Scaling ecosystem function: Novel approaches from MaxEnt and Multiresolution

从叶片到区域再到全球的生态系统功能测量尺度提升，以及遥感观测和全球模式输出的尺度降至米到公里的空间尺度，是地球系统科学面临的重大挑战。该项目的总体目标是在比过去更高的空间分辨率下改进对碳固存和地表-大气水通量的估计，即地表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使用信息论领域的技术按比例缩放到更高的分辨率。该方法将以一种新颖的方式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人口生态学等学科，以解决具有全球重要性的问题：植被、碳和水循环如何在景观中联系起来？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粗分辨率卫星图像联系起来。这个项目的成果可以被许多学科的科学家使用。最终的算法、代码和分析程序将通过大学网站和开源代码库公开，以便广泛传播。课程计划将建立在现有的高级本科和研究生课程中。这些教学工具也将通过网络提供给学生和从业者。这项研究的首要目标是改进对太空中碳和水循环的估计。

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.