Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
06:48
Surface Mapping of Earth-like Exoplanets using Single Point Light Curves
Published on: May 10, 2020
4.1K
Observing terrestrial ecosystems and the carbon cycle from space.
David Schimel1, Ryan Pavlick, Joshua B Fisher
1Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91101, USA.
Global Change Biology
|December 5, 2014
Summary
Understanding terrestrial carbon cycle feedbacks is crucial for climate prediction. Combining remote sensing with in situ data can reduce uncertainties in tropical and arctic/boreal regions, improving climate models.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Climate Science
- Remote Sensing
Background:
- Terrestrial ecosystem feedbacks significantly influence future climate, with high uncertainty in responses.
- Tropical and arctic/boreal regions may have disproportionately large carbon-climate feedbacks.
- Sparse in situ data in these critical biomes lead to uncertainties in carbon fluxes and ecosystem parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the spatial distribution of in situ data for carbon fluxes, stocks, and plant traits globally.
- To evaluate the potential of remote sensing to address data gaps in ecosystem properties and parameters.
- To reduce uncertainties in predicting tipping point feedbacks to climate.
Main Methods:
- Global spatial analysis of in situ carbon flux, stock, and plant trait data.
- Assessment of new satellite data products beyond greenness indices.
- Evaluation of remote sensing for observing ecosystem properties in data-sparse regions.
Main Results:
- New satellite data products can address spatial sampling gaps for specific ecosystem properties.
- Space-based techniques can reduce sampling bias and uncertainty in tropical and arctic/boreal environments.
- Significant increases in data are needed in critical regions for reliable change detection.
Conclusions:
- A strategic combination of remote sensing and in situ data is essential for characterizing ecosystem heterogeneity.
- Satellite observations provide dense spatio-temporal sampling crucial for understanding ecosystem structure and function.
- Improved data integration is key to reducing uncertainty in climate change prediction and tipping point analysis.
Related Concept Videos
01:14The Carbon Cycle
45.8K
Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.
45.8K
00:54What are Biogeochemical Cycles?
40.8K
The most common elements in organic molecules, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus, are only available in the ecosystem in limited amounts. Therefore, these nutrients must be recycled through both biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem, in processes generally called biogeochemical cycles.
40.8K
02:23The Soil Ecosystem
25.9K
Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:
25.9K
01:28Carbon-dioxide Fixation
923
Carbon dioxide fixation in prokaryotes enables the assimilation of inorganic carbon into organic molecules, supporting biosynthetic pathways, sustaining ecosystems, and contributing to the global carbon cycle. It also has industrial applications in carbon capture and bioproduct synthesis. Autotrophic organisms rely on this process to utilize CO₂ as a carbon source in diverse environments.The Calvin CycleThe Calvin cycle is the most widespread carbon fixation mechanism, primarily used by...
923
01:49The Nitrogen Cycle
61.6K
Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
61.6K
02:30Naturalistic Observations
18.2K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
18.2K