Open Access
Driving terrestrial ecosystem models from space
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TLDR
In this article, the authors compare model predictions of CO2, O2, and methane exchange with the atmosphere against regional measurements of interannual variation in the atmospheric concentration of these gases.Abstract:
Regional air pollution, land-use conversion, and projected climate change all affect ecosystem processes at large scales. Changes in vegetation cover and growth dynamics can impact the functioning of ecosystems, carbon fluxes, and climate. As a result, there is a need to assess and monitor vegetation structure and function comprehensively at regional to global scales. To provide a test of our present understanding of how ecosystems operate at large scales we can compare model predictions of CO2, O2, and methane exchange with the atmosphere against regional measurements of interannual variation in the atmospheric concentration of these gases. Recent advances in remote sensing of the Earth's surface are beginning to provide methods for estimating important ecosystem variables at large scales. Ecologists attempting to generalize across landscapes have made extensive use of models and remote sensing technology. The success of such ventures is dependent on merging insights and expertise from two distinct fields. Ecologists must provide the understanding of how well models emulate important biological variables and their interactions; experts in remote sensing must provide the biophysical interpretation of complex optical reflectance and radar backscatter data.read more
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Observational contrains on the global atmospheric co2 budget.
TL;DR: The observed differences between the partial pressure of CO2 in the surface waters of the Northern Hemisphere and the atmosphere are too small for the oceans to be the major sink of fossil fuel CO2, and a large amount of the CO2 is apparently absorbed on the continents by terrestrial ecosystems.
Journal ArticleDOI
Methane emission from natural wetlands: Global distribution, area, and environmental characteristics of sources
E. Matthews,Inez Fung +1 more
TL;DR: A global data base of wetlands at 1° resolution has been developed from the integration of three independent global, digital sources: vegetation, soil properties and fractional inundation in each 1° cell as discussed by the authors.
Journal ArticleDOI
Do Woody Plants Operate Near the Point of Catastrophic Xylem Dysfunction Caused by Dynamic Water Stress? : Answers from a Model
Melvin T. Tyree,John S. Sperry +1 more
TL;DR: The model supported Zimmermann's plant segmentation hypothesis, whereby it was suggested that plants are designed hydraulically to sacrifice highly vulnerable minor branches and thus improve the water balance of remaining parts.