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At least 217 records · Page 12

Data from: "Growth strategies and threshold responses to water deficit modulate effects of warming on tree seedlings from forest to alpine"

This data package contains data that were used to support conclusions drawn in “Growth strategies and threshold responses to water deficit modulate effects of warming on tree seedlings from forest to alpine”, by Lazarus, Castanha et al. 2017. Data were collected at field sites within the Alpine Treeline Warming Experiment (ATWE) on Niwot Ridge, Colorado, USA, and at the U.S. Geological Survey laboratory located in Boise, Idaho. This archive contains comma-separated-values (.csv) files, as well as the same files in Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) format, which can be opened by either Microsoft Excel, R, or any simple text editor program. There are two types of geospatial data files: .kml and ESRI shapefiles (.shp). The kml files contain placemarks, which can be opened by Google Earth, or Google Maps. The ESRI shapefiles can be opened by any geographic information system application that can read shapefiles, including ESRI's entire ArcGIS suite, and QGIS. We asked whether and how tree species differences in response to water deficit relates to their establishment along the gradient from forest to alpine. To do this, we compared growth and moisture stress responses in first-year seedlings of three species planted in common gardens subject to a factorial of heating and watering treatments below, at, and above tree line. This combination of an elevation gradient alongside warming and watering treatments enabled us to observe species differences in seedling responses to a broad set of climatic conditions.Entire seedlings were harvested at c. 3- and again at 9 weeks of age following germination/emergence in the experimental plots, and we then measured dry mass (DM) of above and belowground parts, root length, root mass fraction (RMF), relative growth rates (RGRs) from seed to 3 weeks and from 3 to 9 weeks, turgor-loss point (TLP), and photosynthetic WUE (as δ13C). Also included in this dataset (but not described in the manuscript) are measures of specific leaf area (SLA) and other variables generated by pressure-volume curves (saturated water content, osmotic potential at full turgor, elastic modulus).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Data from: "Soil moisture mediates alpine life form and community productivity responses to warming"

This dataset contains values that were used to support conclusions drawn in the publication “Soil moisture mediates alpine life form and community productivity responses to warming”, originally published in 2016 by Winkler et al. All data were collected in the alpine site of the Alpine Treeline Warming Experiment (ATWE), located on Niwot Ridge, in the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA. The file types in this archive include comma-separated-values (.csv) files, and two types of geospatial files: .kml and shapefiles (.shp). The csv files can be opened by R, Microsoft Excel, or any simple text editor software. The geospatial files can be opened by Google Earth/Google Maps, and the ESRI shapefiles can be opened by geographic information systems softwares that can read shapefiles, including ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop suite, and QGIS.Climate warming is expected to alter primary production and community composition in alpine systems around the globe. Whether production will increase in response to warming in the absence of additional precipitation remains underexplored. We experimentally warmed an alpine plant community on Niwot Ridge, Colorado to test whether warming increases or decreases productivity of multiple plant life form groups and the entire plant community. We also provided supplemental water to a subset of plots to alleviate potential drying effects of warming. We predicted alpine community above-ground productivity would increase in response to warming only when combined with supplemental water to limit soil drying. We also predicted plant life form groups would vary in their responses and would like buffer changes in community productivity.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Data from: "Colonisation of the alpine tundra by trees: alpine neighbours assist late-seral but not early-seral conifer seedlings"

This archive contains data used to support conclusions made in “Colonisation of the alpine tundra by trees: alpine neighbours assist late-seral but not early-seral conifer seedlings”, by Jabis et al., 2020. Data were collected in the alpine field location of the Alpine Treeline Warming Experiment (ATWE), on Niwot Ridge, in the Front Range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA.This package includes survivorship and physiology data for limber pine (Pinus flexilis), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), and Rocky Mountain snowlover (Chionophila jamesii). Site climate data such as soil moisture and temperature are also included. This data package contains ten comma-separated-values (.csv) files, and two rich-text-format (.rtf) files all compressed within one folder named “Neighbor_data_repository.zip”. Both file types can be opened by text-edit softwares such as TextEdit (Mac) and Notepad (Windows). The files are also compatible with analyses softwares such as R. .csv files can also be opened by Microsoft Excel. Two geospatial datasets are also included in this archive: one keyhole markup language (.kml) file with four points marking the corners of the study site, and a compressed file containing two ESRI shapefiles (.shp). The .kml files can be opened with Google Earth or Google Maps, and the shapefiles can be opened using any geographic information system applications, including the entire ArcGIS suite, and QGIS. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The elevation mountain treeline is expected to shift upward with climate warming, and seed germination and seedling survival are critical local controls on treeline expansion. Neighboring alpine plants, either through competition for resources or through altering the microclimate, can also affect seedling emergence and survival. We asked whether establishing tree seedlings and an alpine herb are similarly sensitive to alpine plant neighbours under ambient and altered climate. We imposed active heating, watering, and neighbor removal experiments for emerging conifer seedlings and an alpine herb.We compared target plant survival, photosynthetic efficiency, and water use efficiency under ambient and experimental conditions. Picea engelmannii seedlings showed lower survival compared with Pinus flexilis three weeks following neighbour removal, and after 1 year only survived in watered plots. Pinus seedlings responded to neighbour removal by lowering the quantum yield of photosynthesis (ϕPSII). Contrary to expectations from the stress gradient hypothesis, survival was reduced without neighbours near the low-elevation range limit of Chionophila jamesii.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Los Alamos Enterprise Analysis and Data System (LEADS)

