Scaling ecosystem function: Novel approaches from MaxEnt and Multiresolution

扩大从树叶到区域到全球的生态系统功能测量，以及将遥感观测和全球模型输出缩小到几米到几公里的空间尺度，仍然是地球系统科学中的重大挑战。该项目的总体目标是以比过去更高的空间分辨率改进对碳固存和地表-大气水通量的估计，即陆地表面过程按树木或植被斑块的顺序变化的空间尺度。在这个项目中，卫星遥感数据、测量的碳通量和地球系统模型将利用信息论领域的技术缩放到更高的分辨率。这一方法将应用公认的数学方法，这些方法已经成功地应用于从天文学到种群生态学的各种学科，以一种新颖的方式解决具有全球重要性的问题：植被、碳循环和水循环是如何跨景观联系在一起的？来自北极和大平原生态系统的高分辨率数据集将用于验证缩放技术，并将高分辨率植被功能与更高分辨率的卫星图像联系起来。该项目的结果可供来自广泛学科的科学家使用。由此产生的算法、代码和分析程序将通过大学网站和开放源码存储库公开提供，以供广泛传播。教学计划将纳入现有的高水平本科和研究生课程。这些教学工具也将通过网络向学生和从业者提供。这项研究的一个首要目标是改进对来自太空的碳和水循环的估计。

Upscaling measurements of ecosystem function from leaf to region to globe, and downscaling remote sensing observations and global model output to spatial scales of meters to kilometers, remain grand challenges in Earth system science. The overarching goal of this project is to improve estimates of carbon sequestration and surface-atmosphere water flux at higher spatial resolutions than have been possible in the past, namely the spatial scales at which land surface processes vary on the order of a tree or vegetation patch. In this project, satellite remote sensing data, measured carbon fluxes, and earth system models will be scaled to higher resolutions using techniques from the field of information theory. The approach will apply acknowledged mathematical approaches that have been used successfully in disciplines that range from astronomy to population ecology in a novel way to address questions of global importance: how are vegetation, carbon and water cycles linked across landscapes? High-resolution data sets from arctic and Great Plains ecosystems will be used to validate the scaling techniques and link high-resolution vegetation function to coarser-resolution satellite imagery.The results of this project can be used by scientists from a wide range of disciplines. The resultant algorithms, code and analysis programs will be made publicly available via university websites and open-source code repositories for broad dissemination. Lesson plans will be built into existing upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses. These teaching tools will likewise be made available over the web for students and practitioners. An overarching goal of this research is to improve estimates of carbon and water cycling from space.