Tales from an LTER "Lifer"

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This essay is part of a collection in a book of personal overviews written by members of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) community. The essay provides the bibliographic context including the LTER site-affiliation(s) and duration(s) of involvement in LTER; a brief history of the nature of in...

Scientific Understanding from Long Term Observations: Insights from the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gosz, J.

2001-12-01

The network dedicated to Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) in the United States has grown to 24 sites since it was formed in 1980. Long-term research and monitoring are performed on parameters thatare basic to all ecosystems and are required to understand patterns, processes, and relationship to change. Collectively, the sites in the LTER Network provide opportunities to contrast marine, coastal, and continental regions, the full range of climatic gradients existing in North America, and aquatic and terrestrial habitats in a range of ecosystem types. The combination of common core areas and long-term research and monitoring in many habitats have allowed unprecedented abilities to understand and compare complex temporal and spatial dynamics associated with issues like climate change, effects of pollution, biodiversity and landuse. For example, McMurdo Dry Valley in the Antarctic has demonstrated an increase in glacier mass since 1993 which coincides with a period of cooler than normal summers and more than average snowfall. In contrast, the Bonanza Creek and Toolik Lake sites in Alaska have recorded a warming period unprecedented in the past 200 years. Nitrogen deposition effects have been identified through long-term watershed studies on biogeochemical cycles, especially at Coweeta Hydrological Lab, Harvard Forest, and the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. In aquatic systems, such as the Northern Temperate Lakes site, long-term data revealed time lags in effects of invaders and disturbance on lake communities. Biological recovery from an effect such as lake acidification was shown to lag behind chemical recovery. The long-term changes documented over 2 decades have been instrumental in influencing management practices in many of the LTER areas. In Puerto Rico, the Luquillo LTER demonstrated that dams obstruct migrations of fish and freshwater shrimp and water abstraction at low flows can completely obliterate downstream migration of juveniles and damage estuaries below by removing all incoming freshwater. At Toolik Lake, long-term experiments of removing top predators from the good web of lakes showed dramatic alterations of lake populations of small fish and zooplankton. In New Mexico, LTER research on small mammal populations is successfully predicting rodent increases and the potential for increased zoonotic diseases such as Hantavirus and bubonic plague. This ability to forecast based on El Nino prediction is being used to increase scientific awareness and public health awareness through media based communication with the public. In Oregon, the Andrews Forest LTER program has had long, strong links with natural resource policy and management. Basic understanding of forest-stream interactions, characteristics of old-growth forests, roles of woody debris in temperate forest ecosystems, invertebrate biodiversity and ecosystem function have been incorporated in management guidelines, plans and regulations for public and private lands throughout the Pacific Northwest. Other examples of the values of long-term research and monitoring will be presented.

Linking data repositories - an illustration of agile data curation principles through robust documentation and multiple application programming interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benedict, K. K.; Servilla, M. S.; Vanderbilt, K.; Wheeler, J.

2015-12-01

The growing volume, variety and velocity of production of Earth science data magnifies the impact of inefficiencies in data acquisition, processing, analysis, and sharing workflows, potentially to the point of impairing the ability of researchers to accomplish their desired scientific objectives. The adaptation of agile software development principles (http://agilemanifesto.org/principles.html) to data curation processes has significant potential to lower barriers to effective scientific data discovery and reuse - barriers that otherwise may force the development of new data to replace existing but unusable data, or require substantial effort to make data usable in new research contexts. This paper outlines a data curation process that was developed at the University of New Mexico that provides a cross-walk of data and associated documentation between the data archive developed by the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Office (PASTA - http://lno.lternet.edu/content/network-information-system) and UNM's institutional repository (LoboVault - http://repository.unm.edu). The developed automated workflow enables the replication of versioned data objects and their associated standards-based metadata between the LTER system and LoboVault - providing long-term preservation for those data/metadata packages within LoboVault while maintaining the value-added services that the PASTA platform provides. The relative ease with which this workflow was developed is a product of the capabilities independently developed on both platforms - including the simplicity of providing a well-documented application programming interface (API) for each platform enabling scripted interaction and the use of well-established documentation standards (EML in the case of PASTA, Dublin Core in the case of LoboVault) by both systems. These system characteristics, when combined with an iterative process of interaction between the Data Curation Librarian (on the LoboVault side of the process), the Sevilleta LTER Information Manager and the LTER Network Information System developer, yielded a rapid and relatively streamlined process for targeted replication of data and metadata between the two systems - increasing the discoverability and usability of the LTER data assets.

Phenology Across the LTER Network: Initial Findings, Future Directions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henebry, G. M.

2007-12-01

Phenology is, in the words of Aldo Leopold, a "horizontal science" that cuts across and binds together multiple biological disciplines. It is a far-reaching but poorly understood aspect of the environmental sciences. Phenological research has been a component of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network at several sites over the years. However, it has not received the attention or resources to bring it to the forefront as an effective theme for interdisciplinary and cross-site synthesis. With the recent establishment of the USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN), it is appropriate to assess the status of phenological knowledge across the LTER Network. A workshop funded by the LTER Network Office took place at the Sevilleta Field Station during February 26 to March 2, 2007. From the workshop three main products emerged: (1) an inventory of LTER phenology datasets, (2) establishment of a website to facilitate information interchange, and (3) a white paper recommending next steps for the LTER Network to engage the USA-NPN. This poster relates the findings and recommendations of the workshop, including a summary of phenologically explicit and phenologically implicit LTER datasets and illustrations of how the climatic envelopes described by simple weather variables can provide context for phenological comparisons within and across sites.

A data management proposal to connect in a hierarchical way nodes of the Spanish Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuentes, Daniel; Pérez-Luque, Antonio J.; Bonet García, Francisco J.; Moreno-LLorca, Ricardo A.; Sánchez-Cano, Francisco M.; Suárez-Muñoz, María

2017-04-01

The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network aims to provide the scientific community, policy makers, and society with the knowledge and predictive understanding necessary to conserve, protect, and manage the ecosystems. LTER is organized into networks ranging from the global to national scale. In the top of network, the International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) Network coordinates among ecological researchers and LTER research networks at local, regional and global scales. In Spain, the Spanish Long Term Ecological Research (LTER-Spain) network was built to foster the collaboration and coordination between longest-lived ecological researchers and networks on a local scale. Currently composed by nine nodes, this network facilitates the data exchange, documentation and preservation encouraging the development of cross-disciplinary works. However, most nodes have no specific information systems, tools or qualified personnel to manage their data for continued conservation and there are no harmonized methodologies for long-term monitoring protocols. Hence, the main challenge is to place the nodes in its correct position in the network, providing the best tools that allow them to manage their data autonomously and make it easier for them to access information and knowledge in the network. This work proposes a connected structure composed by four LTER nodes located in southern Spain. The structure is built considering hierarchical approach: nodes that create information which is documented using metadata standards (such as Ecological Metadata Language, EML); and others nodes that gather metadata and information. We also take into account the capacity of each node to manage their own data and the premise that the data and metadata must be maintained where it is generated. The current state of the nodes is a follows: two of them have their own information management system (Sierra Nevada-Granada and Doñana Long-Term Socio-ecological Research Platform) and another has no infrastructure to maintain their data (The Arid Iberian South East LTSER Platform). The last one (Environmental Information Network of Andalusia-REDIAM) acts as the coordinator, providing physical and logical support to other nodes and also gathers and distributes the information "uphill" to the rest of the network (LTER Europe and ILTER). The development of the network has been divided in three stages. First, existing resources and data management requirements are identified in each node. Second, the necessary software tools and interoperable standards to manage and exchange the data have been selected, installed and configured in each participant. Finally, once the network has been set up completely, it is expected to expand it all over Spain with new nodes and its connection to others LTER and similar networks. This research has been funded by ADAPTAMED (Protection of key ecosystem services by adaptive management of Climate Change endangered Mediterranean socioecosystems) Life EU project, Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory (LTER-site) and eLTER (Integrated European Long Term Ecosystem & Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure).

Disturbance Dynamics and Ecological Response: The Contribution of Long-Term Ecological Research.

Treesearch

MONICA G. TURNER; SCOTT L. COLLINS; ARIEL L. LUGO; JOHN J. MAGNUSON; T. SCOTT RUPP; FREDERICK J. SWANSON

2003-01-01

Long-term ecological research is particularly valuable for understanding disturbance dynamics over long time periods and placing those dynamics in a regional context.We highlighted three case studies from Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network sites that have contributed to understanding the causes and consequences of disturbance in ecological systems. The LTER...

Challenges in coupling LTER with environmental assessments: An insight from potential and reality of the Chinese Ecological Research Network in servicing environment assessments.

PubMed

Xia, Shaoxia; Liu, Yu; Yu, Xiubo; Fu, Bojie

2018-08-15

Environmental assessments estimate, evaluate and predict the consequences of natural processes and human activities on the environment. Long-term ecosystem observation and research networks (LTERs) are potentially valuable infrastructure to support environmental assessments. However, very few environmental assessments have successfully incorporated them. In this study, we try to reveal the current status of coupling LTERs with environmental assessments and look at the challenges involved in improving this coupling through exploring the role that Chinese Ecological Research Network (CERN), the LTER of China, currently plays in regional environment assessments. A review of official protocols and standards, regional assessments and CERN researches related to ecosystems and environment shows that there is great potential for coupling CERN with environment assessments. However in practice, CERN does not currently play the expected role. Remote sensing and irregular inventory data are still the main data sources currently used in regional assessments. Several causes led to the present situation: (1) insufficient cross-site research and failure to scale up site-level variables to the regional scale; (2) data barriers resulting from incompatible protocols and low data usability due to lack of data assimilation and scaling; and (3) absence of indicators relevant to human activities in existing monitoring protocols. For these reasons, enhancing cross-site monitoring and research, data assimilation and scaling up are critical steps required to improve coupling of LTER with environmental assessments. Site-focused long-term monitoring should be combined with wide-scale ground surveys and remote sensing to establish an effective connection between different environmental monitoring platforms for regional assessments. It is also necessary to revise the current monitoring protocols to include human activities and their impacts on the ecosystem, or change the LTERs into Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) networks. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Next Generation of Advanced Laser Fluorescence Technology for Characterization of Natural Aquatic Environments

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-01

project research addresses our long-term goal to develop an analytical suite of the Advanced Laser Fluorescence (ALF) methods and instruments to improve...demonstrated ALF utility as an integrated tool for aquatic research and observations. The ALF integration into the major oceanographic programs is...currently in progress, including the California Current Ecosystem Long Term Ecological Research (CCE LTER, NSF) and California Cooperative Oceanic

An assessment of long term ecosystem research activities across European socio-ecological gradients.

PubMed

Metzger, M J; Bunce, R G H; van Eupen, M; Mirtl, M

2010-06-01

Integration of European long term ecosystem research (LTER) would provide important support for the management of the pan-European environment and ecosystems, as well as international policy commitments. This does require appropriate coverage of Europe and standardised frameworks and research methods between countries. Emerging interest in socio-ecological systems prompted the present assessment of the distribution of LTER activities across European socio-ecological gradients. This paper presents a European stratification with a 1 km(2) resolution, delineating 48 broad socio-ecological regions. The dataset is based on an existing biogeophysical stratification constructed using multivariate clustering of mainly climatic variables and a newly developed socio-economic stratification based on an economic density indicator. The coverage of European LTER facilities across the socio-ecological gradients is tested using this dataset. The analysis shows two strong biases in the present LTER effort. Firstly, urban and disturbed regions are consistently under-represented, illustrating a bias for traditional ecological research away from human activity. Secondly, the Mediterranean, for which some of the most extreme global change impacts are projected, is receiving comparatively little attention. Both findings can help guide future investment in the European LTER network - and especially in a Long Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) component- to provide a more balanced coverage. This will provide better scientific understanding of pan-European environmental concerns and support the management of natural resources and international policy commitments in the European Union. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Integrating Social Science into the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network: Social Dimensions of Ecological Change and Ecological Dimensions of Social Change

Treesearch

Charles L. Redman; J. Morgan Grove; Lauren H. Kuby; Lauren H. Kuby

2004-01-01

The integration of the social sciences into long-term ecological research is an urgent priority. To address this need, a group of social, earth, and life scientists associated with the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network have articulated a conceptual framework for understanding the human dimensions of ecological change...

The long-term ecological research community metada standardisation project: a progress report

Treesearch

Inigo San Gil; Karen Baker; John Campbell; Ellen G. Denny; Kristin Vanderbilt; Brian Riordan; Rebecca Koskela; Jason Downing; Sabine Grabner; Eda Melendez; Jonathan M. Walsh; Masib Kortz; James Conners; Lynn Yarmey; Nicole Kaplan; Emery R. Boose; Linda Powell; Corinna Gries; Robin Schroeder; Todd Ackerman; Ken Ramsey; Barbara Benson; Jonathan Chipman; James Laundre; Hap Garritt; Don Henshaw; Barrie Collins; Christopher Gardner; Sven Bohm; Margaret O' Brien; Jincheng Gao; Wade Sheldon; Stephanie Lyon; Dan Bahauddin; Mark Servilla; Duane Costa; James Brunt

2009-01-01

We describe the process by which the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network standardized their metadata through the adoption of the Ecological Metadata Language (EML). We describe the strategies developed to improve motivation and to complement the information technology resources available at the LTER sites. EML implementation is presented as a mapping process...

Climate Variability and Ecosystem Response

Treesearch

David Greenland; Lloyd W. Swift; [Editors

1990-01-01

Nine papers describe studies of climate variability and ecosystem response. The studies were conducted at LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) sites representing forest, agricultural, and aquatic ecosystems and systems in which extreme climates limit vegetational cover. An overview paper prepared by the LTER Climate Committee stresses the importance of (1) clear...

