Discussion Topics – Delaware River Basin Pilot Project

• Synergistic opportunities between FIA/FHM/GC/USGS– Scaling – top down/bottom up – multi-tier approach– Multi-phase estimation techniques– Integrated monitoring – land/air/water (e.g. fragmentation and water q.)– Specific variables (e.g. soils) or unique systems (e.g. riparian)

• Specific future projects?– Additional pilot studies:

• DRB 2? Where?• NACP “Tier 3”?

– Techniques development:• New variables or enhanced variables?• Estimation methods for multi-phase inventories?• Linking P1/P2/P3 with research sites (P4/P5)?• Others?

• Ways to strengthen links between FIA/FHM and other research

North American Carbon Program (NACP) – Biophysical Measurements and Models

• Reduce the uncertainty in land-based monitoring of changes in carbon stocks

• Fully integrate land-based measurements with atmospheric measurements

• Provide the mechanistic foundation for inverse modeling and data assimilation

The Multi-tier Approach to Monitoring

Multi-Scale Evaluation

MODIS with field validation – “bigfoot”

USFS approach to forest health monitoring

NACP Hierarchical land surface measurement program

• Tier One – Remote Sensing and Mapping– Wall-to-wall coverage; stratification– Temporal resolution = high or low

• Tier Two – Extensive Inventories and Surveys– Representative regional statistical sample– Temporal resolution = low

• Tier Three – Condition Sample (new)– Representative of specified condition classes– Temporal resolution = medium

• Tier Four –Intensive Areas – Relatively small number of specific sites– Temporal resolution = high

Multi-tier Monitoring Concept for the Land Component of NACP

Example

Variable

Tier 1Remote Sensing

Tier 2Extensive Inventory

Tier 3Condition Sample

Tier 4Intensive Site

Land cover X X X X

Leaf area X X X X

Disturbance X X X X*

Live biomass X X X

Litterfall X X

Soil CO2 flux X X

Methane flux X X

DOC X X

NEE X

* Designed experiments

Objectives of “Tier 3” of NACP

• Augment coverage of the land surface by tier 4 sites– Natural disturbances and management

– Edges/fragmented landscapes

– Mountain terrain

• Facilitate scaling from intensive sites to landscapes

• Model parameterization or validation

Proposal: The primary sampling unit of a Tier 3 site will be a 1 x 1 km grid of inventory plots surrounding a special research installation

• 9-36 inventory plots km-2

• Flux, meteorological tower or other installation at center

• Primary sampling units (1 x 1 km grids) may be combined

• Other measures (litterfall, respiration) take place at inventory plots

FS Flux TowerOther Flux TowerPotential New FS Flux TowerPotential New FS Biometric Site

Tier 3 Pilot Test Locations