Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “boreal forest”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Constraints on Wildfire Smoke Source Strength, Injection Height, and Particle Evolution

Aerosol sources are represented in climate and air quality models with an injection height and a source strength. We have applied a combination of Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) and MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations to help constrain these two key model variables for wildfire smoke plumes. Injection height is obtained from MISR stereo imagery, which makes it possible to map plume elevation and estimate the associated motion vectors at plume altitude near-source, where contrast features in the plume can be identified in the multi-angle views. A current limitation of injection-height mapping is the relatively narrow MISR swath width (~380 km) and 10:30 AM equator crossing time on the day side of Earth. However, upcoming missions, as well as advanced imagers on geostationary platforms, promise to greatly expand the spatial and temporal range over which this technique can be applied. We estimate source strength by matching forward-simulated plume aerosol optical depth (AOD) from models with AOD snapshots retrieved from MODIS observations. This technique works best for large, isolated plumes common in boreal forest, and tends to fail where plume AOD is low and/or background AOD, distinct from the specific source of interest, is high. These two approaches for constraining aerosol modeling with satellite observations have been the subject of ongoing AeroCom/AeroSat studies by our group. A third effort applies the combination of MISR plume heights, wind vectors, and particle microphysical property constraints to infer smoke-plume particle evolution processes and timescales, including the emission and subsequent evolution of black and brown smoke. In this presentation, we will provide an update on the status of these efforts.

wildfire↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Benchmarking GOCART-2G in the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS)

The Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model, which controls the sources sinks and chemistry within the Goddard Earth Observing System, recently underwent a major refactoring and update to the representation of physical processes. The code refactoring increases flexibility such multiple instances of an aerosol species can be run and interact with radiation and cloud microphysics, in addition to the output of multiple wavelength aerosol optical properties in support of data assimilation. From a science perspective, a new radiatively active tracer, brown carbon, was added to distinguish smoke from other sources of organic aerosol thereby improving optical properties entering the radiative calculations. A four-year benchmark simulation was evaluated using in situ and space borne measurements to develop a baseline and prioritize future development. A comparison of simulated aerosol optical depth between GOCART-2G and MODIS retrievals indicates the model captures the overall spatial pattern and seasonal cycle of aerosol optical depth but overestimates aerosol extinction over dusty regions and underestimates aerosol extinction over northern hemisphere boreal forests, requiring further tuning of emissions. This MODIS-based analysis is corroborated by comparisons to MISR and selected AERONET stations. Despite the underestimate of aerosol optical depth in biomass burning regions in GEOS, there is an overestimate in the surface mass of organic carbon in the United States, especially during the summer months.

Allison Collow↗
NASA NTRS2024

Benchmarking GOCART-2G in the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS)

The Goddard Chemistry Aerosol Radiation and Transport (GOCART) model, which controls the sources sinks and chemistry within the Goddard Earth Observing System, recently underwent a major refactoring and update to the representation of physical processes. This paper serves to document code changes that were included in GOCART 2nd Generation (GOCART-2G) and establishes a benchmark simulation that is to be used for future development of the system. The code refactoring increases flexibility such multiple instances of an aerosol species can be run and interact with radiation and cloud microphysics, in addition to the output of multiple wavelength aerosol optical properties in support of data assimilation. From a science perspective, a new radiatively active tracer, brown carbon, was added to distinguish smoke from other sources of organic aerosol thereby improving optical properties entering the radiative calculations. A four-year benchmark simulation was evaluated using in situ and space borne measurements to develop a baseline and prioritize future development. A comparison of simulated aerosol optical depth between GOCART-2G and MODIS retrievals indicates the model captures the overall spatial pattern and seasonal cycle of aerosol optical depth but overestimates aerosol extinction over dusty regions and underestimates aerosol extinction over northern hemisphere boreal forests, requiring further tuning of emissions. This MODIS-based analysis is corroborated by comparisons to MISR and selected AERONET stations. Despite the underestimate of aerosol optical depth in biomass burning regions in GEOS, there is an overestimate in the surface mass of organic carbon in the United States, especially during the summer months.

Allison B Collow↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Global Carbon Consumption Database for Wildland Fire

Fire significantly impacts both human-altered and wild landscapes on national and global scales. Though often devastating, wildland fires naturally reduce fuels, preventing larger wildfires. However, their smoke can harm human health locally and globally. To understand its impact on air quality and health, quantifying the emissions released into the atmosphere is crucial. To accurately model fire emissions, understanding fuel characteristics and burning conditions is crucial, as they vary with the fuelbed type and fire weather. For example, savanna fires have lower carbon loading and intensity but spread quickly, while boreal forest fires burn longer and release more carbon due to higher loading. Hotter, drier conditions increase fuel consumption and smoke plume height. Fire weather and available fuel are the key drivers of emissions.

