Data Available at the ORNL DAAC
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Biogeochemical Dynamics - the ORNL DAAC
ORNL DAAC Home Page URL - http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Distributed Active Archive Center
(DAAC) for Biogeochemical Dynamics is an integral part of the nine NASA
Earth Observing Data and Information System (EOSDIS) DAACs. In general
terms, biogeochemical dynamics can be described as the biological and
chemical interactions among the elements that comprise the Earth system. The
DAAC is operated within the Environmental Sciences Division at ORNL with the
advantage of access to staff conducting research and assessments on
biogeochemical dynamics as related to global change issues. Data at the
ORNL DAAC are of interest to the global change research community, policy
makers, educators, and to the public at large.
Users may request information through the EOSDIS Wide Information Management
System (IMS), directly through the local ORNL DAAC IMS; through the
ORNL DAAC WWW Search & Order Interface, BIOME, or by contacting the User
Services Office. Access instructions are provided at the end of this
message.
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Data Availability
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The ORNL DAAC currently archives and distributes data from CDIAC
(Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center), from the FIFE, OTTER
& SNF research projects, and various hydrological data sets. Future
data holdings include information gathered from the BOREAS project.
Additionally, the ORNL DAAC is currently working with the FIFE Follow-on
project investigators to receive and distribute additional FIFE
data.
A pilot project, coordinated with the International Geosphere Biosphere
Program (IGBP), has been initiated to develop a global terrestrial net
primary productivity reference database. Plans are also underway for
acquiring background data for an international Amazon Basin field
investigation. Additional information about our data holdings, both
current and future, are provided below.
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CDIAC
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The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) provides information
related to atmospheric trace-gas concentrations and global climate change.
CDIAC is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy to support the Global
Change Research Program and is located at ORNL. The preponderance of the
data deal with historic and atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane
concentrations and historic weather and climate readings from throughout the
world. Thus, CDIAC data are relevant to the DAAC user community.
CDIAC datasets are maintained by CDIAC; however, the user community can
access these data on-line through the EOSDIS System-Wide IMS, the ORNL
DAAC IMS, and the ORNL DAAC WWW Search & Order Interface, BIOME
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FIFE
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The First ISLSCP (International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project)
Field Experiment (FIFE) was conducted on the Konza Prairie located just
outside of Manhattan, Kansas, USA, during the summer of 1987 and 1989. The
FIFE project is part of NASA's plan to develop a physically-based approach
to the use of satellite remote-sensing systems. Project data include:
fluxes of heat, moisture, CO2 and radiation measured with surface and
airborne equipment; soil moisture data; atmospheric boundary layer data;
vegetative indices; surface radiance and biological data; and satellite
measurements: AVHRR, LANDSAT, SPOT, GOES.
FIFE tabular data are available on-line through the local ORNL DAAC IMS,
the System-Wide IMS, and the ORNL DAAC WWW Search & Order Interface, BIOME.
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OTTER
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The purpose of the Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research (OTTER) Project was to
estimate major fluxes of carbon, nitrogen, and water in forest ecosystems
using an ecosystem-process model driven by remotely-sensed data. Study
sites included a coastal forest of western hemlock; a mid-elevation forest
of mature Douglas fir; and an inland forest of ponderosa. Meteorological
data and remotely-sensed measurements of foliar nitrogen and leaf area index
drove the model, while field measurements of monthly changes in canopy leaf
area, photosynthetic capacity, stomatal conductance, foliage biochemistry,
litterfall, and other components of plant production were used to validate
the model. Each site was instrumented for continuous measurement of surface
meteorology and monitored frequently for carbon exchange, nutrient cycling
rates, and water transport. ASAS, AVHRR, AVIRIS, TMS aircraft and satellite
measurements data were also compiled for the project.
OTTER tabular data are available on-line through the local ORNL DAAC IMS,
the System-Wide IMS, and the ORNL DAAC WWW Search & Order Interface,
BIOME.
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Hydrological Data Sets
(formerly held at the Marshall Space Flight Center DAAC)
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- Amazon River Basin Precipitation Data Set
This is a 0.2 degree gridded monthly precipitation data set from
January 1972 through December 1992, based upon monthly precipitation data
from Peru and Brazil. It includes empirical and modeling studies of
rainfall and runoff from sample hillslopes to the entire Amazon basin.
The purpose of the research project which generated these data was to
understand the biogeochemistry, hydrology, and sedimentation of the Amazon
River and its drainage basin. The Amazon was chosen as the first target
in the study of Earth's continental scale river systems, which represent
some of the largest and most dynamic environmental units on the planet.
- GISS Matthews Wetlands Database and Methane Emmission
This is a global database of wetlands a 1-degree resolution and
calculated methane emissions. The wetlands database was developed from
the integration of three independent global, digital sources:
(1) vegetation, (2) soil properties, and (3) fractional innundation in
each 1-degree cell. The integration yielded a global distribution of
wetland sites identified with in-situ ecological and environmental
characteristics. The wetland sites have been classed into five major
wetland groups on the basis of environmental characteristics governing
methane emissions. The global wetland area derived in this study is
~5.3 x 10(12) m(2), approximately twice the wetland area previously used
in methane-emission studies. Methane emission was calculated using
methane fluxes for the major wetland groups, and simple assumptions about
the duration of the methane-production season.
- Hydro-Climatic Data Network: Streamflow Data Set
A streamflow data set specifically suitable for the study of
surface-water conditions throughout the U.S. The data set consists of
streamflow records for 1,659 sites throughout the U.S. and its
Territories, for the period 1874-1988.