Life+ EnvEurope DEIMS - improving access to long-term ecosystem monitoring data in Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kliment, Tomas; Peterseil, Johannes; Oggioni, Alessandro; Pugnetti, Alessandra; Blankman, David

2013-04-01

Long-term ecological (LTER) studies aim at detecting environmental changes and analysing its related drivers. In this respect LTER Europe provides a network of about 450 sites and platforms. However, data on various types of ecosystems and at a broad geographical scale is still not easily available. Managing data resulting from long-term observations is therefore one of the important tasks not only for an LTER site itself but also on the network level. Exchanging and sharing the information within a wider community is a crucial objective in the upcoming years. Due to the fragmented nature of long-term ecological research and monitoring (LTER) in Europe - and also on the global scale - information management has to face several challenges: distributed data sources, heterogeneous data models, heterogeneous data management solutions and the complex domain of ecosystem monitoring with regard to the resulting data. The Life+ EnvEurope project (2010-2013) provides a case study for a workflow using data from the distributed network of LTER-Europe sites. In order to enhance discovery, evaluation and access to data, the EnvEurope Drupal Ecological Information Management System (DEIMS) has been developed. This is based on the first official release of the Drupal metadata editor developed by US LTER. EnvEurope DEIMS consists of three main components: 1) Metadata editor: a web-based client interface to manage metadata of three information resource types - datasets, persons and research sites. A metadata model describing datasets based on Ecological Metadata Language (EML) was developed within the initial phase of the project. A crosswalk to the INSPIRE metadata model was implemented to convey to the currently on-going European activities. Person and research site metadata models defined within the LTER Europe were adapted for the project needs. The three metadata models are interconnected within the system in order to provide easy way to navigate the user among the related resources. 2) Discovery client: provides several search profiles for datasets, persons, research sites and external resources commonly used in the domain, e.g. Catalogue of Life , based on several search patterns ranging from simple full text search, glossary browsing to categorized faceted search. 3) Geo-Viewer: a map client that portrays boundaries and centroids of the research sites as Web Map Service (WMS) layers. Each layer provides a link to both Metadata editor and Discovery client in order to create or discover metadata describing the data collected within the individual research site. Sharing of the dataset metadata with DEIMS is ensured in two ways: XML export of individual metadata records according to the EML schema for inclusion in the international DataOne network, and periodic harvesting of metadata into GeoNetwork catalogue, thus providing catalogue service for web (CSW), which can be invoked by remote clients. The final version of DEIMS will be a pilot implementation for the information system of LTER-Europe, which should establish a common information management framework within the European ecosystem research domain and provide valuable environmental information to other European information infrastructures as SEIS, Copernicus and INSPIRE.

What A Long Strange Trip It's Been: Lessons Learned From NASA EOS, LTER, NEON, CZO And On To The Future With Sustainable Research Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, M. W.

2014-12-01

The traditional, small-scale, incremental approach to environmental science is changing as researchers embrace a more integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to understanding how our natural systems work today and how they may respond in the future to forcings such as climate change. In situ networks are evolving in response to these challenges so as to provide the appropriate measurements to develop high-resolution spatial and temporal data sets across a wide range of platforms from microbial measurements to remote sensing. These large programs provide a unique set of challenges when compared to more traditional programs. Here I provide insights learned from my participation in a number of large programs, including NASA EOS, LTER, CZO, NEON, and WSC and how those experiences in environmental science can help us move forward towards more applied applications of environmental science, including sustainability initiatives. I'll chat about the importance of managerial and management skills, which most of us scientists prefer to avoid. I'll also chat about making decisions about what long-term measurements to make and when to stop. Data management is still the weakest part of environmental networks; what needs to be done. We have learned that these networks provide an important knowledge base that can lead to informed decisions leading to environmental, energy, social and cultural sustainability.

In a Time of Change: Integrating the Arts and Humanities with Climate Change Science in Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leigh, M.; Golux, S.; Franzen, K.

2011-12-01

The arts and humanities have a powerful capacity to create lines of communication between the public, policy and scientific spheres. A growing network of visual and performing artists, writers and scientists has been actively working together since 2007 to integrate scientific and artistic perspectives on climate change in interior Alaska. These efforts have involved field workshops and collaborative creative processes culminating in public performances and a visual art exhibit. The most recent multimedia event was entitled In a Time of Change: Envisioning the Future, and challenged artists and scientists to consider future scenarios of climate change. This event included a public performance featuring original theatre, modern dance, Alaska Native Dance, poetry and music that was presented concurrently with an art exhibit featuring original works by 24 Alaskan visual artists. A related effort targeted K12 students, through an early college course entitled Climate Change and Creative Expression, which was offered to high school students at a predominantly Alaska Native charter school and integrated climate change science, creative writing, theatre and dance. Our program at Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site is just one of many successful efforts to integrate arts and humanities with science within and beyond the NSF LTER Program. The efforts of various LTER sites to engage the arts and humanities with science, the public and policymakers have successfully generated excitement, facilitated mutual understanding, and promoted meaningful dialogue on issues facing science and society. The future outlook for integration of arts and humanities with science appears promising, with increasing interest from artists, scientists and scientific funding agencies.

LTER network data access policy revision: report and recommendations.

Treesearch

James Brunt; Peter McCartney; Stuart Gage; Don Henshaw

2004-01-01

This document is a report on work carried out to update the LTER Network Data Access Policy. The current LTER Network Data Access Policy, approved by the coordinating committee in 1997, has been in use since 1990. An analysis of the current policies related to the release, access, and use of LTER data has been undertaken by a sub-committee of the LTER Network...

International co-operative program on assessment and monitoring of air pollution effects on forests: The Sierra Ancha Experimental Forest, Arizona

Treesearch

Boris Poff; Daniel G. Neary

2008-01-01

At the end of the 2007 Fiscal Year, the Experimental Forests and Ranges (EFR) Synthesis Network Committee awarded funds to 18 sites to establish a strategic ICP Level II (described below) synthesis network in the United States. Eleven Experimental Forest were selected to be included in the network, as well as seven Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites. This will...

Primary productivity of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research Area and the Southern Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, R. C.; Baker, K. S.; Byers, M. L.; Stammerjohn, S. E.

1998-11-01

A major objective of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research (Palmer LTER) project is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the various components of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. Phytoplankton production plays a key role in this so-called high nutrient, low chlorophyll environment, and factors that regulate production include those that control cell growth (light, temperature, and nutrients) and those that control cell accumulation rate and hence population growth (water column stability, grazing, and sinking). Sea ice mediates several of these factors and frequently conditions the water column for a spring bloom which is characterized by a pulse of production restricted in both time and space. This study models the spatial and temporal variability of primary production within the Palmer LTER area west of the Antarctic Peninsula and discusses this production in the context of historical data for the Southern Ocean. Primary production for the Southern Ocean and the Palmer LTER area have been computed using both light-pigment production models [Smith, R.C., Bidigare, R.R., Prézelin, B.B., Baker, K.S., Brooks, J.M., 1987. Optical characterization of primary productivity across a coastal front. Mar. Biol. (96), 575-591; Bidigare, R.R., Smith, R.C., Baker, K.S., Marra, J., 1987. Oceanic primary production estimates from measurements of spectral irradiance and pigment concentrations. Global Biogeochem. Cycles (1), 171-186; Morel, A., Berthon, J.F., 1989. Surface pigments, algal biomass profiles and potential production of the euphotic layer—relationships reinvestigated in view of remote-sensing applications. Limnol. Oceanogr. (34), 1545-1562] and an ice edge production model [Nelson, D.M., Smith, W.O., 1986. Phytoplankton bloom dynamics of the western Ross Sea ice edge: II. Mesoscale cycling of nitrogen and silicon. Deep-Sea Res. (33), 1389-1412; Wilson, D.L., Smith, W.O., Nelson, D.M., 1986. Phytoplankton bloom dynamics of the Western Ross Sea ice edge: I. primary productivity and species-specific production. Deep-Sea Res., 33, 1375-1387; Smith, W.O., Nelson, D.M., 1986. Importance of ice edge phytoplankton production in the Southern Ocean. BioScience (36), 251-257]. Chlorophyll concentrations, total photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and sea ice concentrations were derived from satellite data. These same parameters, in addition to hydrodynamic conditions, have also been determined from shipboard and Palmer Station observations during the LTER program. Model results are compared, sensitivity studies evaluated, and productivity of the Palmer LTER region is discussed in terms of its space time distribution, seasonal and interannual variability, and overall contribution to the marine ecology of the Southern Ocean.

NSF-supported education/outreach program takes young researchers to the Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexeev, V. A.; Walsh, J. E.; Hock, R.; Kaden, U.; Euskirchen, E. S.; Kholodov, A. L.; Bret-Harte, M. S.; Sparrow, E. B.

2015-12-01

Today, more than ever, an integrated cross-disciplinary approach is necessary to explain changes in the Arctic and understand their implications for the human environment. Advanced training and active involvement of early-career scientists is an important component of this cross-disciplinary approach. This effort led by the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) started in 2003. The newly supported project in 2013 is planning four summer schools (one per year) focused on four themes in four different Arctic locations. It provides the participants with an interdisciplinary perspective on Arctic change and its impacts on diverse sectors of the North. It is linked to other ongoing long-term observational and educational programs (e.g. NABOS, Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System; LTER, Long Term Environmental Research) and targets young scientists by using the interdisciplinary and place-based setting to broaden their perspective on Arctic change and to enhance their communication skills. Each course for 15-20 people consists of classroom and hands-on components and work with a multidisciplinary group of mentors on projects devoted to themes exemplified by the location. A specialist from the School of Education at UAF evaluates student's progress during the summer schools. Lessons learned during the 12 years of conducting summer schools, methods of attracting in-kind support and approaches to teaching students are prominently featured in this study. Activities during the most recent school, conducted in Fairbanks and LTER Toolik Lake Field Station in 2015 are the focus of this presentation.

Genesis, goals and achievements of Long-Term Ecological Research at the global scale: A critical review of ILTER and future directions.

PubMed

Mirtl, M; T Borer, E; Djukic, I; Forsius, M; Haubold, H; Hugo, W; Jourdan, J; Lindenmayer, D; McDowell, W H; Muraoka, H; Orenstein, D E; Pauw, J C; Peterseil, J; Shibata, H; Wohner, C; Yu, X; Haase, P

2018-06-01

Since its founding in 1993 the International Long-term Ecological Research Network (ILTER) has gone through pronounced development phases. The current network comprises 44 active member LTER networks representing 700 LTER Sites and ~80 LTSER Platforms across all continents, active in the fields of ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological research. The critical challenges and most important achievements of the initial phase have now become state-of-the-art in networking for excellent science. At the same time increasing integration, accelerating technology, networking of resources and a strong pull for more socially relevant scientific information have been modifying the mission and goals of ILTER. This article provides a critical review of ILTER's mission, goals, development and impacts. Major characteristics, tools, services, partnerships and selected examples of relative strengths relevant for advancing ILTER are presented. We elaborate on the tradeoffs between the needs of the scientific community and stakeholder expectations. The embedding of ILTER in an increasingly collaborative landscape of global environmental observation and ecological research networks and infrastructures is also reflected by developments of pioneering regional and national LTER networks such as SAEON in South Africa, CERN/CEOBEX in China, TERN in Australia or eLTER RI in Europe. The primary role of ILTER is currently seen as a mechanism to investigate ecosystem structure, function, and services in response to a wide range of environmental forcings using long-term, place-based research. We suggest four main fields of activities and advancements for the next decade through development/delivery of a: (1) Global multi-disciplinary community of researchers and research institutes; (2) Strategic global framework and strong partnerships in ecosystem observation and research; (3) Global Research Infrastructure (GRI); and (4) a scientific knowledge factory for societally relevant information on sustainable use of natural resources. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 18 Crew

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-10-28

ISS018-E-005660 (28 Oct. 2008) --- The Great Divide of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 18 crewmember on the International Space Station. This view highlights a portion of the Great Divide in the Rocky Mountains approximately 31 kilometers due west of Boulder, Colorado. The Great Divide is one of four continental divides recognized by geographers and hydrologists in North America -- the others being the Northern, Eastern, and Saint Lawrence Seaway Divides -- but it is still generally (and erroneously) known as "the" Continental Divide. The Great Divide is a hydrologic boundary defined by the ultimate destination of precipitation -- rainfall on the western side of the Divide flows to the Pacific Ocean, while rainfall on the eastern side of the Divide flows to the Gulf of Mexico. It is easy to visualize such a boundary traced along the high ridges of the Rocky Mountains, but in regions of less topography more detailed study of the local geomorphology and hydrology are required to map the location of the Divide. This portion of the Rocky Mountains also hosts the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. Part of the National Science Foundation LTER program, the Niwot Ridge LTER site studies climate interactions with tundra and alpine ecosystems. Niwot Ridge is visible in this image as a large eastward spur off the central spine of the mountains. The entire Niwot LTER site is located at elevations higher than 3000 m, and includes an active cirque glacier and glacial landforms, tarns (glacial lakes), and permafrost. Lake Granby, located to the west of the Great Divide, is a reservoir on the Colorado River and the second-largest manmade body of water in the state of Colorado. Storage of water began in 1949. Today, the Lake is popular location for fishing, boating and camping.

The data access infrastructure of the Wadden Sea Long Term Ecosystem Research (WaLTER) project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Bruin, T.

2011-12-01

The Wadden Sea, North of The Netherlands, Germany and Danmark, is one of the most important tidal areas in the world. In 2009, the Wadden Sea was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The area is noted for its ecological diversity and value, being a stopover for large numbers of migrating birds. The Wadden Sea is also used intensively for economic activities by inhabitants of the surrounding coasts and islands, as well as by the many tourists visiting the area every year. A whole series of monitoring programmes is carried out by a range of governmental bodies and institutes to study the natural processes occuring in the Wadden Sea ecosystems as well as the influence of human activities on those ecosystems. Yet, the monitoring programmes are scattered and it is difficult to get an overview of those monitoring activities or to get access to the data resulting from those monitoring programmes. The Wadden Sea Long Term Ecosystem Research (WaLTER) project aims to: 1. To provide a base set of consistent, standardized, long-term data on changes in the Wadden Sea ecological and socio-economic system in order to model and understand interrelationships with human use, climate variation and possible other drivers. 2. To provide a research infrastructure, open access to commonly shared databases, educational facilities and one or more field sites in which experimental, innovative and process-driven research can be carried out. This presentation will introduce the WaLTER-project and explain the rationale for this project. The presentation will focus on the data access infrastructure which will be used for WaLTER. This infrastructure is part of the existing and operational infrastructure of the National Oceanographic Data Committee (NODC) in the Netherlands. The NODC forms the Dutch node in the European SeaDataNet consortium, which has built an European, distributed data access infrastructure. WaLTER, NODC and SeaDataNet all use the same technology, developed within the SeaDataNet-project, resulting in a high level of standardization across Europe. Benefits and pitfalls of using this infrastructure will be addressed.