Emily Gargulinski↗
NASA NTRS2022

Development of SMAP Retrievals for Forested Regions: SMAPVEX19-22 and SMAPVEX22-Boreal

The retrieval of soil moisture (SM) under forest canopy has long been an important goal for low frequency remote sensing. The NASA Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission is engaged at three separate experiment sites to improve its SM retrieval algorithm in forested areas. Two of the sites are located in the deciduous forest region in Massachusetts and New York, US and one is located in southern boreal forest zone in Saskatchewan, Canada. Each site has a SM measurement network of about 20 stations spread out over an area of about 30 km, which covers the SMAP radiometer footprint. In 2022, intensive observations will be carried out at each site which involve deployments of an airborne instrument, which is similar to the SMAP instrument, and intensive manual measurements of SM, surface and vegetation. The measurements also include tower-based radiometer observations with ground truth measurements within the instrument footprint. Here we show some early results using the networks and SMAP measurements to analyze the sensitivity of the SMAP L-band measurements to SM changes in forested area and the impact of the vegetation to the signal. The results suggest an upper limit for vegetation attenuation accounting for surface roughness effect and relate that to the values used in the current SMAP SM products.

Yueh, Simon H.↗
NASA NTRS2007

Satellite Boreal Measurements over Alaska and Canada During June-July 2004: Simultaneous Measurements of Upper Tropospheric CO, C2H6, HCN, CH3Cl, CH4, C2H2, CH2OH, HCOOH, OCS, and SF6 Mixing Ratios

Simultaneous ACE (Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment) upper tropospheric CO, C2H6, HCN, CH3Cl, CH4 , C2H2 , CH30H, HCOOH, and OCS measurements show plumes up to 185 ppbv (10 (exp -9) per unit volume) for CO, 1.36 ppbv for C2H6, 755 pptv (10(exp -12) per unit volume) for HCN, 1.12 ppbv for CH3C1, 1.82 ppmv, (10(exp -6) per unit volume) for CH4, 0.178 ppbv for C2H2, 3.89 ppbv for CH30H, 0.843 ppbv for HCOOH, and 0.48 ppbv for OCS in western Canada and Alaska at 50 deg N-68 deg N latitude between 29 June and 23 July 2004. Enhancement ratios and emission factors for HCOOH, CH30H, HCN, C2H6, and OCS relative to CO at 250-350 hPa are inferred from measurements of young plumes compared with lower mixing ratios assumed to represent background conditions based on a CO emission factor derived from boreal measurements. Results are generally consistent with the limited data reported for various vegetative types and emission phases measured in extratropical forests including boreal forests. The low correlation between fire product emission mixing ratios and the S176 mixing ratio is consistent with no significant SF6 emissions from the biomass fires.

Rinsland, Curtis P.↗
NASA NTRS1997

Estimating Soil Moisture in a Boreal Old Jack Pine Forest

Polarimetric L- and P-band AIRSAR data, corresponding model simulations, and classification algorithms have shown that in a boreal old jack pine (OJP) stand, the principal scattering mechanism responsible for radar backscatter is the double-bounce mechanism between the tree trunks and the ground.

Soil↗
NASA NTRS2019

Importance of Tree- and Species-Level Interactions With Wildfire, Climate, and Soils in Interior Alaska: Implications for Forest Change Under A Warming Climate

The boreal zone of Alaska is dominated by interactions between disturbances, vegetation, and soils. These interactions are likely to change in the future through increasing permafrost thaw, more frequent and intense wildfires, and vegetation change from drought and competition. We utilize an individual tree-based vegetation model, the University of Virginia Forest Model Enhanced (UVAFME), to estimate current and future forest conditions across sites within interior Alaska. We updated UVAFME for application within interior Alaska, including improved simulation of permafrost dynamics, litter decay, nutrient dynamics, fire mortality, and post-fire regrowth. Following these updates, UVAFME output on species-specific biomass and stem density was comparable to inventory measurements at various forest types within interior Alaska. We then simulated forest response to climate change at specific inventory locations and across the Tanana Valley River Basin on a 2 × 2 km2 grid. We derived projected temperature and precipitation from a five-model average taken from the CMIP5 archive under the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. Results suggest that climate change and the concomitant impacts on wildfire and permafrost dynamics will result in overall decreases in biomass (particularly for spruce (Picea spp.)) within the interior Tanana Valley, despite increases in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) biomass, and a resulting shift towards higher deciduous fraction. Simulation results also predict increases in biomass at cold, wet locations and at high elevations, and decreases in biomass in dry locations, under both moderate (RCP 4.5) and extreme (RCP 8.5) climate change scenarios. These simulations demonstrate that a highly detailed, species interactive model can be used across a large region within Alaska to investigate interactions between vegetation, climate, wildfire, and permafrost. The vegetation changes predicted here have the capacity to feed back to broader scale climate-forest interactions in the North American boreal forest, a region which contributes significantly to the global carbon and energy budgets.