- Wallis, Lettenmaier, and Wood Hydroclimatology
A daily hydro-meterological data set for the continental U.S. The data
are from 1,009 USGS streamflow stations, and 1,036 NOAA climatological
stations, for which long term (1948-1988) observations have been
assembled into a consistent daily data set, with missing observations
estimated using a simple closest station prorating rule. Care was taken
in the selection of the streamflow stations to assure that the records
were free from regulation. The climatological stations are a subset of
the Historical Climatology Network (HCN) for which monthly data are
described by Quinlan et al (1987).
These data sets are available on-line through the local ORNL DAAC IMS,
the System-Wide IMS, and the ORNL DAAC WWW Search & Order Interface,
BIOME.
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Superior National Forest (SNF)
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This project conducted by NASA, was an intensive remote sensing and field
study of the boreal forest in the Superior National Forest (SNF), near Ely,
Minnesota. The purpose of the experiment was to investigate the ability of
remote sensing to provide estimates of biophysical properties of ecosystems,
such as leaf area index (LAI), biomass and net primary productivity (NPP).
The study area covered a 50 x 50 km area centered at approximately 48 degrees
North latitude and 92 degrees West longitude in northeastern Minnesota at the
southern edge of the North American boreal forest. The SNF is mostly covered by
boreal forest. Boreal forests were chosen for this project because of their
relative taxonomic simplicity, their great extent, and their potential
sensitivity to climatic change. Satellite, aircraft, helicopter and ground
observations were obtained for the study area. These data comprise a unique
dataset for the investigation of the relationships between the radiometric
and biophysical properties of vegetated canopies. This is perhaps the most
complete dataset of its type ever collected over a forested region. Detailed
vegetation data were collected on the ground for about 100 sampled sites. These
sites represent a range of stand density and age for spruce and aspen and also
include jackpine and mixed stands.
The SNF data sets are available through the local ORNL DAAC IMS, and the
ORNL DAAC WWW Search & Order Interface, BIOME. Access via the System-Wide
IMS is expected shortly.
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BOREAS
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The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) was initiated in 1990 to
investigate the interactions between the boreal forest biome and the
atmosphere. Surface, airborne, and satellite based observations are being
used to develop techniques to measure biological and physical processes and
conditions that govern the exchanges of energy, water, heat, carbon, and
trace gases between boreal forest ecosystems and the atmosphere,
particularly those processes that may be sensitive to global change.
Remote-sensing techniques, along with field measurements, are being used to
develop and test models and algorithms in order to transfer the
understanding of processes from the local to regional scale. The
investigation is being conducted in the boreal forest of Canada and is
scheduled for completion in 1997. Intensive Field Campaigns (IFCs) were
conducted throughout the summer of 1994.
BOREAS data will be transferred to the ORNL DAAC as the investigators
complete documentation, quality assurance, and within-project integration
and verification.
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Net Primary Productivity (NPP)
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A global terrestrial Net Primary Production (NPP) reference database is
being compiled by the ORNL DAAC in coordination with the International
Geosphere Biosphere Program. Field measurements from worldwide sites
provide parameterization and validation data needed in support of modeling
global primary production and other applications. Currently there are
detailed biomass dynamics, climate, and site data for 13 grassland
representing 6 biomes in the database with over 150 site-year-treatment
combinations and an average of 30 years of climate data for each site. An
important component of the database is an abstract of each site with
investigator contact information and a list of key references for each site.
Pending final approval from the Principal Investigators (PI's), release
to the overall user community is expected soon. A notification will be
posted to the appropriate USENET groups/Listservs upon release.
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World Wide Web Home Page
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The ORNL DAAC World Wide Web (WWW) Home Page contains detailed information
regarding the ORNL DAAC, EOSDIS, data holdings, and links to many other
relevant sources of information. The ORNL Home Page can be accessed at the
following location:
http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov
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Accessing ORNL Data
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Users can search and order data through the EOSDIS System-Wide IMS linked to
all of the DAAC's or through the ORNL DAAC IMS, which is tailored to meet
needs of users seeking ecologically-related data specifically held at
the ORNL DAAC. In order to access either IMS systems via a Graphical
User Interface (GUI), you must be using either a workstation or a PC/MAC
running X-terminal emulation software.
To access the EOSDIS System-Wide IMS: telnet eosims.ornl.gov 12345
To access the ORNL DAAC IMS: telnet ornlims.ornl.gov 6493
Also, the ORNL DAAC offers access to its data products through BIOME, the
Biogeochemical Information Ordering Management Environment. BIOME is
the ORNL DAAC World Wide Web (WWW) based interface and users may search
for data by performing a variety of different searches including:
keyword, subject name, geographic name, geographic region selection from
a map, or by data attributes (dataset name, investigator, project,
parameter, sensor, or source).
The URL for BIOME is:
http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/BIOME/biome.html
Data are available from the ORNL DAAC on a wide variety of media formats.
Both OTTER and FIFE data are currently available on a 5 volume CD-ROM set.
Wallis, Lettenmaier, and Wood Hydroclimatology and Hydro-Climatic Data
Network: Streamflow Data Set are also available on CD-ROM.
Please contact the ORNL DAAC User Services Office for additional information.
Merilyn J. Gentry
Jerry W. Curry
ORNL DAAC User Services Office
P.O. Box 2008, MS 6490
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6490
Voice: 423-241-3952 Fax: 423-574-4665
Internet: ornldaac@ornl.gov or ornl@eos.nasa.gov
Updated 09/16/96
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Jerry Curry - Research Associate curryjw@ornl.gov
ORNL DAAC User Services Office (423)241-3952 (Ph)
P.O. Box 2008, MS 6407 (423)574-4665 (Fax)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6407
ORNL DAAC Home Page URL - http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov
Export Compliance: This information made available under the General
Technical Data Available (GTDA) general license.
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