The Drupal Environmental Information Management System Provides Standardization, Flexibility and a Platform for Collaboration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gries, C.; Vanderbilt, K.; Reid, D.; Melendez-Colom, E.; San Gil, I.

2013-12-01

Over the last five years several Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites have collaboratively developed a standardized yet flexible approach to ecological information management based on the open source Drupal content management system. These LTER sites adopted a common data model for basic metadata necessary to describe data sets, but also used for site management and web presence. Drupal core functionality provides web forms for easy management of information stored in this data model. Custom Drupal extensions were developed to generate XML files conforming to the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) for contribution to the LTER Network Information System (NIS) and other data archives. Each LTER site then took advantage of the flexibility Drupal provides to develop its unique web presence, choosing different themes and adding additional content to the websites. By nature, information presented is highly interlinked which can easily be modeled in Drupal entities and is further supported by a sophisticated tagging system (Fig. 1). Therefore, it is possible to provide the visitor with many different entry points to the site specific information presented. For example, publications and datasets may be grouped for each scientist, for each research project, for each major research theme at the site, making the information presented more accessible for different visitors. Experience gained during the early years was recently used to launch a complete re-write for upgrading to Drupal 7. LTER sites from multiple academic institutions pooled resources in order to partner with professional Drupal developers. Highlights of the new developments are streamlined data entry, improved EML output and integrity, support of IM workflows, a faceted data set search, a highly configurable data exploration tool with intelligent filtering and data download, and, for the mobile age, a responsive web design theme. Seven custom modules and a specific installation profile were developed involving many other community contributed modules, all with an upgrade to Drupal 8 in mind. The collaborative development of the Drupal Ecological Information Management System (DEIMS) has resulted in a product that is standards-based but flexible enough to meet individual site needs. It is available at the Drupal.org website for other small research stations or labs to use, extend and improve according to the open source philosophy. Figure 1: Overview of DEIMS components and interactions

Ensuring the Quality of Data Packages in the LTER Network Provenance Aware Synthesis Tracking Architecture Data Management System and Archive

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Servilla, M. S.; O'Brien, M.; Costa, D.

2013-12-01

Considerable ecological research performed today occurs through the analysis of data downloaded from various repositories and archives, often resulting in derived or synthetic products generated by automated workflows. These data are only meaningful for research if they are well documented by metadata, lest semantic or data type errors may occur in interpretation or processing. The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network now screens all data packages entering its long-term archive to ensure that each package contains metadata that is complete, of high quality, and accurately describes the structure of its associated data entity and the data are structurally congruent to the metadata. Screening occurs prior to the upload of a data package into the Provenance Aware Synthesis Tracking Architecture (PASTA) data management system through a series of quality checks, thus preventing ambiguously or incorrectly documented data packages from entering the system. The quality checks within PASTA are designed to work specifically with the Ecological Metadata Language (EML), the metadata standard adopted by the LTER Network to describe data generated by their 26 research sites. Each quality check is codified in Java as part of the ecological community-supported Data Manager Library, which is a resource of the EML specification and used as a component of the PASTA software stack. Quality checks test for metadata quality, data integrity, or metadata-data congruence. Quality checks are further classified as either conditional or informational. Conditional checks issue a 'valid', 'warning' or 'error' response. Only an 'error' response blocks the data package from upload into PASTA. Informational checks only provide descriptive content pertaining to a particular facet of the data package. Quality checks are designed by a group of LTER information managers and reviewed by the LTER community before deploying into PASTA. A total of 32 quality checks have been deployed to date. Quality checks can be customized through a configurable template, which includes turning checks 'on' or 'off' and setting the severity of conditional checks. This feature is important to other potential users of the Data Manager Library who wish to configure its quality checks in accordance with the standards of their community. Executing the complete set of quality checks produces a report that describes the result of each check. The report is an XML document that is stored by PASTA for future reference.

Wireless sensor networks to assess the impacts of global change in Sierra Nevada (Spain) mountains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sánchez-Cano, Francisco M.; Bonet-García, Francisco J.; Pérez-Luque, Antonio J.; Suárez-Muñoz, María

2017-04-01

Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory (southern Spain) aims to improve the ability of ecosystems to address the impacts of global change. To this end, a monitoring program has been implemented based on the collection of long time series on a multitude of biophysical variables. This initiative is part of the Long Term Ecological Research network and is connected to similar ones at national and international level. One of the specific objectives of this LTER site is to improve understanding of the relationships between abiotic factors and ecosystem functioning / structure. Wireless sensor networks are a key instrument for achieving this aim. This contribution describes the design and management of a sensor network that is intended to monitor several biophysical variables with high temporal and spatial resolution in Quercus pyrenaica forests located in this mountain region. The following solution has been adopted in order to obtain the observational data (physical and biological variables). The biological variables will be monitored by PAR sensors (photosynthetically active radiation), and the physical variables will be acquired by a meteorological station and a sensor network composed of temperature and soil moisture sensors, as well as air temperature and humidity ones. To complete the monitoring of the biological variables, a NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) camera will be deployed focusing to a Quercus pyrenaica forest from the opposite slope. It should be noted that all monitoring systems exposed will be powered by solar energy. The management of the sensor network covers the deployment of more than 100 sensors, guaranteeing both remote accessibility and reliability of the data. The chosen solution is provided by the company Adevice whose ONE-GO communication system ensures a consistent and efficient sending of those values read by the different sensors towards a central point, from where the information (RAW data) is accessible through WiFi/3G. RAW data is dumped daily in our data center for further processing with the open source software Get-IT. Get-IT was developed by the CNR (National Research Council of Italy) in the context of the RITMARE Flagship Project and LifeWatch Italy in order to combine geographic information with observational data by coupling GeoNode with SOS implementation by 52° North. This solution conforms to our requirements for two reasons, the first is that it provides data persistence, metadata editing and data visualisation tools. The second is that it is the solution adopted by LTER, platform previously mentioned in which we are integrated. This research has been funded by eLTER (Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem & Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure) Horizon 2020 EU project, and Sierra Nevada Global Change Observatory (LTER-site).

Using the Critical Zone Observatory Network to Put Geology into Environmental Science

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brantley, S. L.

2017-12-01

The use of observatories to study the environment in the U.S.A. arguably began in 1910. Since then, many environmental observatories were set up to study impacts of land use change. At that time, observatories did not emphasize geological structure. Around 2004, scientists in the U.S.A. began to emphasize the need to study the Earth's surface as one integrated system that includes the geological underpinnings. In 2007, the Geosciences Directorate within the U.S. National Science Foundation established the Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) program. Today the CZO network has grown to 9 observatories, and 45 countries now host such observatories. A CZO is an observatory that promotes the study of the entire layer of Earth's surface from vegetation canopy to groundwater as one entity. The observatories are somewhat similar to other NSF-funded observatories such as Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites but they differ in that they emphasize the history of the landscape and how it mediates today's fluxes. LTERs largely focus on ecological science. The concepts of CZ science and CZOs - developed by the Geosciences Directorate - have been extraordinarily impactful: we now have deeper understanding of how surficial processes respond to tectonic, climatic, and anthropogenic drivers. One reason CZOs succeed is that they host scientists who make measurements in one place that cross timescales from that of the meteorologist to the geologist. The NSF Geosciences Directorate has thus promoted insights showing that many of the unexplained mysteries of "catchment science" or "ecosystem science" can be explained by the underlying geological story of a site. The scientific challenges of this endeavor are dwarfed, however, by cultural challenges. Specifically, while both CZOs and observatories such as LTERs struggle to publish many types of data from different disciplines in a continually changing cyber-world, only CZO scientists find they must repeatedly explain why such observatories and data are even necessary. LTERs have enjoyed funding since the 1980s whereas continued funding for CZOs has always been under intense scrutiny. These misgivings must be articulated and solved so that humans can integrate disparate observations to learn to sustain their natural environment - which is often defined by the geological substrate.

LTAR linkages with other research networks: Capitalizing on network interconnections

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The USDA ARS Research Unit based at the Jornada Experimental Range outside of Las Cruces, NM, is a member of the USDA’s Long Term Agro-ecosystem Research (LTAR) Network, the National Science Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network, the National Ecological Observation Network (NEON)...

A non-marine source of variability in Adélie Penguin demography

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fraser, William R.; Patterson-Fraser, Donna L.; Ribic, Christine; Schofield, Oscar; Ducklow, Hugh

2013-01-01

A primary research objective of the Palmer Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program has been to identify and understand the factors that regulate the demography of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae). In this context, our work has been focused on variability in the marine environment on which this species depends for virtually all aspects of its life history (Ainley, 2002). As we show here, however, there are patterns evident in the population dynamics of Adélie penguins that are better explained by variability in breeding habitat quality rather than by variability in the marine system. Interactions between the geomorphology of the terrestrial environment that, in turn, affect patterns of snow deposition, drive breeding habitat quality.

Planning long-term vegetation studies at landscape scales

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stohlgren, Thomas J.

1995-01-01

Long-term ecological research is receiving more attention now than ever before. Two recent books, Long-term Studies in Ecology: Approaches and Alternatives, edited by Gene Likens (1989), and Long-term Ecological Research: An International Perspective, edited by Paul Risser (1991), prompt the question, “Why are these books so thin?” Except for data from paleoecological, retrospective studies (see below), there are exceptionally few long-term data sets in terrestrial ecology (Strayer et al. 1986; Tilman 1989; this volume). In a sample of 749 papers published in Ecology, Tilman (1989) found that only 1.7% of the studies lasted at least five field seasons. Only one chapter in each of the review books dealt specifically with expanding both the temporal and the spatial scales of ecological research (Berkowitz et al. 1989; Magnuson et al. 1991). Judging by the growing number of landscape-scale long-term studies, however, such as the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program (Callahan 1991), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP; Palmer et al. 1991), the U.S. Army’s Land Condition-Trend Analysis (LCTA) Program (Diersing et al. 1992), and various agencies’ global change research programs (CEES 1993), there is a growing interest to expand ecological research both temporally and spatially.

Aerospace Structures Design on Computers

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-03-01

loud or lter’itr- strm C M~eort load or mex~murn load AMeon strews o,. strvss (Q) hm’nur loS1 (b) me -im (a) Fluctuating tension load cycle; (b...constraint deletion techniques in the struc- tural applications of nonlinear programming algorithms. The way this concept is used in the optimality criteria

AmeriFlux US-Kon Konza Prairie LTER (KNZ)

DOE Data Explorer

Brunsell, Nathaniel [Kansas University

2016-01-01

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Kon Konza Prairie LTER (KNZ). Site Description - Burned on an annual basis. Bison reintroduced in 1987. Experimental cattle herds in 1992

EML, VEGA, ODM, LTER, GLEON - considerations and technologies for building a buoy information system at an LTER site

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gries, C.; Winslow, L.; Shin, P.; Hanson, P. C.; Barseghian, D.

2010-12-01

At the North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research (NTL LTER) site six buoys and one met station are maintained, each equipped with up to 20 sensors producing up to 45 separate data streams at a 1 or 10 minute frequency. Traditionally, this data volume has been managed in many matrix type tables, each described in the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) and accessed online by a query system based on the provided metadata. To develop a more flexible information system, several technologies are currently being experimented with. We will review, compare and evaluate these technologies and discuss constraints and advantages of network memberships and implementation of standards. A Data Turbine server is employed to stream data from data logger files into a database with the Real-time Data Viewer being used for monitoring sensor health. The Kepler work flow processor is being explored to introduce quality control routines into this data stream taking advantage of the Data Turbine actor. Kepler could replace traditional database triggers while adding visualization and advanced data access functionality for downstream modeling or other analytical applications. The data are currently streamed into the traditional matrix type tables and into an Observation Data Model (ODM) following the CUAHSI ODM 1.1 specifications. In parallel these sensor data are managed within the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) where the software package Ziggy streams the data into a database of the VEGA data model. Contributing data to a network implies compliance with established standards for data delivery and data documentation. ODM or VEGA type data models are not easily described in EML, the metadata exchange standard for LTER sites, but are providing many advantages from an archival standpoint. Both GLEON and CUAHSI have developed advanced data access capabilities based on their respective data models and data exchange standards while LTER is currently in a phase of intense technology developments which will eventually provide standardized data access that includes ecological data set types currently not covered by either ODM or VEGA.

Quantifying outdoor water consumption of urban land use/land cover: sensitivity to drought.

PubMed

Kaplan, Shai; Myint, Soe W; Fan, Chao; Brazel, Anthony J

2014-04-01

Outdoor water use is a key component in arid city water systems for achieving sustainable water use and ensuring water security. Using evapotranspiration (ET) calculations as a proxy for outdoor water consumption, the objectives of this research are to quantify outdoor water consumption of different land use and land cover types, and compare the spatio-temporal variation in water consumption between drought and wet years. An energy balance model was applied to Landsat 5 TM time series images to estimate daily and seasonal ET for the Central Arizona Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research region (CAP-LTER). Modeled ET estimations were correlated with water use data in 49 parks within CAP-LTER and showed good agreement (r² = 0.77), indicating model effectiveness to capture the variations across park water consumption. Seasonally, active agriculture shows high ET (>500 mm) for both wet and dry conditions, while the desert and urban land cover types experienced lower ET during drought (<300 mm). Within urban locales of CAP-LTER, xeric neighborhoods show significant differences from year to year, while mesic neighborhoods retain their ET values (400-500 mm) during drought, implying considerable use of irrigation to sustain their greenness. Considering the potentially limiting water availability of this region in the future due to large population increases and the threat of a warming and drying climate, maintaining large water-consuming, irrigated landscapes challenges sustainable practices of water conservation and the need to provide amenities of this desert area for enhancing quality of life.