The Los Alamos Enterprise Analysis and Data System (LEADS) is an integrated database system and analysis application used to examine the Laboratory’s assets and equities. The data mapping framework is structured to follow laboratory organizations, programs, geographical technical areas, and other functional groupings, such as facilities and equipment. LEADS application goal is to quantify the size and information related to the current condition of assets and equities. The data and inter-dependent relationships allow for insights and further analyses to be conducted of current program-of-records, the laboratory agenda, and “what-if” scenario studies. The understanding and the outputs of this application will support understanding of the laboratory’s current state, planning, and decision-making processes.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Electro-science Requirements for Shuttle-attached Antenna Flight Experiments

The activities of an in-house electro-science task group organized to conduct studies of shuttle-attached flight experiments using the 15-meter hoop-column antennas as a research tool for developing both improved sensor technology and LSA technology are described. Some experiments could provide significant amounts of scientific data such as radio star mapping and definition of ocean current eddies over limited geographic regions. The experiments originate from the microwave remote sensing community and other areas which require the inherently higher resolution and boresite gain of large space antennas. Technology experiments are also being studied which would use the 15-meter antenna experiments as a stepping stone to 50 to 100 meter class reflector technology in the future. An antenna technology experiment using the 15-meter antenna in a shuttle-attached mission is discussed. Electromagnetic modeling is correct for each major subsystem and also to verify the interrelations of the subsystems.

Grantham, W. L.↗

A technique for extrapolating and validating forest cover across large regions - Calibrating AVHRR data with TM data

A method is presented for extending high-resolution forest cover information across large regions. Using Landsat TM data with AVHRR data, an empirical relationship beween AVHRR spectral signatures and forest cover is developed. The resulting regression equation is applied to an AVHRR scene covering a large area centered around southern Illinois. The map is used to estimate forest cover within a geographical information system. The results are compared with U.S. Forest Service estimates, showing good agreement.

Iverson, L. R.↗

Mesoscale and large-scale variability of the Antarctic circumpolar current

This investigation of the physical oceanography of the Southern Ocean will carry out two parallel efforts during the years preceding the launch of TOPEX/POSEIDON. First, the Geosat data will be used to develop a preliminary descriptive picture of the mesoscale and large-scale, low-frequency surface circulation of the Southern Ocean. Some of this analysis of Geosat data has already begun. For example, as a measure of the geographical distribution of mesoscale variability, a color-coded map of the standard deviation of sea level from two years of Geosat data is shown. Efforts are presently under way to investigate the seasonal and year-to-year variability of this mesoscale energy. The data are also being used to generate low-pass filtered fields of sea level from which the temporal evolution of large-scale variability in the Southern Ocean may be investigated. The second parallel effort is the development and test of modeling and data assimilation techniques that will later be applied to TOPEX/POSEIDON data during the postlaunch phase. One objective of the modeling and data assimilation is to investigate the relation between mesoscale sea level variations and eddy flux in the Southern Ocean. Uncertainties in present estimates of the various components of meridional oceanic heat transport are large. The evidence presented indicates that the very energetic mesoscale variability in the ACC apparently accounts for much of the estimated 0.45x10(exp 15) watts of poleward heat transport across the ACC required to balance the heat budget. Eddy variability is strongly coherent vertically in the ACC, at least in the vicinity of Drake Passage where nearly all of the historical in situ data have been collected.

Chelton, Dudley B.↗

Quantitative modeling of soil genesis processes

For fine spatial scale simulation, a model is being developed to predict changes in properties over short-, meso-, and long-term time scales within horizons of a given soil profile. Processes that control these changes can be grouped into five major process clusters: (1) abiotic chemical reactions; (2) activities of organisms; (3) energy balance and water phase transitions; (4) hydrologic flows; and (5) particle redistribution. Landscape modeling of soil development is possible using digitized soil maps associated with quantitative soil attribute data in a geographic information system (GIS) framework to which simulation models are applied.