forest modeling↗
NASA NTRS1995

Spaceborne Applications of P Band Imaging Radars for Measuring Forest Biomass

In three sites of boreal and temperate forests, P band HH, HV, and VV polarization data combined estimate total aboveground dry woody biomass within 12 to 27% of the values derived from allometric equations, depending on forest complexity. Biomass estimates derived from HV-polarization data only are 2 to 14% less accurate. When the radar operates at circular polarization, the errors exceed 100% over flooded forests, wet or damaged trees and sparse open tall forests because double-bounce reflections of the radar signals yield radar signatures similar to that of tall and massive forests. Circular polarizations, which minimize the effect of Faraday rotation in spaceborne applications, are therefore of limited use for measuring forest biomass. In the tropical rain forest of Manu, in Peru, where forest biomass ranges from 4 kg/sq m in young forest succession up to 50 kg/sq m in old, undisturbed floodplain stands, the P band horizontal and vertical polarization data combined separate biomass classes in good agreement with forest inventory estimates. The worldwide need for large scale, updated, biomass estimates, achieved with a uniformly applied method, justifies a more in-depth exploration of multi-polarization long wavelength imaging radar applications for tropical forests inventories.

Rignot, Eric J.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Spaceborne Applications of P-Band Imaging Radars for Measuring Forest Biomass

In three test sites of boreal and temperate forests, P-band polarimetric radar data estimate total above-ground dry woody biomass with 10 to 30 of the actual biomass values, depending on the complexity of the forest. A description and examples of the process are provided. The worldwide need for large scale, updated biomass estimates, achieved with a uniformly applied method, justifies a more in-depth exploration of long wavelength imaging radar applications for tropical forest inventories.

Oren, Ram↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Can We Model Forest Demography Globally? Benchmarking of State-of-the-Art Demographic DGVMs

Forests in Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) have historically been simulated as area-averaged plant functional types in each gridcell instead of representing communities of trees of different sizes and ages (demography). Just as the behaviour of a tree differs according to its ontogeny, so the behaviour of forests is known to differ depending on their demography. Accurately simulating demography is therefore key in order to address questions on afforestation and management strategies, as well as assessments of resilience of forests to disturbances such as drought and fire or diversity changes after a disturbance. Ultimately, demography determines the overall forest biomass in natural forests and is a key arbiter of growth and mortality rates. DGVMs are now able to simulate size and age structure of the trees in forests. However, these models have so far not been benchmarked alongside each other. We evaluate 6 DGVMs (BiomeE, CABLE-POP, FATES, LPJ-GUESS, JULES-RED, ORCHIDEE) against observations on regrowth dynamics as well as natural forests at boreal, temperate and tropical sites. We examine whether the models capture observed regrowth dynamics after disturbance, well-known stand size structure and well-established processes such as self-thinning. We outline the planned route forward towards a standardised international benchmarking framework for demographic DGVMs.

Dynamic Global Vegetation Models↗
NASA NTRS2000

BOREAS HYD-3 Tree Measurements

The BOREAS HYD-3 team collected several data sets related to the hydrology of forested areas. This data set contains measurements of canopy density (closure), stem density, and DBH from a variety of sites. Canopy density measurements were made during the FFC-W and FFC-T 1994 in both the SSA and the NSA. Stem density measurements were made during FFC-W 1996 in the SSA only. Canopy density measurements were made using a forest densiometer, while measurements of stem density and DBH were made using standard techniques. This study was undertaken to predict spatial distributions of energy transfer, snow properties important to the hydrology, remote sensing signatures, and transmissivity of gases through the snow and their relation to forests in boreal ecosystems. The data are available in tabular ASCII files. The data files are available on a CD-ROM (see document number 20010000884) or from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC).

Hardy, Janet P.↗