Drought impacts on tree growth and mortality of southern Appalachian forests

Treesearch

Brian D. Kloeppel; Barton D. Clinton; James M. Vose; Aaron R. Cooper

2003-01-01

The Coweeta LTER Program represents the eastern deciduous forests of the southem Appalachian Mountains in the United States. Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory was established in 1934 and hence has a long record of climate measurement and vegetation response to both natural and human disturbance (Swank and Crossley 1988). The general climate of the area is classified as...

THE TALE OF TWO CLIMATES-BALTIMORE AND PHOENIX LTER SITES. (R825792)

EPA Science Inventory

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Concl...

Cartographic projection procedures for the UNIX environment; a user's manual

USGS Publications Warehouse

Evenden, Gerald I.

1990-01-01

A tutorial description of the general usage of the cartographic projection program proj (release 3) along with specic cartographic parameters and illustrations of the ap- proximately 70 cartographic projections supported by the program is presented. The program is designed as a standard Unix lter utility to be employed with other pro- grams in the generation of maps and charts and, in many cases, used in map digitizing applications. Tables and shell scripts are also provided for conversion of State Plane Coordinate Systems to and from geographic coordinates.

Status of the Southern Carpathian forests in the long-term ecological research network

Treesearch

Ovidiu Badea; Andrzej Bytnerowicz; Diana Silaghi; Stefan Neagu; Ion Barbu; Carmen Iacoban; Corneliu Iacob; Gheorghe Guiman; Elena Preda; Ioan Seceleanu; Marian Oneata; Ion Dumitru; Viorela Huber; Horia Iuncu; Lucian Dinca; Stefan Leca; Ioan Taut

2012-01-01

Air pollution, bulk precipitation, throughfall, soil condition, foliar nutrients, as well as forest health and growth were studied in 2006–2009 in a long-term ecological research (LTER) network in the Bucegi Mountains, Romania. Ozone (O 3 ) was high indicating a potential for phytotoxicity. Ammonia (NH 3 ) concentrations rose to levels that could contribute to...

Long-term ecological research in a human-dominated world

Treesearch

G. Philip Robertson; Scott L. Collins; David R. Foster; Nicholas Brokaw; Hugh W. Ducklow; Ted L. Gragson; Corinna Gries; Stephen K. Hamilton; A. David McGuire; John C. Moore; Emily H. Stanley; Robert B. Waide; Mark W. Williams

2012-01-01

The US Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network enters its fourth decade with a distinguished record of achievement in ecological science. The value of long-term observations and experiments has never been more important for testing ecological theory and for addressing today’s most difficult environmental challenges. The network’s potential for tackling emergent...

Seasonal and interannual variability in surface energy partitioning and vegetation cover with grazing at shortgrass steppe

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We evaluated shortgrass steppe energy budgets based on the Bowen Ratio Energy Balance method for three different grazing intensity treatments at the Central Plains Experimental Range Long-Term Ecological Research (CPER-LTER) site. We tested the correlations between aboveground biomass and surface en...

Enabling Long-Term Oceanographic Research: Changing Data Practices, Information Management Strategies and Informatics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, K. S.; Chandler, C. L.

2008-12-01

Data management and informatics research are in a state of change in terms of data practices, information strategies, and roles. New ways of thinking about data and data management can facilitate interdisciplinary global ocean science. To meet contemporary expectations for local data use and reuse by a variety of audiences, collaborative strategies involving diverse teams of information professionals are developing. Such changes are fostering the growth of information infrastructures that support multi-scale sampling, data integration, and nascent networks of data repositories. In this retrospective, two examples of oceanographic projects incorporating data management in partnership with long-term science programs are reviewed: the Palmer Station Long-Term Ecological Research program (Palmer LTER) and the United States Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (US JGOFS). Lessons learned - short-term and long-term - from a decade of data management within these two communities will be presented. A conceptual framework called Ocean Informatics provides one example for managing the complexities inherent to sharing oceanographic data. Elements are discussed that address the economies-of-scale as well as the complexities-of-scale pertinent to a broad vision of information management and scientific research.

Enabling long-term oceanographic research: Changing data practices, information management strategies and informatics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, Karen S.; Chandler, Cynthia L.

2008-09-01

Interdisciplinary global ocean science requires new ways of thinking about data and data management. With new data policies and growing technological capabilities, datasets of increasing variety and complexity are being made available digitally and data management is coming to be recognized as an integral part of scientific research. To meet the changing expectations of scientists collecting data and of data reuse by others, collaborative strategies involving diverse teams of information professionals are developing. These changes are stimulating the growth of information infrastructures that support multi-scale sampling, data repositories, and data integration. Two examples of oceanographic projects incorporating data management in partnership with science programs are discussed: the Palmer Station Long-Term Ecological Research program (Palmer LTER) and the United States Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (US JGOFS). Lessons learned from a decade of data management within these communities provide an experience base from which to develop information management strategies—short-term and long-term. Ocean Informatics provides one example of a conceptual framework for managing the complexities inherent to sharing oceanographic data. Elements are introduced that address the economies-of-scale and the complexities-of-scale pertinent to a broader vision of information management and scientific research.

Precipitation control over inorganic nitrogen import-export budgets across watersheds: a synthesis of long-term ecological research

Treesearch

E.S. Kane; E.F. Betts; A.J. Burgin; H.M. Cliverd; C.L. Crenshaw; J.B. Fellman; I.H. Myers-Smith; J.A. O' Donnell; D.J. Sobota; W.J. Van Verseveld; J.B. Jones

2008-01-01

We investigated long-term and seasonal patterns of N imports and exports, as well as patterns following climate perturbations, across biomes using data from 15 watersheds from nine Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites in North America. Mean dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) import-export budgets (N import via precipitation-N export via stream flow) for common...

Effects of climate change on phenology in two French LTER (Alps and Brittany) for the period 1998-2009

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perrimond, B.; Bigot, S.; Quénol, H.; Spielgelberger, T.; Baudry, J.

2012-04-01

Climate and vegetation are linked all over the world. In this study, we work on a seasonal weather classification based on air temperature and precipitation to deduce a link with different phenological stage (greening up, senescence, ...) over a 12 year period (1998-2009) for two different domains in France (Alps and Brittany). In temperate land, the main climatic variable with a potential effect on vegetation is the mean temperature followed by the rainfall deficit. A better understanding in season and their climatic characteristic is need to establish link between climate and phenology; so a weather classification is proposed based on empirical orthogonal functions and ascending hierarchical classification on atmospheric variables. This classification allows us to exhibit the inter-annual and intra-seasonal climatic spatiotemporal variability for both experimental site. Relationships between climate and phenology consist in a comparison between advance and delay in phenological stage and weather type issue from the classification. Experiment field are two french Long Term Ecological Research (LTER). The first one (LTER 'Alps' ) have mountain characteristics about 1000 to 4780 m ASL, ~65% of forest occupation ; the second one (LTER Armorique) is an Atlantic coastal landscape, 0-360 m ASL, ~70% of agricultural field. Climatic data are SAFRAN-France reanalysis which are developed to run SVAT model and come from the French meteorological service 'Météo-France'. All atmospheric variable needed to run a hydrological model are available (air temperature, rainfall/snowfall, wind speed, relative humidity, incoming/outcoming radiation) at a 8-8 km2 space resolution and with a daily time resolution. The phenological data are extracted from SPOT-VGT product 1-1 km2 space resolution and 10 days time resolution) by time series analysis process. Such of study is particularly important to understand relationships between environmental and ecological variables and it will allow to better predict ecological reaction under climate change constraint.

A multi-scale analysis of streamflow response to changes in evapotranspiration and soil hydrology in the Blue Ridge Mountains

EPA Science Inventory

A large amount of research exploring the relationship between watershed forest cover and streamflow quantity has been conducted in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, particularly in association with the USFS Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory and the Coweeta LTER. However, a clear ans...

How does complex terrain influence responses of carbon and water cycle processes to climate variability and climate change?

EPA Science Inventory

We are pursuing the ambitious goal of understanding how complex terrain influences the responses of carbon and water cycle processes to climate variability and climate change. Our studies take place in H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, an LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) site...

Pristine aquatic systems in a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site of the Brazilian Cerrado.

PubMed

Fonseca, Bárbara Medeiros; de Mendonça-Galvão, Luciana

2014-12-01

The maintenance of limnological monitoring programs in the Cerrado Domain is crucial as a provision of useful information about temporal variations in land use and their respective water quality responses, considering its importance as water source for different Brazilian hydrographic basins. The purpose of this research was to describe limnological variables of low-order lotic systems located in the Cerrado Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site (Environmental Protection Area (APA) Gama and Cabeça de Veado, Federal District of Brazil). Altogether, nine different streams were considered in this study. Samplings were conducted between 2010 and 2012, concentrated in the dry and rainy seasons. The sampling sites were generally characterized by low nutrient concentrations (e.g., medians, TP = 14.8 μg L(-1), TN = 20.0 μg L(-1), NO3 = 13.8 μg L(-1)) and slightly acidic waters (median, pH = 5.3), with quite low electrical conductivity values (median = 6.4 μS cm(-1)). However, water quality degradation as a response to diffuse pollution was reported in some sampling points (e.g., Onça and Gama streams), expressed by relatively higher N and P concentrations, which were probably highlighted by the good water quality of the data set as whole. Although there was a trend to higher values of nitrogen forms during the dry season, significant statistical differences between the seasonal periods were reported only for the variables temperature and dissolved silica, which were higher in the dry and rainy season, respectively. The streams located in the preserved areas inside the ecological stations of APA Gama and Cabeça de Veado can still be considered good examples of reference lotic systems in the Cerrado Domain; notwithstanding, this study reported incipient signs of water quality degradation which cannot be overlooked in future limnological monitoring.

Effects of future climate conditions on terrestrial export from coastal southern California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, D.; Zhao, Y.; Raoufi, R.; Beighley, E.; Melack, J. M.

2015-12-01

The Santa Barbara Coastal - Long Term Ecological Research Project (SBC-LTER) is focused on investigating the relative importance of land and ocean processes in structuring giant kelp forest ecosystems. Understanding how current and future climate conditions influence terrestrial export is a central theme for the project. Here we combine the Hillslope River Routing (HRR) model and daily precipitation and temperature downscaled using statistical downscaling based on localized constructed Analogs (LOCA) to estimate recent streamflow dynamics (2000 to 2014) and future conditions (2015 to 2100). The HRR model covers the SBC-LTER watersheds from just west of the Ventura River to Point Conception; a land area of roughly 800 km2 with 179 watersheds ranging from 0.1 to 123 km2. The downscaled climate conditions have a spatial resolution of 6 km by 6 km. Here, we use the Penman-Monteith method with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) limited climate data approximations and land surface conditions (albedo, leaf area index, land cover) measured from NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra and Aqua satellites to estimate potential evapotranspiration (PET). The HRR model is calibrated for the period 2000 to 2014 using USGS and LTER streamflow. An automated calibration technique is used. For future climate scenarios, we use mean 8-day land cover conditions. Future streamflow, ET and soil moisture statistics are presented and based on downscaled P and T from ten climate model projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5).

Prevalence of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in reintroduced Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni)

Treesearch

M. M. Ryan; K. H. Decker; D. W. Duszynski

2001-01-01

Fecal samples from 54 Gunnison's prairie dogs (Cynomys gunnisoni) from Albuquerque, NM were analyzed for the presence of coccidia and all were positive. They were then relocated to an abandoned prairiedog town on the Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. Six Eimeria species, E. callospermophili, E. cynomysis, E. pseudospermophili (new host record),...

Hydrologic regimes of forested, mountainous, headwater basins in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and Puerto Rico

Treesearch

David A. Post; Julia A. Jones

2001-01-01

This study characterized the hydrologic regimes at four forested, mountainous long-term ecological research (LTER) sites: H.J. Andrews (Oregon), Coweeta (North Carolina), Hubbard Brook (New Hampshire), and Luquillo (Puerto Rico). Over 600 basinyears of daily streadow records were examined from 18 basins that have not experienced human disturbances since at least the...

Integrated carbon budget models for the Everglades terrestrial-coastal-oceanic gradient: Current status and needs for inter-site comparisons

Treesearch

T. G. Troxler; E. Gaiser; J. Barr; J. D. Fuentes; R. Jaffe; D. L. Childers; L. Collado-Vides; V. H. Rivera-Monroy; E. Castaneda-Moya; W. Anderson; R. Chambers; M. Chen; C. Coronado-Molina; S. E. Davis; V. Engel; C. Fitz; J. Fourqurean; T. Frankovich; J. Kominoski; C. Madden; S. L. Malone; S. F. Oberbauer; P. Olivas; J. Richards; C. Saunders; J. Schedlbauer; L. J. Scinto; F. Sklar; T. Smith; J. M. Smoak; G. Starr; R. R. Twilley; K. Whelan

2013-01-01

Recent studies suggest that coastal ecosystems can bury significantly more C than tropical forests, indicating that continued coastal development and exposure to sea level rise and storms will have global biogeochemical consequences. The Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) site provides an excellent subtropical system for examining...

Effects of an invasive tree on community structure and diversity in a tropical forest in Puerto Rico.

Treesearch

K. A. Brown; F. N. Scatena; J. Gurevitch; NO-VALUE

2006-01-01

We report the effects of an invasive tree (Syzygium jambos, Myrtaceace) on species composition, plant diversity patterns, and forest regeneration in primary and secondary forest in the Luquillo Mountains of northeastern Puerto Rico, including the area in and around the Caribbean National Forest (CNF) and the Luquillo Long Term Ecological Research site (Luquillo LTER)....

Data access systems in the real world: How distributed environmental and socio-economic data from the Dutch Wadden Sea are being integrated and made accessible through one portal, using the SeaDataNet infrastructure as a basis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Bruin, T.; Thijsse, P.

