Reflectance studies near Barrow and Atqasuk, Alaska
Collaborators:John Gamon - California State University - Los Angeles, CA.
Fred Huemmrich - University of Maryland - Baltimore County, MA.
The objectives of this study were to:
- Characterize the optical properties ("spectral signatures") of functionally distinct cover types in the Arctic tundra in the North Slope of Alaska,
- Link these optical properties to ecosystem function through experimental manipulation and analysis of temporal and spatial landscape patterns.
- Use optical sampling methods and models to integrate the findings of different research teams that are exploring climate change impacts on vegetation and carbon flux (see "collaborators," above).
Our study utilized ecosystem monitoring as well as experimental manipulations of temperature and water status. Measurements were made at a range of spatial scales, from small "patches" (centimeters) on the ground to large regions of landscapes (kilometers). Sampling included surface spectral reflectance (using spectrometers on a variety of platforms), ecosystem gas exchange (photosynthesis and respiration, measured with portable gas exchange systems and eddy covariance from towers and aircraft), thermal measurements (IR thermometry and thermocouples), and standard micrometeorological measurements (irradiance, PAR, temperature, wind speed and direction).
Most measurements involved collaborations with other scientific teams listed above; our team's primary focus was on optical sampling and modeling. Most measurements were conducted in the vicinity of the Climate Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory (CMDL) and the Barrow Environmental Observatory (BEO) near Barrow, Alaska. Additional field sampling was conducted at Atqasuk, and aircraft sampling was conducted along a 100-km transect spanning from Barrow (71 degrees N) to south of Atqasuk (70 degrees N). Some additional measurements were conducted at Toolik Lake.