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Continuity of NASA Earth Observations from Space A Value Framework (2015) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix G: Full Framework Example: Global Land Carbon Sinks
Pages 89-92

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From page 89...
... The current system of atmospheric CO2 measurements do not adequately constrain land process-based carbon cycle models to allow diagnosis and/or attribution of the land and ocean carbon sinks and sources/fluxes with any confidence -- hence, the models yield widely varying patterns of carbon land and ocean sources and sinks. Testing and improving the surface and ocean parameterizations in Earth system models that calculate the surface 89
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From page 90...
... atmosphere fluxes of energy, water, and carbon, is essential for developing a capability to predict future climate, but this has proved to be a difficult and challenging task. In addition to the required satellite observations, in situ observations are also needed to confirm satellitemeasured CO2 concentrations and determine soil and vegetation carbon quantities.
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From page 91...
... The utility rating for achieving the carbon cycle objectives of CO 2 concentrations, land photosynthesis, land biomass and change, biomass burning, and respiration and decomposition is estimated to be 1.0 because of the impressive existing, new, and planned satellite systems that address carbon cycle processes directly. QUALITY To achieve the accuracy and precision required for quantifying the global land carbon sink ±1.0 Pg C per year by aggregation from 1° × 1° land surface data requires use of satellite data from GOSAT, OCO-2 (Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2)
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From page 92...
... . Of the five components needed to achieve the quantified objective for land carbon sink, atmospheric CO 2 measurements and biomass burning score the highest benefit score because they have the lowest measurement uncertainties.
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Key Terms

  • land carbon
  • biomass burning
  • land photosynthesis
  • carbon sink
  • global land

  • quantified objective
  • carbon sinks
  • satellite observing
  • smap data
  • satellite observations

  • carbon emissions
  • global carbon
  • land surface
  • land biomass
  • situ observations

  • quantified science
  • accurately map
  • cycle components
  • satellite data
  • process models

  • multiple annual
  • operating successfully
  • continuity scoring
  • soil respiration
  • required satellite

  • final continuity
  • processes responsible
  • annual cycles
  • plant carbon
  • estimate carbon


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