2013-12-01

The Wadden Sea, an UNESCO World Heritage Site along the Northern coasts of The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, is a very valuable, yet also highly vulnerable tidal flats area. It is noted for its ecological diversity and value, being a stopover for large numbers of migrating birds. The Wadden Sea is also used intensively for economic activities by inhabitants of the surrounding coasts and islands, as well as by the many tourists visiting the area every year. A whole series of monitoring programmes of both ecological and socio-economic parameters is carried out by a range of governmental bodies and institutes, to study the natural processes occuring in the Wadden Sea ecosystems as well as the influence of human activities on those ecosystems. Yet, the monitoring programmes are scattered and it is difficult to get an overview of those monitoring activities or to get access to the data resulting from those monitoring programmes. The Wadden Sea Long Term Ecosystem Research (WaLTER) project aims to: 1. Provide access through one data portal to a base set of consistent, standardized, long-term data on changes in the Wadden Sea ecological and socio-economic systems, in order to model and understand interrelationships with human use, climate variation and possible other drivers. 2. Provide a research infrastructure, open access to commonly shared databases, educational facilities and one or more field sites in which experimental, innovative and process-driven research can be carried out. This presentation will, after a short introduction of the WaLTER-project (2011-2015), focus on the distributed data access infrastructure which is being developed and used for WaLTER. This is based on and makes use of the existing data access infrastructure of the Netherlands National Oceanographic Data Committee (NL-NODC), which has been operational since early 2009. The NL-NODC system is identical to and in fact developed by the European SeaDataNet project, furthering standardisation on a pan-European scale. The WaLTER data portal will provide a centralized overview of all relevant Wadden Sea data, both from environmental as well as socio-economic disciplines and it will provide access to a system of distributed data sources. Much emphasis is given to address the different needs of various groups of users, such as policy makers, scientists and the general public. Benefits and pitfalls (and ways to circumvent the latter) of using this infrastructure with data from widely different disciplines will be addressed.

Progress Report on the US Critical Zone Observatory Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrera, E. C.

2014-12-01

The Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) program supported by the National Science Foundation originated from the recommendation of the Earth Science community published in the National Research Council report "Basic Research Opportunities in Earth Sciences" (2001) to establish natural laboratories to study processes and systems of the Critical Zone - the surface and near-surface environment sustaining nearly all terrestrial life. After a number of critical zone community workshops to develop a science plan, the CZO program was initiated in 2007 with three sites and has now grown to 10 sites and a National Office, which coordinates research, education and outreach activities of the network. Several of the CZO sites are collocated with sites supported by the US Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) and the Long Term Agricultural Research (LTAR) programs, and the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON). Future collaboration with additional sites of these networks will add to the potential to answer questions in a more comprehensive manner and in a larger regional scale about the critical zone form and function. At the international level, CZOs have been established in many countries and strong collaborations with the US program have been in place for many years. The next step is the development of a coordinated international program of critical zone research. The success of the CZO network of sites can be measured in transformative results that elucidate properties and processes controlling the critical zone and how the critical zone structure, stores and fluxes respond to climate and land use change. This understanding of the critical zone can be used to enhance resilience and sustainability, and restore ecosystem function. Thus, CZO science can address major societal challenges. The US CZO network is a facility open to research of the critical zone community at large. Scientific data and information about the US program are available at www.criticalzone.org.

Catchment-scale modeling of nitrogen dynamics in a temperate forested watershed, Oregon. An interdisciplinary communication strategy.

Treesearch

Kellie Vache; Lutz Breuer; Julia Jones; Phil Sollins

2015-01-01

We present a systems modeling approach to the development of a place-based ecohydrological model. The conceptual model is calibrated to a variety of existing observations, taken in watershed 10 (WS10) at the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest (HJA) in Oregon, USA, a long term ecological research (LTER) site with a long history of catchment-...

Long-term monitoring of air pollution effects on selected forest ecosystems in the Bucegi-Piatra Craiului and Retezat Mountains, southern Carpathians (Romania)

Treesearch

O. Badea; S. Neagu; Andrzej Bytnerowicz; D. Silaghi; I. Barbu; C. Iacoban; F. Popescu; M. Andrei; E. Preda; C. Iacob; I. Dumitru; H. Iuncu; C. Vezeanu; V. Huber

2011-01-01

The monitoring studies carried out in the southern Romanian Carpathians (Retezat and Bucegi - Piatra Craiului Mts) provide a scientific support for long term ecosystem research (LTER). Their general objective is to characterize the air pollution and its potential effects upon forest ecosystems' status and biodiversity in close connection with climatic changes. Two...

Do Community Recommendations Improve Metadata?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gordon, S.; Habermann, T.; Jones, M. B.; Leinfelder, B.; Mecum, B.; Powers, L. A.; Slaughter, P.

2016-12-01

Complete documentation of scientific data is the surest way to facilitate discovery and reuse. What is complete metadata? There are many metadata recommendations from communities like the OGC, FGDC, NASA, and LTER, that can provide data documentation guidance for discovery, access, use and understanding. Often, the recommendations that communities develop are for a particular metadata dialect. Two examples of this are the LTER Completeness recommendation for EML and the FGDC Data Discovery recommendation for CSDGM. Can community adoption of a recommendation ensure that what is included in the metadata is understandable to the scientific community and beyond? By applying quantitative analysis to different LTER and USGS metadata collections in DataOne and ScienceBase, we show that community recommendations can improve the completeness of collections over time. Additionally, by comparing communities in DataOne that use the EML and CSDGM dialects, but have not adopted the recommendations to the communities that have, the positive effects of recommendation adoption on documentation completeness can be measured.

Long-term trends of changes in pine and oak foliar nitrogen metabolism in response to chronic nitrogen amendments at Harvard Forest, MA

Treesearch

Rakesh Minocha; Swathi A. Turlapati; Stephanie Long; William H. McDowell; Subhash C. Minocha

2015-01-01

We evaluated the long-term (1995-2008) trends in foliar and sapwood metabolism, soil solution chemistry and tree mortality rates in response to chronic nitrogen (N) additions to pine and hardwood stands at the Harvard Forest Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. Common stress-related metabolites like polyamines (PAs), free amino acids (AAs) and inorganic elements...

Limnology of the Green Lakes Valley: Phytoplankton ecology and dissolved organic matter biogeochemistry at a long-term ecological research site

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, Matthew P.; McKnight, Diane M.

2015-01-01

Background: Surface waters are the lowest points in the landscape, and therefore serve as excellent integrators and indicators of changes taking place in the surrounding terrestrial and atmospheric environment.Aims: Here we synthesise the findings of limnological studies conducted during the past 15 years in streams and lakes in the Green Lakes Valley, which is part of the Niwot Ridge Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) Site.Methods: The importance of these studies is discussed in the context of aquatic ecosystems as indicators, integrators, and regulators of environmental change. Specifically, investigations into climatic, hydrologic, and nutrient controls on present-day phytoplankton, and historical diatom, community composition in the alpine lake, Green Lake 4, are reviewed. In addition, studies of spatial and temporal patterns in dissolved organic matter (DOM) biogeochemistry and reactive transport modelling that have taken place in the Green Lakes Valley are highlighted.Results and conclusions: The findings of these studies identify specific shifts in algal community composition and DOM biogeochemistry that are indicative of changing environmental conditions and provide a framework for detecting future environmental change in the Green Lakes Valley and in other alpine watersheds. Moreover, the studies summarised here demonstrate the importance of long-term monitoring programmes such as the LTER programme.

Seismic classification through sparse filter dictionaries

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hickmann, Kyle Scott; Srinivasan, Gowri

We tackle a multi-label classi cation problem involving the relation between acoustic- pro le features and the measured seismogram. To isolate components of the seismo- grams unique to each class of acoustic pro le we build dictionaries of convolutional lters. The convolutional- lter dictionaries for the individual classes are then combined into a large dictionary for the entire seismogram set. A given seismogram is classi ed by computing its representation in the large dictionary and then comparing reconstruction accuracy with this representation using each of the sub-dictionaries. The sub-dictionary with the minimal reconstruction error identi es the seismogram class.

AmeriFlux US-NR1 Niwot Ridge Forest (LTER NWT1)

DOE Data Explorer

Blanken, Peter [University of Colorado

2016-01-01

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-NR1 Niwot Ridge Forest (LTER NWT1). Site Description - The Niwot Ridge AmeriFlux site is located in a subalpine forest ecosystem just below the Continental Divide near Nederland, CO. The site is located at 3050 m elevation, within 600m of the NOAA C1 long-term monitoring station, approximately 8 km east of the Continental Divide. The surrounding subalpine forest is ~97 years old and in a state of aggradation, having recovered from early twentieth century logging (Monson, et al. Global Change Biology (2002), 8 459-478).

Mangrove forest recovery in the Everglades following Hurricane Wilma

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sarmiento, Daniel; Barr, Jordan; Engel, Vic; Fuentes, Jose D.; Smith, Thomas J.; Zieman, Jay C.

2009-01-01

On October 24th, 2005, Hurricane Wilma made landfall on the south western shore of the Florida peninsula. This major disturbance destroyed approximately 30 percent of the mangrove forests in the area. However, the damage to the ecosystem following the hurricane provided researchers at the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) LTER site with the rare opportunity to track the recovery process of the mangroves as determined by carbon dioxide (CO2) and energy exchanges, measured along daily and seasonal time scales.

Modelling study of soil C, N and pH response to air pollution and climate change using European LTER site observations.

PubMed

Holmberg, Maria; Aherne, Julian; Austnes, Kari; Beloica, Jelena; De Marco, Alessandra; Dirnböck, Thomas; Fornasier, Maria Francesca; Goergen, Klaus; Futter, Martyn; Lindroos, Antti-Jussi; Krám, Pavel; Neirynck, Johan; Nieminen, Tiina Maileena; Pecka, Tomasz; Posch, Maximilian; Pröll, Gisela; Rowe, Ed C; Scheuschner, Thomas; Schlutow, Angela; Valinia, Salar; Forsius, Martin

2018-05-31

Current climate warming is expected to continue in coming decades, whereas high N deposition may stabilize, in contrast to the clear decrease in S deposition. These pressures have distinctive regional patterns and their resulting impact on soil conditions is modified by local site characteristics. We have applied the VSD+ soil dynamic model to study impacts of deposition and climate change on soil properties, using MetHyd and GrowUp as pre-processors to provide input to VSD+. The single-layer soil model VSD+ accounts for processes of organic C and N turnover, as well as charge and mass balances of elements, cation exchange and base cation weathering. We calibrated VSD+ at 26 ecosystem study sites throughout Europe using observed conditions, and simulated key soil properties: soil solution pH (pH), soil base saturation (BS) and soil organic carbon and nitrogen ratio (C:N) under projected deposition of N and S, and climate warming until 2100. The sites are forested, located in the Mediterranean, forested alpine, Atlantic, continental and boreal regions. They represent the long-term ecological research (LTER) Europe network, including sites of the ICP Forests and ICP Integrated Monitoring (IM) programmes under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP), providing high quality long-term data on ecosystem response. Simulated future soil conditions improved under projected decrease in deposition and current climate conditions: higher pH, BS and C:N at 21, 16 and 12 of the sites, respectively. When climate change was included in the scenario analysis, the variability of the results increased. Climate warming resulted in higher simulated pH in most cases, and higher BS and C:N in roughly half of the cases. Especially the increase in C:N was more marked with climate warming. The study illustrates the value of LTER sites for applying models to predict soil responses to multiple environmental changes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The roles of large top predators in coastal ecosystems: new insights from long term ecological research

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rosenblatt, Adam E.; Heithaus, Michael R.; Mather, Martha E.; Matich, Philip; Nifong, James C.; Ripple, William J.; Silliman, Brian R.

2013-01-01

During recent human history, human activities such as overhunting and habitat destruction have severely impacted many large top predator populations around the world. Studies from a variety of ecosystems show that loss or diminishment of top predator populations can have serious consequences for population and community dynamics and ecosystem stability. However, there are relatively few studies of the roles of large top predators in coastal ecosystems, so that we do not yet completely understand what could happen to coastal areas if large top predators are extirpated or significantly reduced in number. This lack of knowledge is surprising given that coastal areas around the globe are highly valued and densely populated by humans, and thus coastal large top predator populations frequently come into conflict with coastal human populations. This paper reviews what is known about the ecological roles of large top predators in coastal systems and presents a synthesis of recent work from three coastal eastern US Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites where long-term studies reveal what appear to be common themes relating to the roles of large top predators in coastal systems. We discuss three specific themes: (1) large top predators acting as mobile links between disparate habitats, (2) large top predators potentially affecting nutrient and biogeochemical dynamics through localized behaviors, and (3) individual specialization of large top predator behaviors. We also discuss how research within the LTER network has led to enhanced understanding of the ecological roles of coastal large top predators. Highlighting this work is intended to encourage further investigation of the roles of large top predators across diverse coastal aquatic habitats and to better inform researchers and ecosystem managers about the importance of large top predators for coastal ecosystem health and stability.

Steering operational synergies in terrestrial observation networks: opportunity for advancing Earth system dynamics modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baatz, Roland; Sullivan, Pamela L.; Li, Li; Weintraub, Samantha R.; Loescher, Henry W.; Mirtl, Michael; Groffman, Peter M.; Wall, Diana H.; Young, Michael; White, Tim; Wen, Hang; Zacharias, Steffen; Kühn, Ingolf; Tang, Jianwu; Gaillardet, Jérôme; Braud, Isabelle; Flores, Alejandro N.; Kumar, Praveen; Lin, Henry; Ghezzehei, Teamrat; Jones, Julia; Gholz, Henry L.; Vereecken, Harry; Van Looy, Kris

2018-05-01

Advancing our understanding of Earth system dynamics (ESD) depends on the development of models and other analytical tools that apply physical, biological, and chemical data. This ambition to increase understanding and develop models of ESD based on site observations was the stimulus for creating the networks of Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER), Critical Zone Observatories (CZOs), and others. We organized a survey, the results of which identified pressing gaps in data availability from these networks, in particular for the future development and evaluation of models that represent ESD processes, and provide insights for improvement in both data collection and model integration. From this survey overview of data applications in the context of LTER and CZO research, we identified three challenges: (1) widen application of terrestrial observation network data in Earth system modelling, (2) develop integrated Earth system models that incorporate process representation and data of multiple disciplines, and (3) identify complementarity in measured variables and spatial extent, and promoting synergies in the existing observational networks. These challenges lead to perspectives and recommendations for an improved dialogue between the observation networks and the ESD modelling community, including co-location of sites in the existing networks and further formalizing these recommendations among these communities. Developing these synergies will enable cross-site and cross-network comparison and synthesis studies, which will help produce insights around organizing principles, classifications, and general rules of coupling processes with environmental conditions.

