan@ntsg.umt.edu
AF: Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, NTSG The University of Montana , SC437 Science Complex, Missoula, MT 59812 United States
AU: Heinsch, F A
AF: Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, NTSG The University of Montana , SC437 Science Complex, Missoula, MT 59812 United States
AU: Kimball, J S
AF: Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, NTSG The University of Montana , SC437 Science Complex, Missoula, MT 59812 United States
AU: Kimball, J S
AF: Flathead Lake Biological Station, Division of Biological Sciences The University of Montana , 311 Biostation Lane, Polson, MT 59860-9659 United States
AU: Zhao, M
AF: Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, NTSG The University of Montana , SC437 Science Complex, Missoula, MT 59812 United States
AU: Running, S
AF: Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group, NTSG The University of Montana , SC437 Science Complex, Missoula, MT 59812 United States
AU: Oechel, W
AF: Global Change Research Group, Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA United States
AU: McDonald, K
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 United States
AU: Njoku, E
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 4800 oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109-8099 United States
AB: We have developed an approach for regional assessment and monitoring of land-atmosphere carbon dioxide (CO2) exchange, soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) and vegetation productivity for arctic tundra using global satellite remote sensing at optical and microwave wavelengths. We use C- and X-band brightness temperatures from AMSR-E to extract surface wetness and temperature, and MODIS data to derive land cover, Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Net Primary Production (NPP) information. Calibration and validation activities involve comparisons between satellite remote sensing and tundra CO2 eddy flux tower and biophysical measurement networks and hydro-ecological process model simulations. We analyze spatial and temporal anomalies and environmental drivers of land-atmosphere net CO2 exchange at weekly and annual time steps. Surface soil moisture status and temperature as detected from satellite remote sensing observations are found to be major drivers spatial and temporal patterns of tundra net CO2 exchange and photosynthetic and respiration processes. We also find that satellite microwave measurements are capable of capturing seasonal variations and regional patterns in tundra soil heterotrophic respiration and CO2 exchange, while our ability to extract spatial patterns at the scale of surface heterogeneity is limited by the coarse spatial scale of the satellite remote sensing footprint. Our results also indicate that carbon cycle response to climate change is non-linear and strongly coupled to arctic surface hydrology. This work was performed at The University of Montana and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
UR: http://www.ntsg.umt.edu
DE: 1640 Remote sensing
DE: 1719 Hydrology
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly