Vertically Integrated Measuring and Monitoring Instrumentation for Terrestrial Sinks and Sources of Carbon Dioxide

78556S A vertically integrated system is needed to quantify the sources and sinks of carbon dioxide for terrestrial ecosystems. The system requires a broad coherence across spatial scales ranging from sub-meter plots of vegetation and soils up to the full ecosystem. The coherence is enforced by an additional requirement that the results of each spatial scale support and verify the results of neighboring scales. There also must be a capability to scale results of individual, intensely studied ecosystems to the full area of the USA and related ecosystems worldwide. The ultimate objective is to enable scientists and policy makers alike to evaluate the carbon sequestration of terrestrial ecosystems and to predict its response to climate change. This project will develop a vertically integrated system for the measuring and monitoring of CO2 sinks and sources for terrestrial ecosystems. Instrumentations will cover at least five orders of magnitude of spatial scale and include: (1) solid state probes for concentrations on the sub-meter scale of individual plots of plants and soil, (2) pods of eddy flux and concentration instrumentats stationed atop towers with footprints on the order of 1 km, and (3) eddy flux and concentration instruments integrated into the fuselage of an Unmanned Airborne Vehicle (UAV) for mapping the boundary layer of a full ecosystem spanning at least 100 km. In Phase, the design of the observational and technological program will be completed. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The vertically integrated system should help quantify the carbon sequestration of terrestrial ecosystems and predict responses to climate change. Also, UAV-based data products could verify satellite-based observations of CO2 column density.