Earth Observations taken by the Expedition 16 Crew

NASA Image and Video Library

2007-12-23

ISS016-E-018385 (23 Dec. 2008) --- Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 16 crewmember on the International Space Station. The Luquillo Mountains are located in the northeastern portion of Puerto Rico and rise to elevations of 1,075 meters. According to scientists, the mountains are comprised mainly of volcanic rock material that was uplifted by tectonism - Puerto Rico is located between the junction of the North American and Caribbean plates - approximately 37--28 million years ago. Prevailing easterly winds bring moisture from the Caribbean Sea that falls as precipitation as they cross the mountains. Higher elevations receive more rainfall than lower elevations, leading to subtropical forest types in the lowlands and montane forest types near the summits. This image, taken during the rainy season, illustrates the rich vegetation cover of the mountains. The rapid change in ecosystems with elevation, land use history, and exposure to frequent natural disturbances (such as hurricanes) makes the Luquillo Mountains as ideal location for ecological study. The Luquillo Experimental Forest Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site is contained within the Luquillo National Forest, covering much of the mountains to the southwest of the city of Luquillo (center). Historical human land uses in the Forest -- such as logging, agriculture, charcoal production, and coffee plantations - have determined much of the current ecosystem structure. Results of LTER site research indicates that the forest ecosystems recover more rapidly from natural disturbances (like hurricanes) than they do from human disturbance.

Variation in salt marsh CO2 fluxes across a latitudinal gradient along the US Atlantic coast

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forbrich, I.; Nahrawi, H. B.; Leclerc, M.; O'Connell, J. L.; Mishra, D. R.; Fogarty, M. C.; Edson, J. B.; Lule, A. V.; Vargas, R.; Giblin, A. E.; Alber, M.

2017-12-01

Salt marshes occur at the dynamic interface of land and ocean, where they play an important role as sink and source of nutrients, carbon (C) and sediment. They often are strong carbon sinks, because they continuously accumulate soil organic matter and sediment to keep their position relative to sea level. Decadal average C sequestration rates can be inferred from soil carbon density and mass accumulation rates, but little information about biological and climatic controls on C cycling and storage in these systems exists. In this study, we report measurements of atmospheric CO2 exchange from salt marshes along the US Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Georgia. These measurements were made over periods from one to five years. Spartina alterniflora is the dominant vegetation at all sites. At the northern most site, Plum Island Ecosystems (PIE) LTER, and the southern most site, Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) LTER, flux measurements over several years have shown variations in the net CO2 flux influenced by the local climate. For example, annual net C uptake at the PIE LTER over 5 years (2013-2017) depends on rainfall in the growing season (June-August) which modulates soil salinity levels. This pattern is not as evident at the GCE LTER (2014-2015). Furthermore, the growing season length differs between both sites. Based on the CO2 flux measurements, a temperature threshold of 15o C limits the net C uptake at both sites and daily rates of net C uptake are generally smaller during the longer growing season in Georgia. Nevertheless, gross primary production (GPP) is similar for both sites. We will extend this analysis to include sites from Delaware and North Carolina to assess controls (e.g. leaf area using MODIS vegetation indices, temperature, photoperiod) on Spartina phenology and CO2 exchange.

Alternative modelling approaches for estimating pyrogenic carbon, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in contrasting ecoregions within the United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jauss, Verena; Sullivan, Patrick; Lehmann, Johannes; Sanderman, Jonathan; Daub, Markus

2017-04-01

Given that turnover rates of pyrogenic carbon (PyC) in soil are substantially slower than those of other organic carbon input, it is considered an important carbon pool and its function and fate are relevant to global environmental change processes. Research on PyC has expanded greatly over recent years, but the analytical challenges of determining environmental core factors influencing its production, accumulation and dispersion still require elucidation across different scales. Mid-infrared spectroscopy and partial least-squares analysis were used in conjunction with ultraviolet photo-oxidation followed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques, to quantify PyC, soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (total N) amounts for samples we collected of surface and subsurface soils across the United States at National Science Foundation supported Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites as well as samples from a national soil sampling effort by the U.S. Geological Survey. In our study, we illustrate the impact of the aforementioned natural factors by examining their correlation with PyC content in soils under contrasting environmental conditions thus identifying the factors affecting PyC accumulation. Our central findings revealed a statistically significant relationship of PyC with environmental variables soil drainage, lignin content of the vegetation, mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation as well as for the USGS sites total soil sulphur. During our investigations we evaluated PyC on different spatial scales. On a geographically smaller scale we examined samples from New England and New York. We developed a new and innovative Bayesian framework and applied three spatial models to the data in order to relate critical environmental covariates to changes in spatial density of PyC over the landscape. Akaike Information Criterion demonstrated that the Bayesian Multivariate Linear Regression model performed best (r2=0.6; p<<0.0001) in our analysis, giving global mean density estimates for PyC of 25.8 g kg-1 (12.2 Gg km-2) as opposed to the Ordinary Kriging model, which performed worst (r2=0.0; p>>0.05) with estimates of 11.0 g kg-1 (0.84 Gg km-2). On a larger scale, we looked at selected profiles at five diverse LTER sites as well as sites along a vegetation gradient in Oregon. At the LTER sites PyC content ranged from 9.8 mg g-1 (Coweeta, NC) to 56.4 mg g-1 (Bonanza, AK). Furthermore, we examined the multivariate relationships between environmental factors and our measurements of PyC, SOC and total N at the LTER sites through the application of a canonical correspondence analysis. Using our Oregon samples, we expanded on a previously established method to predict soil properties vertically in the soil profile using equal-area quadratic splines in order to calculate PyC stocks as well as to infer and visualize PyC contents, which were most prevalent in the first 0.2 m with 7-24% of SOC, and could be found in the subsoil of all locations. However, PyC contents did not change consistently with soil depth.

An operational data access infrastructure for accessing integrated environmental and socio-economic data from the Dutch Wadden Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Bruin, T.

2012-12-01

The Wadden Sea, an UNESCO World Heritage Site along the Northern coasts of The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, is a very valuable, yet also highly vulnerable tidal flats area. Knowledge is key to the sustainable management of the Wadden Sea. This knowledge should be reliable, founded on promptly accessible information and sufficiently broad to integrate both ecological and economic analyses. The knowledge is gained from extensive monotoring of both ecological and socio-economic parameters. Even though many organisations, research institutes, government agencies and NGOs carry out monitoring, there is no central overview of monitoring activities, nor easy access to the resulting data. The 'Wadden Sea Long-Term Ecosystem Research' (WaLTER) project (2011-2015) aims to set-up an integrated monitoring plan for the main environmental and management issues relevant to the Wadden Sea, such as sea-level rise, fisheries management, recreation and industry activities. The WaLTER data access infrastructure will be a distributed system of data providers, with a centralized data access portal. It is based on and makes use of the existing data access infrastructure of the Netherlands National Oceanographic Data Committee (NL-NODC), which has been operational since early 2009. The NL-NODC system is identical to and in fact developed by the European SeaDataNet project, furthering standardisation on a pan-European scale. The presentation will focus on the use of a distributed data access infrastructure to address the needs of different user groups such as policy makers, scientists and the general public.

The Environmental Data Initiative: A broad-use data repository for environmental and ecological data that strives to balance data quality and ease of submission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Servilla, M. S.; Brunt, J.; Costa, D.; Gries, C.; Grossman-Clarke, S.; Hanson, P. C.; O'Brien, M.; Smith, C.; Vanderbilt, K.; Waide, R.

2017-12-01

In the world of data repositories, there seems to be a never ending struggle between the generation of high-quality data documentation and the ease of archiving a data product in a repository - the higher the documentation standards, the greater effort required by the scientist, and the less likely the data will be archived. The Environmental Data Initiative (EDI) attempts to balance the rigor of data documentation to the amount of effort required by a scientist to upload and archive data. As an outgrowth of the LTER Network Information System, the EDI is funded by the US NSF Division of Environmental Biology, to support the LTER, LTREB, OBFS, and MSB programs, in addition to providing an open data archive for environmental scientists without a viable archive. EDI uses the PASTA repository software, developed originally by the LTER. PASTA is metadata driven and documents data with the Ecological Metadata Language (EML), a high-fidelity standard that can describe all types of data in great detail. PASTA incorporates a series of data quality tests to ensure that data are correctly documented with EML in a process that is termed "metadata and data congruence", and incongruent data packages are forbidden in the repository. EDI reduces the burden of data documentation on scientists in two ways: first, EDI provides hands-on assistance in data documentation best practices using R and being developed in Python, for generating EML. These tools obscure the details of EML generation and syntax by providing a more natural and contextual setting for describing data. Second, EDI works closely with community information managers in defining rules used in PASTA quality tests. Rules deemed too strict can be turned off completely or just issue a warning, while the community learns to best handle the situation and improve their documentation practices. Rules can also be added or refined over time to improve overall quality of archived data. The outcome of quality tests are stored as part of the data archive in PASTA and are accessible to all users of the EDI data repository. In summary, EDI's metadata support to scientists and the comprehensive set of data quality tests for metadata and data congruency provide an ideal archive for environmental and ecological data.

EnviroAtlas -Phoenix, AZ- One Meter Resolution Urban Land Cover Data (2010) Web Service

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

This EnviroAtlas web service supports research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas). The EnviroAtlas Phoenix, AZ land cover data and map were generated from USDA NAIP (National Agricultural Imagery Program) four band (red, green, blue and near-infrared) aerial photography taken from June through September, 2010 at 1 m spatial resolution. Seven land cover classes were mapped: water, impervious surfaces, soil and barren land, trees and forest, shrubland, grass and herbaceous non-woody vegetation, and agriculture. An accuracy assessment using a completely random sampling of 598 land cover reference points yielded an overall accuracy of 69.2%. The area mapped includes the entirety of the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP-LTER) area, which was classified by the Environmental Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Lab (ERSG) at Arizona State University. The land cover dataset also includes an area of approximately 625 square kilometers which is located north of Phoenix. This section was classified by the EPA land cover classification team. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data

Soil data for a thermokarst bog and the surrounding permafrost plateau forest, located at Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Site, Interior Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Manies, Kristen L.; Fuller, Christopher C.; Jones, Miriam C.; Waldrop, Mark P.; McGeehin, John P.

2017-01-19

Peatlands play an important role in boreal ecosystems, storing a large amount of soil organic carbon. In northern ecosystems, collapse-scar bogs (also known as thermokarst bogs) often form as the result of ground subsidence following permafrost thaw. To examine how ecosystem carbon balance changes with the loss of permafrost, we measured carbon and nitrogen storage within a thermokarst bog and the surrounding forest, which continues to have permafrost. These sites are a part of the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site and are located within Interior Alaska. Here, we report on methods used for core collection analysis as well as the cores’ physical, chemical, and descriptive properties.

Improving Understanding of Spatial Heterogeneity in Mountain Ecohydrology with Multispectral Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wigmore, O.; Molotch, N. P.

2017-12-01

Mountain regions are a critical component of the hydrologic system. These regions are extremely heterogeneous, with dramatic topographic, climatic, ecologic and hydrologic variations occurring over very short distances. This heterogeneity makes understanding changes in these environments difficult. Commonly used satellite data are often too coarse to resolve processes at appropriate scales and point measurements are typically unrepresentative of the wider region. The rapid rise of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) offers a potential solution to the scale-related inadequacies of satellite and ground-based observing systems. Using UAS, spatially distributed datasets can be collected at high resolution (i.e. cm), on demand, and can therefore facilitate improved understanding of mountain ecohydrology. We deployed a custom built multispectral - visible (RGB), near infrared (NIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) - UAS at a weekly interval over the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (NWT LTER) saddle catchment at 3500masl in the Colorado Rockies. This system was used to map surface water pathways, land cover and topography, and quantify ecohydrologic variables including, snow depth, vegetation productivity and surface soil moisture at 5-50cm resolution across an 80ha study area. This presentation will discuss the techniques, methods and merits of using UAS derived multispectral data for ecohydrologic research in mountain regions. We will also present preliminary findings from our survey time series at NWT LTER and a discussion of the potential insights that these datasets can provide. Key questions to be addressed are: 1) how does spatial variability in snow depth impact soil moisture and vegetation productivity, 2) how can UAS help us to identify ecohydrologic `hotspots' and `hot moments' across heterogeneous landscapes.

Stormwater pollution in suburban ecosystems: the role of residential rooftop connectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miles, B.; Band, L. E.

2013-12-01

Stormwater pollution has been recognized as a major concern of urban sustainability. Understanding interactions between urban landcover and stormwater pollution can be advanced through the development of spatially explicit ecohydrology models that simulate fine-scale residential stormwater management; this requires high-resolution LIDAR and landcover data, as well as field observation at the household scale. The objective of my research is to improve understanding of how parcel-scale heterogeneity of impervious and previous surfaces effect stormwater volume. In support of this objective, I present results from work to: (1) perform field observation of existing patterns of residential rooftop connectivity to nearby impervious surfaces; (2) modify the Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System (RHESSys) to explicitly represent non-topographic surface flow routing of rooftops; and (3) develop RHESSys models for urban-suburban headwater watersheds in Baltimore, MD (as part of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) NSF Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site) and Durham, NC (as part of the NSF Urban Long-Term Research Area (ULTRA) program). I use these models to simulate stormwater volume resulting from both baseline residential rooftop impervious connectivity and for disconnection scenarios (e.g. roof drainage to lawn v. engineered rain garden, upslope v. riparian). This research will help to improve representation of fine-scale surface flow features in urban ecohydrology modeling while informing policy decisions over how best to implement parcel-scale retrofits in existing neighborhoods to reduce stormwater pollution at the watershed scale.

