Utilizing Virtual Observatory Technology to Improve the Frequency and Coverage of Tropical Forest Monitoring (ASTROTROP)

森林变化、生物多样性丧失和荒漠化等主要陆地现象的变化程度和速度仍然存在很大的不确定性。因为，尽管自1972年以来，地球观测卫星一直在全球范围内不断地收集数据，但地球观测的前景并没有实现，因为科学还没有找到一种方法，将大量卫星图像中包含的数据转换为可供科学家分析的全球信息。造成这一问题的一个原因是，全球环境现象包括多个属性，如面积、碳密度和物种丰富度等，每个属性都由不同的科学学科研究。这些学科很少合作，即使他们想合作，也缺乏将他们的数字信息集组合在一起的技术。天文学在20世纪90年代面临着类似的挑战，当时将不同波长（例如光学和无线电波段）收集的数据结合起来即使不是不可能，也是很困难的。为了解决这个问题，它开发了虚拟天文台（VO）的概念——一个位于用户和天文数据档案之间的技术层，无论数据类型或存储如何，都提供同质访问，从而实现以前不可能实现的全面和高度集中的研究。英国在通过STFC资助的AstroGrid技术开发VO方面发挥了主导作用。近年来，有人呼吁建立一系列全球环境观测站，以持续监测森林变化、生物多样性丧失和荒漠化。该项目将评估使用或调整Astrogrid和后来的VO技术的可行性，该技术由爱丁堡大学领导的一个财团开发，用于全球环境天文台。由于VO技术的大部分设计都是通用的，因此很有可能将其用于此目的。该项目将重点关注泛热带森林观测站所需的机制，并将Astrogrid社区与由英国热带森林研究人员组成的49个成员网络（TROPGLOBE）聚集在一起，该网络由利兹大学协调，他们需要这样一个观测站将提供的信息。该项目将从为期六个月的详细研究开始，并在开幕会议上确定范围。评估报告将在一个研讨会上讨论，在项目的第二年，将对被认为合适的软件进行试验。该项目还将允许来自不同学科的科学家合作，将他们自己的特定森林属性信息与区域森林区域地图叠加在一起，并允许同一所大学的天文学家和全球变化科学家建立联合小组，进行对话和软件的联合试验。英国天文和全球变化社区之间的这种独特合作将解决CLASP挑战领域的自动化生态系统监测和监测排放源和汇，以及CLASP在地球观测和传感器和数据系统网络方面的技术差距。它将导致地球观测技术的巨大飞跃，使科学家能够大大改进他们对地球现象的全球范围和变化速度的估计，从而为决策提供更有力的基础。

There is still great uncertainty about the extent and rate of change of key terrestrial phenomena such as forest change, biodiversity loss and desertification. For even though Earth observation satellites have collected data continually at global scale since 1972, the promise of Earth observation has not been realized, since science has not found a way to convert the data contained in large numbers of satellite images into global information that can be analysed by scientists.One reason for this problem is that global environmental phenomena comprise multiple attributes, e.g. area, carbon density and species richness etc., each studied by a different scientific discipline. The disciplines rarely collaborate and lack technologies to combine their digital information sets operationally even if they wanted to cooperate. Astronomy faced a similar challenge in the 1990s when combining data collected at different wavelengths, e.g. in optical and radio bands, was difficult if not impossible. To tackle the problem it developed the concept of a Virtual Observatory (VO) - a technology layer that sits between the user and astronomy data archives and provides homogeneous access regardless of data type or storage, thus enabling comprehensive and highly focused research that was previously impossible. The UK has played a leading role in developing the VO through AstroGrid technology funded by STFC. In recent years there have been calls to establish a family of global environmental observatories to continuously monitor forest change, biodiversity loss and desertification. This project will evaluate the feasibility of using or adapting Astrogrid and later VO technology, developed by a consortium led by the University of Edinburgh, for use in global environmental observatories. Since much of the design of VO technology is generic there is a high probability that it can be used for this purpose. The project will focus on mechanisms needed for a pan-tropical forest observatory, and bring together the Astrogrid community with a 49 member network of UK tropical forest researchers (TROPGLOBE), coordinated by the University of Leeds, who need the information that such an observatory will provide.This project will begin with a detailed six months study, scoped by an opening conference. The evaluation report will be discussed at a workshop and in the second year of the project there will be trials of pieces of software deemed suitable. The project will also allow scientists from different disciplines to collaborate in overlaying their own sets of information on particular forest attributes with regional forest area maps, and astronomers and global change scientists in the same university to establish joint groups to engage in dialogue and joint trials of software.This unique collaboration between the UK astronomical and global change communities will address the CLASP challenge areas of automated ecosystem monitoring and monitoring emission sources and sinks, and the CLASP technology gaps of Earth observation and networks of sensors and data systems. It will lead to a quantum leap in Earth observation technology that will enable scientists to greatly improve their estimates of the global extent and rate of change of terrestrial phenomena and thereby provide a more robust basis for policy making.