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关键陆地现象的变化幅度和速度仍然存在很大的不确定性。因为尽管地球观测卫星自1972年以来一直在全球范围内收集数据，但地球观测的前景并未实现，因为科学还没有找到方法将大量卫星图像中包含的数据转换为科学家可以分析的全球信息。造成这一问题的原因之一是，全球环境现象包括多种属性，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，而且缺乏技术来将它们的数字信息集结合在一起，即使它们想要合作。1990年代，天文学面临着类似的挑战，将在不同波长收集的数据结合起来，例如在光学和无线电波段，即使不是不可能，也是困难的。为了解决这个问题，它提出了虚拟天文台(VO)的概念--这是一个位于用户和天文数据档案之间的技术层，提供无论数据类型或存储方式的同类访问，从而实现了以前不可能进行的全面和高度集中的研究。英国通过STFC资助的AstroGrid技术在开发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改装由爱丁堡大学牵头的一个财团开发的Astrogrid和后来的VO技术用于全球环境观测站的可行性。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。该项目将侧重于泛热带森林观测站所需的机制，并将Astrogrid社区与49名成员的英国热带森林研究人员网络(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。该项目将从一项为期六个月的详细研究开始，范围是开幕式会议。评价报告将在一个讲习班上讨论，在项目的第二年，将对被认为合适的软件进行试用。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集与区域森林面积地图叠加，同一所大学的天文学家和全球变化科学家将建立联合小组，参与软件的对话和联合试验。英国天文和全球变化界之间的这一独特合作将解决自动生态系统监测和监测排放源和汇的CLAP挑战领域，以及地球观测以及传感器和数据系统网络的CLAP技术差距。这将导致地球观测技术的巨大飞跃，使科学家能够极大地提高他们对全球陆地现象变化范围和速度的估计，从而为政策制定提供更有力的基础。

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.