Field Campaigns
Field Campaigns combine ground-, aircraft-, and satellite-based measurements
of biogeochemical features in specific ecosystems over multi-year time
periods. These studies focus on a particular issue or set of issues and
are critical to providing an integrated understanding of biogeochemical
dynamics that can be extended across biomes and across both spatial and
temporal scales.
The ORNL DAAC compiles, archives, and distributes more than 600 field campaign data products from the following NASA-funded research projects:
- BOREAS and BOREAS Follow-On
- FIFE and FIFE Follow-On
- LBA
- NACP
- OTTER
- SAFARI 2000
- Superior National Forest (SNF)
The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) and BOREAS Follow-On studies were conducted in the boreal forest of Canada between 1990 and 1998 to investigate interactions between the boreal forest biome and the atmosphere. Data are available for: airborne fluxes, meteorology, hydrology, hydro-meteorology remote-sensing science, terrestrial ecology, derived surface parameters, carbon modeling, terrestrial ecology, tower fluxes, and trace gas biogeochemistry.
FIFE and
FIFE Follow-On
The First International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP)
Field Experiment (FIFE) and FIFE Follow-On investigations were conducted in
the Konza Prairie of central Kansas, U.S.A. from 1987 through 1993 to examine
carbon and water cycles. Data are available for boundary layer fluxes; vertical
atmosphere soundings and profiles; composition and biology of vegetation;
hydrology; optical properties; satellite and aircraft observations; soil
moisture and properties; and surface fluxes, meteorological and surface
radiation measurements.
The Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia (LBA) is a multi-disciplinary, international research effort, designed to create new knowledge to understand the climatological, ecological, biogeochemical, and hydrologic functioning of Amazonia, its interaction with the Earth system, and its response to land use change. LBA is comprised of several scientific disciplines or components. Data from the Pre-LBA and LBA-ECO components lead by Brazil from 1995 through 2005 are available for atmospheric chemistry; carbon dynamics; human dimensions; land use and land cover change; nutrient dynamics, physical climate; surface hydrology and water chemistry; and trace gases.
The North American Carbon Program (NACP) is a multi-disciplinary research program designed to obtain scientific understanding of North America's carbon sources and sinks and of the changes in carbon stocks needed to meet societal concerns, and to provide tools for decision makers. NACP began in 2002 and continues to date. Data on continental carbon budgets, dynamics, processes, and management of the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide in North America and in adjacent ocean regions are currently being prepared for archival at the ORNL DAAC.
The Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research (OTTER) project was an interdisciplinary project conducted from 1989 through 1991 as a cooperative effort between NASA and several universities in the U.S.A. and Canada to discern the ecology of western coniferous forests through the use of remote sensing technology supported by ground observations. Available data include canopy chemistry, meteorology, field sunphotometer, airborne sunphotometer, and timber measurements.
The SAFARI 2000 (S2K) Project was an international science initiative to study the linkages between land and atmosphere processes in the southern African region, including the relationships of biogenic, pyrogenic, and anthropogenic emissions and the consequences of their deposition to the functioning of the biogeophysical and biogeochemical systems. This initiative was conducted from 1999 through 2001, and built around a number of ongoing, already-funded activities by NASA, the international community, and African nations. Available data include: atmospheric and airborne studies; background land cover and soils; climate and meteorology; field based measurements; hydrology studies; regional assessments; and remote sensing.
During the summers of 1983 and 1984, NASA conducted an intensive experiment in a portion of the Superior National Forest (SNF) near Ely, Minnesota, U.S.A. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the ability of remote sensing to provide estimates of biophysical properties of ecosystems, such as leaf area index (LAI), biomass, and net primary productivity (NPP). Detailed vegetation data were collected for about 100 sample sites which represented a range of stand density and age for spruce, aspen, jackpine and mixed stands. Available data include: biomass; biophysical parameters; canopy composition and reflectance; climatology from 1972 through 1990; leaf optical properties; and vegetation.