Levine, E. R.↗

Russian-US Partnership to Study the 23-km-diameter El'gygtgyn Impact Crater, Northeast Russia

El'gygytgyn crater, located within Eastern Siberia, is a Pliocene-aged (3.6 Ma), well-preserved impact crater with a rim diameter of roughly 23 km. The target rocks are a coherent assemblage of crystalline rocks ranging from andesite to basalt. At the time of impact the region was forested and the Arctic Ocean was nearly ice-free. A 15-km lake fills the center of the feature and water depths are approximately 175 m. Evidence of shock metamorphism, -- including coesite, fused mineral glasses, and planar deformation features in quartz -- has been reported. This feature is one of the youngest and best preserved complex craters on Earth. Because of its remote Arctic setting, however, El gygytgyn crater remains poorly investigated. The objectives of this three-year project are to establish and maintain a research partnership between scientists from Russia and the United States interested in the El gygytgyn crater. The principal institutions in the U.S. will be the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The principal institution in Russia will be the North East Interdisciplinary Scientific Research Institute (NEISRI), which is the Far-East Branch of the Russian Academy of Science. Three science tasks are identified for the exchange program: (1) Evaluate impactite samples collected during previous field excursions for evidence of and level of shock deformation. (2) Build a high-resolution digital elevation model for the crater and its surroundings using interferometric synthetic aperture radar techniques on JERS-1, ERS-1, ERS-2, and/or RadarSat range-doppler data. (3) Gather all existing surface data available from Russian and U.S. institutions (DEM, remote sensing image data, field-based lithological and sample maps, and existing geophysical data) and assemble into a Geographic Information Systems database.

Sharpton, Virgil L.↗

Evaluation of the Harmful Algal Bloom Mapping System (HABMapS) and Bulletin

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Mapping System and Bulletin provide a Web-based geographic information system (GIS) and an e-mail alert system that allow the detection, monitoring, and tracking of HABs in the Gulf of Mexico. NASA Earth Science data that potentially support HABMapS/Bulletin requirements include ocean color, sea surface temperature (SST), salinity, wind fields, precipitation, water surface elevation, and ocean currents. Modeling contributions include ocean circulation, wave/currents, along-shore current regimes, and chlorophyll modeling (coupled to imagery). The most immediately useful NASA contributions appear to be the 1-km Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) chlorophyll and SST products and the (presently used) SeaWinds wind vector data. MODIS pigment concentration and SST data are sufficiently mature to replace imagery currently used in NOAA HAB applications. The large file size of MODIS data is an impediment to NOAA use and modified processing schemes would aid in NOAA adoption of these products for operational HAB forecasting.

Hall, Callie↗

Terrestrial Water Mass Load Changes from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE)

Recent studies show that data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) is promising for basin- to global-scale water cycle research. This study provides varied assessments of errors associated with GRACE water storage estimates. Thirteen monthly GRACE gravity solutions from August 2002 to December 2004 are examined, along with synthesized GRACE gravity fields for the same period that incorporate simulated errors. The synthetic GRACE fields are calculated using numerical climate models and GRACE internal error estimates. We consider the influence of measurement noise, spatial leakage error, and atmospheric and ocean dealiasing (AOD) model error as the major contributors to the error budget. Leakage error arises from the limited range of GRACE spherical harmonics not corrupted by noise. AOD model error is due to imperfect correction for atmosphere and ocean mass redistribution applied during GRACE processing. Four methods of forming water storage estimates from GRACE spherical harmonics (four different basin filters) are applied to both GRACE and synthetic data. Two basin filters use Gaussian smoothing, and the other two are dynamic basin filters which use knowledge of geographical locations where water storage variations are expected. Global maps of measurement noise, leakage error, and AOD model errors are estimated for each basin filter. Dynamic basin filters yield the smallest errors and highest signal-to-noise ratio. Within 12 selected basins, GRACE and synthetic data show similar amplitudes of water storage change. Using 53 river basins, covering most of Earth's land surface excluding Antarctica and Greenland, we document how error changes with basin size, latitude, and shape. Leakage error is most affected by basin size and latitude, and AOD model error is most dependent on basin latitude.

Seo, K.-W.↗

Use of NASA Near Real-Time and Archived Satellite Data to Support Disaster Assessment

NASA's Short‐term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center partners with the NWS to provide near realtime data in support of a variety of weather applications, including disasters. SPoRT supports NASA's Applied Sciences Program: Disasters focus area by developing techniques that will aid the disaster monitoring, response, and assessment communities. SPoRT has explored a variety of techniques for utilizing archived and near real‐time NASA satellite data. An increasing number of end‐users - such as the NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit (DAT) - access geospatial data via a Web Mapping Service (WMS). SPoRT has begun developing open‐standard Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data sets via WMS to respond to end‐user needs.

