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Harvard Forest Symposium Abstract 2012

  • Title: In-Situ Soil Monitoring System for AirMOSS Project at Harvard Forest
  • Primary Author: Yutaka Hagimoto (Oregon State University )
  • Additional Authors: Jordan Beamer (Oregon State University ); Richard Cuenca (Oregon State University )
  • Abstract:

    North American ecosystems are critical components of the global carbon cycle, exchanging large amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases with the atmosphere. Net ecosystem exchange (NEE) quantifies these carbon fluxes, but current continental-scale estimates contain high levels of uncertainty. Root-zone soil moisture (RZSM) and its spatial and temporal heterogeneity influence NEE and contribute as much as 60-80% to the uncertainty. The goal of the Airborne Microwave Observatory of Subcanopy and Subsurface (AirMOSS) project is to provide a new NEE estimate for North America with reduced uncertainty by (1) providing high-resolution remote observations of RZSM over regions representative of the major North American biomes, (2) quantifying the impact of RZSM on the estimation of regional carbon fluxes, and (3) upscaling the reduced uncertainty estimates of regional carbon fluxes to the continental scale of North America. AirMOSS will utilize an airborne ultra-high frequency synthetic aperture radar (P-band SAR; Figure 1) capable of penetrating through substantial vegetation canopies and soil down to depths of approximately 1.2 meters. As one of nine study sites, Harvard Forest represents a temperate deciduous broadleaf forest. In-situ ground systems consisting of three instrumented soil profiles (Figure 2 and 3) have been installed in the vicinity of the EMS Tower (HFR1) to validate P-band SAR measurements. The system links three profiles via RF radio and is collecting soil hydrologic data (soil water content, temperature and soil water potential at 6 to 7 depth layers), precipitation and surface temperature at three locations separated by approximately 50-m. Additionally, one of the profiles is equipped with a 4-component radiometer and soil heat flux plates, and is connected to the internet for data download (Figure 4 and 5) and managing the in-situ system remotely. Currently the P-band SAR is scheduled to be flown over Harvard Forest two times in 2012 and up to three times in the following years.

  • Research Category: Ecological Informatics and Modelling

  • Figures:
  • Fig 1 P-band SAR.png
    Fig 2 System-Design.gif
    Fig 3 HARV_SP01.jpg
    Fig 4 HARV01_1.jpg
    Fig 5 HARV01_4.jpg