NSF-supported education/outreach program takes young researchers to the Arctic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexeev, V. A.; Walsh, J. E.; Hock, R.; Repina, I.; Kaden, U.; Bartholomew, L.

2014-12-01

Today, more than ever, an integrated cross-disciplinary approach is necessary to explain changes in the Arctic and understand their implications for the human environment. Advanced training and active involvement of early-career scientists is an important component of this cross-disciplinary approach. This effort led by the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) started in 2003. The newly supported project in 2013 is planning four summer schools (one per year) focused on four themes in four different Arctic locations. It provides the participants with an interdisciplinary perspective on Arctic change and its impacts on diverse sectors of the North. It is linked to other ongoing long-term observational and educational programs (e.g. NABOS, Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System; LTER, Long Term Environmental Research) and targets young scientists by using the interdisciplinary and place-based setting to broaden their perspective on Arctic change and to enhance their communication skills. Each course for 15-20 people consists of classroom and hands-on components and work with a multidisciplinary group of mentors on projects devoted to themes exemplified by the location. An education/outreach specialist from the Miami Science Museum covers the activities and teaches students the important science communications skills. A specialist from the School of Education at UAF evaluates student's progress during the summer schools. Lessons learned during the 12 years of conducting summer schools, methods of attracting in-kind support and approaches to teaching students are prominently featured in this study. Activities during the two most recent schools, one conducted in the Arctic Ocean jointly with the 2013 NABOS expedition and another on an Alaskan glacier in 2014 is another focus of this work.

Enhancing continental-scale understanding of agriculture: Integrating the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) with existing research networks to address global change.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelly, G.

2015-12-01

Over the past decade, there has been a resurgence of interest in the sustainability of the world's food system and its contributions to feeding the world's population as well as to ensuring environmental sustainability of the planet. The elements of this grand challenge are by now well known. Analysis of agricultural sustainability is made more challenging by the fact that the local responses to these global drivers of change are extremely variable in space and time due to the biophysical and geopolitical heterogeneity across the United States, and the world. Utilizing research networks allows the scientific community to leverage existing knowledge, models and data to develop a framework for understanding the interplay between global change drivers, regional, and continental sustainability of US agriculture. For example, well-established instrumented and calibrated research networks will allow for the examination of the potential tradeoffs between: 1) crop production, 2) land use and carbon emissions and sequestration, 3) groundwater depletion, and 4) nitrogen dynamics. NEON represents a major investment in scientific infrastructure in support of ecological research at a continental scale and is intended to address multiple ecological grand challenges. NEON will collect data from automated sensors and sample organisms and ecological variables in 20 eco-climatic domains. We will provide examples of how NEON's full potential can be realized when these data are combined with long term experimental results and other sensor networks [e.g., Ameriflux, Fluxnet, the Long-term Ecological Research Program (LTER), the Long-term Agroecosystem Research Network (LTAR)], Critical Zone Observatory (CZO).

Using Teleducation and Field Experiences to further the Understanding of Coastal Environments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macko, S. A.; Szuba, T. A.; Shugart, H.

2007-05-01

This project is an outreach and education program with a partner in the K-12 schools at Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. It endeavors to build a community knowledgeable of the importance the ocean plays daily in our lives, and our own impact on the ocean. It is an program built in stages that: 1) Establish high speed live interactive classes (teleducation) linkages with the Eastern Shore High Schools with earth science teachers enabling them to remotely participate in University of Virginia classes in Oceanography (designed on a faculty development basis or acquire NSTA certification in Earth Science Education, as well as participation by seniors in the Accomack Schools; 2) Establish field experiences for teachers and selected students that involve travel to both the Virginia Coast Reserve Long Term Ecological Research (VCR/LTER) Center, UVA to observe first- hand the science programs at those locations and participate in cutting edge coastal marine research efforts. These experiences improve student understanding of the ocean-atmosphere biogeophysical system and encourage students to explore the sciences as a field of study and possible vocation. Advanced high school students and science teachers from Accomack County Public Schools participated in an experience involving field and laboratory methods employed in a NSF-sponsored study of the coupled natural-human dynamics on the Eastern Shore of Virginia over the past 500 years (NSF-Biocomplexity). Students and teachers worked with researchers of the VCR facility in Oyster, VA, collected sediment cores from Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and traveled to the Organic Geochemistry Laboratory at UVA, in Charlottesville, VA to prepare and analyze samples for isotopic and palynological information. In a first of its kind connectivity, in June/July, 2006, using high speed internet connections, a summer class in Oceanography was live, interactively broadcast (teleducation) from UVA to Arcadia High School on the Eastern Shore, allowing teachers in the Accomack School district to receive university credit without leaving their home classrooms 250 miles from UVA.

Integrated carbon budget models for the Everglades terrestrial-coastal-oceanic gradient: Current status and needs for inter-site comparisons

USGS Publications Warehouse

Troxler, Tiffany G.; Gaiser, Evelyn; Barr, Jordan; Fuentes, Jose D.; Jaffe, Rudolf; Childers, Daniel L.; Collado-Vides, Ligia; Rivera-Monroy, Victor H.; Castañeda-Moya, Edward; Anderson, William; Chambers, Randy; Chen, Meilian; Coronado-Molina, Carlos; Davis, Stephen E.; Engel, Victor C.; Fitz, Carl; Fourqurean, James; Frankovich, Tom; Kominoski, John; Madden, Chris; Malone, Sparkle L.; Oberbauer, Steve F.; Olivas, Paulo; Richards, Jennifer; Saunders, Colin; Schedlbauer, Jessica; Scinto, Leonard J.; Sklar, Fred; Smith, Thomas J.; Smoak, Joseph M.; Starr, Gregory; Twilley, Robert; Whelan, Kevin

2013-01-01

Recent studies suggest that coastal ecosystems can bury significantly more C than tropical forests, indicating that continued coastal development and exposure to sea level rise and storms will have global biogeochemical consequences. The Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) site provides an excellent subtropical system for examining carbon (C) balance because of its exposure to historical changes in freshwater distribution and sea level rise and its history of significant long-term carbon-cycling studies. FCE LTER scientists used net ecosystem C balance and net ecosystem exchange data to estimate C budgets for riverine mangrove, freshwater marsh, and seagrass meadows, providing insights into the magnitude of C accumulation and lateral aquatic C transport. Rates of net C production in the riverine mangrove forest exceeded those reported for many tropical systems, including terrestrial forests, but there are considerable uncertainties around those estimates due to the high potential for gain and loss of C through aquatic fluxes. C production was approximately balanced between gain and loss in Everglades marshes; however, the contribution of periphyton increases uncertainty in these estimates. Moreover, while the approaches used for these initial estimates were informative, a resolved approach for addressing areas of uncertainty is critically needed for coastal wetland ecosystems. Once resolved, these C balance estimates, in conjunction with an understanding of drivers and key ecosystem feedbacks, can inform cross-system studies of ecosystem response to long-term changes in climate, hydrologic management, and other land use along coastlines

The role of the Everglades Mangrove Ecotone Region (EMER) in regulating nutrient cycling and wetland productivity in South Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rivera-Monroy, Victor H.; Twilley, Robert R.; Davis, Stephen E.; Childers, Daniel L.; Simard, Marc; Chambers, Randolph; Jaffe, Rudolf; Boyer, Joseph N.; Rudnick, David T.; Zhang, Keqi; Castañeda-Moya, Edward; Ewe, Sharon M.L.; Price, Rene M.; Coronado-Molina, Carlos; Ross, Michael; Smith, Thomas J.; Michot, Beatrice; Meselhe, Ehab; Nuttle, William; Troxler, Tiffany G.; Noe, Gregory B.

2011-01-01

The authors summarize the main findings of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (FCE-LTER) program in the EMER, within the context of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), to understand how regional processes, mediated by water flow, control population and ecosystem dynamics across the EMER landscape. Tree canopies with maximum height -1) in the calcareous marl substrate and long hydroperiod. Phosphorus limits the EMER and its freshwater watersheds due to the lack of terrigenous sediment input and the phosphorus-limited nature of the freshwater Everglades. Reduced freshwater delivery over the past 50 years, combined with Everglades compartmentalization and a 10 cm rise in coastal sea level, has led to the landward transgression (~1.5 km in 54 years) of the mangrove ecotone. Seasonal variation in freshwater input strongly controls the temporal variation of nitrogen and P exports (99%) from the Everglades to Florida Bay. Rapid changes in nutrient availability and vegetation distribution during the last 50 years show that future ecosystem restoration actions and land use decisions can exert a major influence, similar to sea level rise over the short term, on nutrient cycling and wetland productivity in the EMER.

McMurdo LTER: streamflow measurements in Taylor Valley

USGS Publications Warehouse

McKnight, D.; House, H.; Von Guerard, P.

1994-01-01

Has established a stream gaging network for the three major lake basins in Taylor Valley. These data are critical for determining nutrient budgets for the lake ecosystems and for understanding physical factors controlling microbial mats in the streams.

EnviroAtlas - Phoenix, AZ - One Meter Resolution Urban Land Cover Data (2010)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The EnviroAtlas Phoenix, AZ land cover (LC) data and map were generated from USDA NAIP (National Agricultural Imagery Program) four band (red, green, blue and near-infrared) aerial photography taken from June through September, 2010 at 1 m spatial resolution. Seven land cover classes were mapped: water, impervious surfaces, soil and barren land, trees and forest, shrubs, grass and herbaceous non-woody vegetation, and agriculture. An accuracy assessment using a completely random sampling of 598 land cover reference points yielded an overall accuracy of 69.2%. The area mapped includes the entirety of the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research (CAP-LTER) area, which was classified by the Environmental Remote Sensing and Geoinformatics Lab (ERSG) at Arizona State University. The land cover dataset also includes an area of approximately 625 square kilometers which is located north of Phoenix. This section was classified by the EPA land cover classification team. This dataset was produced by the US EPA to support research and online mapping activities related to EnviroAtlas. EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas) allows the user to interact with a web-based, easy-to-use, mapping application to view and analyze multiple ecosystem services for the contiguous United States. The dataset is available as downloadable data (https://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/ORD/EnviroAtlas) or as an EnviroAtlas map service. Additional descriptive information about each at

Framework for Building Collaborative Research Environment

DOE PAGES

Devarakonda, Ranjeet; Palanisamy, Giriprakash; San Gil, Inigo

2014-10-25

Wide range of expertise and technologies are the key to solving some global problems. Semantic web technology can revolutionize the nature of how scientific knowledge is produced and shared. The semantic web is all about enabling machine-machine readability instead of a routine human-human interaction. Carefully structured data, as in machine readable data is the key to enabling these interactions. Drupal is an example of one such toolset that can render all the functionalities of Semantic Web technology right out of the box. Drupal’s content management system automatically stores the data in a structured format enabling it to be machine. Withinmore » this paper, we will discuss how Drupal promotes collaboration in a research setting such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Long Term Ecological Research Center (LTER) and how it is effectively using the Semantic Web in achieving this.« less

Environmental Factors Influencing Antarctic Krill Recruitment along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cope, J. S.; Steinberg, D. K.; Thanassekos, S.

2016-02-01

Climate warming in the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is impacting pelagic food web structure. Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba, are a critical food-web link between primary producers and higher trophic levels such as penguins, seals, and whales. Climate-induced changes in krill recruitment are thus an important consideration when evaluating future WAP ecosystem trends. We examined long-term (1993 to 2015) and spatial (north/south) changes in summer krill recruitment. Krill were collected within the epipelagic zone during the Palmer Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research (PAL LTER) cruises within a 700 x 260 km sampling grid along the WAP. Krill from each tow were enumerated and their lengths were measured. A simple recruitment index based on the proportion of krill smaller than 40 mm (F40) was used in our analyses. There was a significant 5-6-year cyclical trend in F40. In the last 5 years, the southern population has begun to deviate from this cycle. To investigate potential environmental factors leading to this pattern in recruitment success, F40 was regressed with environmental factors and climatological indices for both the whole PAL LTER grid and north/south sub-regions. Over the whole grid, F40 was positively correlated with chlorophyll a and primary production, both with a 1-year lag. Spatially, these trends were strongest for chlorophyll in the north, and primary production in the south. Krill recruitment in the south was also correlated to climatological indices such as the Multivariate El Niño/Southern Oscillation Index (MEI). These correlations could be used to forecast future krill population changes.

Soil data for a vegetation gradient located at Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research Site, interior Alaska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Manies, Kristen L.; Harden, Jennifer W.; Fuller, Christopher C.; Xu, Xiaomei; McGeehin, John P.

2016-07-28

Boreal soils play an important role in the global carbon cycle owing to the large amount of carbon stored within this northern region. To understand how carbon and nitrogen storage varied among different ecosystems, a vegetation gradient was established in the Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, located in interior Alaska. The ecosystems represented are a black spruce (Picea mariana)–feather moss (for example, Hylocomium sp.) forest ecosystem, a shrub-dominated ecosystem, a tussock-grass-dominated ecosystem, a sedge-dominated ecosystem, and a rich fen ecosystem. Here, we report the physical, chemical, and descriptive properties for the soil cores collected at these sites. These data have been used to calculate carbon and nitrogen accumulation rates on a long-term (decadal and century) basis (Manies and others, in press).

Assessment of climate change effects on mountain ecosystems through a cross-site analysis in the Alps and Apennines.

