Collaborative Research: Top-down Analysis of Forest Ecosystem Structure and Functioning

这项研究将利用技术、理论和植被辐射模型的进步，从飞机和航天器的有利位置确定热带森林树冠的结构和化学性质。这项研究将在夏威夷群岛的森林中进行，包括独特的物种多样性、广泛的气候和土壤类型，以及正在进行的密集的生物地球化学研究。将在多种生态尺度和一系列夏威夷森林条件下对树冠结构和化学成分进行测量。然后，将从在树冠上方盘旋的直升机、20公里高度的机载AVIRIS仪器和星载Hyperion传感器获得遥感测量结果。还将使用飞机和卫星传感器评估更广泛的生态系统中的森林结构和化学物质，并通过密集的地面和直升机测量进行检查。这种方法提供了自上而下地评估冠层特征和生态系统属性的空间变化的可能性。应当能够利用这些新的遥感观测来确定生态系统生物地球化学性质的空间差异的大小和结构，而不是局限于几个离散的地点。这项研究也将有助于遥感、生物物理模型和生态系统生态学的整合，并为学生的教育做出贡献。预计这些结果将有助于更好地理解如何在大空间尺度上研究森林树冠，以及如何利用这些测量来评估不同森林树冠条件对该区域生态系统服务的贡献。这项研究将利用技术、理论和植被辐射模型的进步，从飞机和航天器的有利位置确定热带森林树冠的结构和化学性质。这项研究将在夏威夷群岛的森林中进行，包括独特的物种多样性、广泛的气候和土壤类型，以及正在进行的密集的生物地球化学研究。将在多种生态尺度和一系列夏威夷森林条件下对树冠结构和化学成分进行测量。然后，将从在树冠上方盘旋的直升机、20公里高度的机载AVIRIS仪器和星载Hyperion传感器获得遥感测量结果。还将使用飞机和卫星传感器评估更广泛的生态系统中的森林结构和化学物质，并通过密集的地面和直升机测量进行检查。这种方法提供了自上而下地评估冠层特征和生态系统属性的空间变化的可能性。应当能够利用这些新的遥感观测来确定生态系统生物地球化学性质的空间差异的大小和结构，而不是局限于几个离散的地点。这项研究也将有助于遥感、生物物理模型和生态系统生态学的整合，并为学生的教育做出贡献。预计这些结果将有助于更好地理解如何在大空间尺度上研究森林树冠，以及如何利用这些测量来评估不同森林树冠条件对该区域生态系统服务的贡献。

AbstractAsner0108338This research will use advances in technology, theory, and vegetation-radiation models to determine the structural and chemical properties of tropical forest canopies from aircraft and spacecraft vantage points. The research will be carried out in forests of the Hawaiian Islands, that include unique species diversity, broad ranges of climates and soil types, and intensive ongoing biogeochemical research. Measurements of canopy structure and chemistry will be carried out at multiple ecological scales and across a range of Hawaiian forests conditions. Remote sensing measurements will then be obtained from a helicopter hovering above the canopy, from the aircraft-based AVIRIS instrument at 20 km altitude, and from the spaceborne Hyperion sensor. Forest structure and chemistry in a broader set of ecosystems will also be evaluated with the aircraft and satellite sensors, and checked with intensive ground and helicopter measurements. This approach offers the possibility of assessing spatial variation in canopy characteristics and ecosystem properties from the top down. Rather than being limited to a few discrete sites, it should be possible to use these new remote sensing observations to identify the magnitude and structure of spatial variation in biogeochemical properties of ecosystems. This research also will contribute to integration of remote sensing, biophysical modeling, and ecosystem ecology, and to the education of students. The results are expected to improve understanding of how forest canopies can be studied at large spatial scales, and how the measurements can be used to assess the contribution of different forest canopy conditions to ecosystem services in the region. AbstractVitousek0108492This research will use advances in technology, theory, and vegetation-radiation models to determine the structural and chemical properties of tropical forest canopies from aircraft and spacecraft vantage points. The research will be carried out in forests of the Hawaiian Islands, that include unique species diversity, broad ranges of climates and soil types, and intensive ongoing biogeochemical research. Measurements of canopy structure and chemistry will be carried out at multiple ecological scales and across a range of Hawaiian forests conditions. Remote sensing measurements will then be obtained from a helicopter hovering above the canopy, from the aircraft-based AVIRIS instrument at 20 km altitude, and from the spaceborne Hyperion sensor. Forest structure and chemistry in a broader set of ecosystems will also be evaluated with the aircraft and satellite sensors, and checked with intensive ground and helicopter measurements. This approach offers the possibility of assessing spatial variation in canopy characteristics and ecosystem properties from the top down. Rather than being limited to a few discrete sites, it should be possible to use these new remote sensing observations to identify the magnitude and structure of spatial variation in biogeochemical properties of ecosystems. This research also will contribute to integration of remote sensing, biophysical modeling, and ecosystem ecology, and to the education of students. The results are expected to improve understanding of how forest canopies can be studied at large spatial scales, and how the measurements can be used to assess the contribution of different forest canopy conditions to ecosystem services in the region.