McGrath, Kevin M.↗

Geographic correlation of television pictures obtained from weather satellites

The geographical control of satellite pictures, using the terminology of aerial photography, can be treated as the problem of analysis of a single picture with the objective of obtaining a ground contour map. Studies have shown the possibility and capability of the method of composing photographic maps from transformed television pictures. Optico-mechanical transformation solves the problem of geographical correlation for operational purposes. However, this technique does not compensate for electronic distortion, and accounts for earth sphericity only approximately. However, for certain purposes (studying ice drift), the maximum possible accuracy is required. Analytic geographical correlation methods using digital computers should be considered promising.

Bushuyev, A. V.↗

Development of an intelligent interface for adding spatial objects to a knowledge-based geographic information system

Earth Scientists lack adequate tools for quantifying complex relationships between existing data layers and studying and modeling the dynamic interactions of these data layers. There is a need for an earth systems tool to manipulate multi-layered, heterogeneous data sets that are spatially indexed, such as sensor imagery and maps, easily and intelligently in a single system. The system can access and manipulate data from multiple sensor sources, maps, and from a learned object hierarchy using an advanced knowledge-based geographical information system. A prototype Knowledge-Based Geographic Information System (KBGIS) was recently constructed. Many of the system internals are well developed, but the system lacks an adequate user interface. A methodology is described for developing an intelligent user interface and extending KBGIS to interconnect with existing NASA systems, such as imagery from the Land Analysis System (LAS), atmospheric data in Common Data Format (CDF), and visualization of complex data with the National Space Science Data Center Graphics System. This would allow NASA to quickly explore the utility of such a system, given the ability to transfer data in and out of KBGIS easily. The use and maintenance of the object hierarchies as polymorphic data types brings, to data management, a while new set of problems and issues, few of which have been explored above the prototype level.

Campbell, William J.↗

Covariance of biophysical data with digital topograpic and land use maps over the FIFE site

This paper discusses the biophysical stratification of the FIFE site, implementation of the stratification utilizing geographic information system methods, and validation of the stratification with respect to field measurements of biomass, Bowen ratio, soil moisture, and the greenness vegetation index (GVI) derived from TM satellite data. Maps of burning and topographic position were significantly associated with variation in GVI, biomass, and Bowen ratio. The stratified design did not significantly alter the estimated site-wide means for surface climate parameters but accounted for between 25 and 45 percent of the sample variance depending on the variable.

Davis, F. W.↗

Analysis of Association Between Remotely Sensed (RS) Data and Soil Transmitted Helminthes Infection Using Geographical Information Systems (GIS): Boaco, Nicaragua

Soil-transmitted helminths are intestinal nematodes that can infect all members of a population but specially school-age children living in poverty. Infection can be significantly reversed with anthelmintic drug treatments and sanitation improvement. Implementation of effective public health programs requires reliable and updated information to identify areas at higher risk and to calculate amount of drug required. Geo-referenced in situ prevalence data will be overlaid over an ecological map derived from RS data using ARC Map 9.3 (ESRI). Prevalence data and RS data matching at the same geographical location will be analyzed for correlation and those variables from RS data that better correlate with prevalence will be included in a multivariate regression model. Temperature, vegetation, and distance to bodies of water will be inferred using data from Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat TM and ETM+. Elevation will be estimated with data from The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Prevalence and intensity of infections are determined by parasitological survey (Kato Katz) of children enrolled in rural schools in Boaco, Nicaragua, in the communities of El Roblar, Cumaica Norte, Malacatoya 1, and Malacatoya 2). This study will demonstrate the importance of an integrated GIS/RS approach to define sampling clusters without the need for any ground-based survey. Such information is invaluable to identify areas of high risk and to geographically target control programs that maximize cost-effectiveness and sanitation efforts.

MorenoMadrinan, Max J.↗

LANDSAT Digital Data Base Preparation for the Pennsylvania Defoliation Application Pilot Test

A LANDSAT digital mosaic data base for the State of Pennsylvania was prepared for use in the development of an automated system to annually estimate the extent and severity of Gypsy Moth defoliation of hardward forests. The techniques for detecting the defoliation and development of a geographic information system (GIS) to assess damage is being developed jointly by NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and Pennsylvania State University using the JPL prepared mosaic base. The JPL processing involved the use of ground control points from the Master Data Processor for planimetric control, resampling of the LANDSAT data to 57 x 57 meter pixels, realignment to north, and reprojection to the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) projection in UTM zones 17 and 18. The completed mosaic for each UTM zone was subdivided into 1 degree of latitude by 2 degrees of longitude quadrangles for easy data handling. Consideration is given to the issues of mapping standards, sensor and spacecraft platform characteristics, and their implication to geographic information systems operation. Methods for obtaining measures of accuracy for LANDSAT mosaics are reviewed.

Mcleod, R. G.↗

Influence of Geography on Prostate Cancer Treatment

Several definitive treatment options are available for prostate cancer, but geographic access to those options is not uniform. We created maps illustrating provider practice patterns relation to patients and assessed the influence of distance to treatment receipt.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