PubMed

Rogora, M; Frate, L; Carranza, M L; Freppaz, M; Stanisci, A; Bertani, I; Bottarin, R; Brambilla, A; Canullo, R; Carbognani, M; Cerrato, C; Chelli, S; Cremonese, E; Cutini, M; Di Musciano, M; Erschbamer, B; Godone, D; Iocchi, M; Isabellon, M; Magnani, A; Mazzola, L; Morra di Cella, U; Pauli, H; Petey, M; Petriccione, B; Porro, F; Psenner, R; Rossetti, G; Scotti, A; Sommaruga, R; Tappeiner, U; Theurillat, J-P; Tomaselli, M; Viglietti, D; Viterbi, R; Vittoz, P; Winkler, M; Matteucci, G

2018-05-15

Mountain ecosystems are sensitive and reliable indicators of climate change. Long-term studies may be extremely useful in assessing the responses of high-elevation ecosystems to climate change and other anthropogenic drivers from a broad ecological perspective. Mountain research sites within the LTER (Long-Term Ecological Research) network are representative of various types of ecosystems and span a wide bioclimatic and elevational range. Here, we present a synthesis and a review of the main results from ecological studies in mountain ecosystems at 20 LTER sites in Italy, Switzerland and Austria covering in most cases more than two decades of observations. We analyzed a set of key climate parameters, such as temperature and snow cover duration, in relation to vascular plant species composition, plant traits, abundance patterns, pedoclimate, nutrient dynamics in soils and water, phenology and composition of freshwater biota. The overall results highlight the rapid response of mountain ecosystems to climate change, with site-specific characteristics and rates. As temperatures increased, vegetation cover in alpine and subalpine summits increased as well. Years with limited snow cover duration caused an increase in soil temperature and microbial biomass during the growing season. Effects on freshwater ecosystems were also observed, in terms of increases in solutes, decreases in nitrates and changes in plankton phenology and benthos communities. This work highlights the importance of comparing and integrating long-term ecological data collected in different ecosystems for a more comprehensive overview of the ecological effects of climate change. Nevertheless, there is a need for (i) adopting co-located monitoring site networks to improve our ability to obtain sound results from cross-site analysis, (ii) carrying out further studies, in particular short-term analyses with fine spatial and temporal resolutions to improve our understanding of responses to extreme events, and (iii) increasing comparability and standardizing protocols across networks to distinguish local patterns from global patterns. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phosphorus retention in stormwater control structures across streamflow in urban and suburban watersheds

EPA Science Inventory

Recent studies have shown that stormwater control measures (SCMs) are less effective at retaining phosphorus (P) than nitrogen. We compared P retention between two urban/suburban SCMs and their adjacent restored stream reaches at the Baltimore Long-Term Ecological Study (LTER) s...

Identifying thresholds in pattern-process relationships: a new cross-scale interactions experiment at the Jornada Basin LTER

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Interactions among ecological patterns and processes at multiple scales play a significant role in threshold behaviors in arid systems. Black grama grasslands and mesquite shrublands are hypothesized to operate under unique sets of feedbacks: grasslands are maintained by fine-scale biotic feedbacks ...

Coweeta (CWT) [USFS, LTER

Treesearch

Chelcy Miniat

2013-01-01

The EcoTrends Editorial Committee sorted through vase amounts of historical and ongoing data from 50 ecological sites in the continental United States including Alaska, several islands, and Antarctica to present in a logical format the variables commonly collected. This report presents a subset of data and variables from these sites and illustrates through detailed...

A Field Portable Hyperspectral Goniometer for Coastal Characterization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bachmann, Charles M.; Gray, Deric; Abelev, Andrei; Philpot, William; Fusina, Robert A.; Musser, Joseph A.; Vermillion, Michael; Doctor, Katarina; White, Maurice; Georgiev, Georgi

2012-01-01

During an airborne multi-sensor remote sensing experiment at the Virginia Coast Reserve (VCR) Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in June 2011 (VCR '11), first measurements were taken with the new NRL Goniometer for Outdoor Portable Hyperspectral Earth Reflectance (GOPHER). GOPHER measures the angular distribution of hyperspectral reflectance. GOPHER was constructed for NRL by Spectra Vista Corporation (SVC) and the University of Lethbridge through a capital equipment purchase in 2010. The GOPHER spectrometer is an SVC HR -1024, which measures hyperspectral reflectance over the range from 350 -2500 nm, the visible, near infrared, and short-wave infrared. During measurements, the spectrometer travels along a zenith quarter -arc track that can rotate in azimuth, allowing for measurement of the bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) over the whole hemisphere. The zenith arc has a radius of approximately 2m, and the spectrometer scan pattern can be programmed on the fly during calibration and validation efforts. The spectrometer and zenith arc assembly can be raised and lowered along a mast to allow for measurement of uneven terrain or vegetation canopies of moderate height. Hydraulics on the chassis allow for leveling of the instrument in the field. At just over 400 lbs, GOPHER is a field portable instrument and can be transformed into a compact trailer assembly for movement over long distances in the field.

Enhancing the Understanding of Marine Ecosystems through Teleducation and Field Experiences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macko, S.

2006-12-01

This project is an outreach and education program with a partner in the K-12 schools at Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. It endeavors to build a community more knowledgeable of the importance the ocean plays daily in our lives, and our own impact on the ocean. It is an program built in stages that: 1) Establish high speed teleducation linkages with Eastern Shore of Virginia High Schools, for live interactive, classes (teleducation) for earth science teachers enabling them to remotely participate in University of Virginia classes in Oceanography (designed on a faculty development basis or acquire NSTA certification in Earth Science Education, as well as participation by seniors in the Accomack Schools; 2) Establish field experiences for teachers and selected students that involve travel to both the Virginia Coast Reserve Long Term Ecological Research (VCR/LTER) Center, UVA and the NOAA Beaufort, NC Laboratory to observe first- hand the science programs at those locations and participate in cutting edge coastal marine research efforts. These experiences will not only improve student understanding of the ocean-atmosphere biogeophysical system, but also encourage students to explore the sciences as a field of study and possible vocation. Advanced high school students and science teachers from Accomack County Public Schools participated in an experience involving field and laboratory methods employed in a NSF-sponsored study of the coupled natural-human dynamics on the Eastern Shore of Virginia over the past 500 years (NSF-Biocomplexity). Students and teachers worked with researchers of the VCR facility in Oyster, VA, collected sediment cores from Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and traveled to the Organic Geochemistry Laboratory at UVA, in Charlottesville, VA to prepare and analyze samples for isotopic and palynological information. In a first of its kind connectivity, in June/July, 2006, using high speed internet connections, a summer class in Oceanography was live, interactively broadcast (teleducation) from UVA to Arcadia High School on the Eastern Shore, allowing teachers in the Accomack School district to receive university credit without leaving their home classrooms 250 miles from UVA.

Seasonal Patterns of Dry Deposition at a High-Elevation Site in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oldani, Kaley M.; Mladenov, Natalie; Williams, Mark W.; Campbell, Cari M.; Lipson, David A.

2017-10-01

In the Colorado Rocky Mountains, high-elevation barren soils are deficient in carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) and enriched in nitrogen (N). The seasonal variability of dry deposition and its contributions to alpine elemental budgets is critical to understanding how dry deposition influences biogeochemical cycling in high-elevation environments. In this 2 year study, we evaluated dry and wet deposition inputs to the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (NWT LTER) site in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The total organic C flux in wet + dry (including soluble and particulate C) deposition was >30 kg C ha-1 yr-1 and represents a substantial input for this C-limited environment. Our side-by-side comparison of dry deposition collectors with and without marble insert indicated that the insert improved retention of dry deposition by 28%. Annual average dry deposition fluxes of water-soluble organic carbon (4.25 kg C ha-1 yr-1) and other water-soluble constituents, including ammonium (0.16 kg NH4+ha-1 yr-1), nitrate (1.99 kg NO3- ha-1 yr-1), phosphate (0.08 kg PO43- ha-1 yr-1), and sulfate (1.20 kg SO42- ha-1 yr-1), were comparable to those in wet deposition, with highest values measured in the summer. Backward trajectory analyses implicate air masses passing through the arid west and Four Corners, USA, as dominant source areas for dry deposition, especially in spring months. Synchronous temporal patterns of deposition observed at the NWT LTER site and a distant Rocky Mountain National Park Clean Air Status and Trends Network site indicate that seasonal dry deposition patterns are regional phenomena with important implications for the larger Rocky Mountain region.

Recurrent seascape units identify key ecological processes along the western Antarctic Peninsula.

PubMed

Bowman, Jeff S; Kavanaugh, Maria T; Doney, Scott C; Ducklow, Hugh W

2018-04-10

The western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a bellwether of global climate change and natural laboratory for identifying interactions between climate and ecosystems. The Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) project has collected data on key ecological and environmental processes along the WAP since 1993. To better understand how key ecological parameters are changing across space and time, we developed a novel seascape classification approach based on in situ temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, nitrate + nitrite, phosphate, and silicate. We anticipate that this approach will be broadly applicable to other geographical areas. Through the application of self-organizing maps (SOMs), we identified eight recurrent seascape units (SUs) in these data. These SUs have strong fidelity to known regional water masses but with an additional layer of biogeochemical detail, allowing us to identify multiple distinct nutrient profiles in several water masses. To identify the temporal and spatial distribution of these SUs, we mapped them across the Palmer LTER sampling grid via objective mapping of the original parameters. Analysis of the abundance and distribution of SUs since 1993 suggests two year types characterized by the partitioning of chlorophyll a into SUs with different spatial characteristics. By developing generalized linear models for correlated, time-lagged external drivers, we conclude that early spring sea ice conditions exert a strong influence on the distribution of chlorophyll a and nutrients along the WAP, but not necessarily the total chlorophyll a inventory. Because the distribution and density of phytoplankton biomass can have an impact on biomass transfer to the upper trophic levels, these results highlight anticipated links between the WAP marine ecosystem and climate. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Designing an End-to-End System for Data Storage, Analysis, and Visualization for an Urban Environmental Observatory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGuire, M. P.; Welty, C.; Gangopadhyay, A.; Karabatis, G.; Chen, Z.

2006-05-01

The urban environment is formed by complex interactions between natural and human dominated systems, the study of which requires the collection and analysis of very large datasets that span many disciplines. Recent advances in sensor technology and automated data collection have improved the ability to monitor urban environmental systems and are making the idea of an urban environmental observatory a reality. This in turn has created a number of potential challenges in data management and analysis. We present the design of an end-to-end system to store, analyze, and visualize data from a prototype urban environmental observatory based at the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, a National Science Foundation Long Term Ecological Research site (BES LTER). We first present an object-relational design of an operational database to store high resolution spatial datasets as well as data from sensor networks, archived data from the BES LTER, data from external sources such as USGS NWIS, EPA Storet, and metadata. The second component of the system design includes a spatiotemporal data warehouse consisting of a data staging plan and a multidimensional data model designed for the spatiotemporal analysis of monitoring data. The system design also includes applications for multi-resolution exploratory data analysis, multi-resolution data mining, and spatiotemporal visualization based on the spatiotemporal data warehouse. Also the system design includes interfaces with water quality models such as HSPF, SWMM, and SWAT, and applications for real-time sensor network visualization, data discovery, data download, QA/QC, and backup and recovery, all of which are based on the operational database. The system design includes both internet and workstation-based interfaces. Finally we present the design of a laboratory for spatiotemporal analysis and visualization as well as real-time monitoring of the sensor network.

GCE Data Toolbox for MATLAB - a software framework for automating environmental data processing, quality control and documentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheldon, W.; Chamblee, J.; Cary, R. H.

2013-12-01

Environmental scientists are under increasing pressure from funding agencies and journal publishers to release quality-controlled data in a timely manner, as well as to produce comprehensive metadata for submitting data to long-term archives (e.g. DataONE, Dryad and BCO-DMO). At the same time, the volume of digital data that researchers collect and manage is increasing rapidly due to advances in high frequency electronic data collection from flux towers, instrumented moorings and sensor networks. However, few pre-built software tools are available to meet these data management needs, and those tools that do exist typically focus on part of the data management lifecycle or one class of data. The GCE Data Toolbox has proven to be both a generalized and effective software solution for environmental data management in the Long Term Ecological Research Network (LTER). This open source MATLAB software library, developed by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER program, integrates metadata capture, creation and management with data processing, quality control and analysis to support the entire data lifecycle. Raw data can be imported directly from common data logger formats (e.g. SeaBird, Campbell Scientific, YSI, Hobo), as well as delimited text files, MATLAB files and relational database queries. Basic metadata are derived from the data source itself (e.g. parsed from file headers) and by value inspection, and then augmented using editable metadata templates containing boilerplate documentation, attribute descriptors, code definitions and quality control rules. Data and metadata content, quality control rules and qualifier flags are then managed together in a robust data structure that supports database functionality and ensures data validity throughout processing. A growing suite of metadata-aware editing, quality control, analysis and synthesis tools are provided with the software to support managing data using graphical forms and command-line functions, as well as developing automated workflows for unattended processing. Finalized data and structured metadata can be exported in a wide variety of text and MATLAB formats or uploaded to a relational database for long-term archiving and distribution. The GCE Data Toolbox can be used as a complete, light-weight solution for environmental data and metadata management, but it can also be used in conjunction with other cyber infrastructure to provide a more comprehensive solution. For example, newly acquired data can be retrieved from a Data Turbine or Campbell LoggerNet Database server for quality control and processing, then transformed to CUAHSI Observations Data Model format and uploaded to a HydroServer for distribution through the CUAHSI Hydrologic Information System. The GCE Data Toolbox can also be leveraged in analytical workflows developed using Kepler or other systems that support MATLAB integration or tool chaining. This software can therefore be leveraged in many ways to help researchers manage, analyze and distribute the data they collect.

Tuning and Robustness Analysis for the Orion Absolute Navigation System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Holt, Greg N.; Zanetti, Renato; D'Souza, Christopher

2013-01-01

The Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) is currently under development as NASA's next-generation spacecraft for exploration missions beyond Low Earth Orbit. The MPCV is set to perform an orbital test ight, termed Exploration Flight Test 1 (EFT-1), some time in late 2014. The navigation system for the Orion spacecraft is being designed in a Multi-Organizational Design Environment (MODE) team including contractor and NASA personnel. The system uses an Extended Kalman Filter to process measurements and determine the state. The design of the navigation system has undergone several iterations and modi cations since its inception, and continues as a work-in-progress. This paper seeks to show the e orts made to-date in tuning the lter for the EFT-1 mission and instilling appropriate robustness into the system to meet the requirements of manned space ight. The results generally show Monte Carlo error performance bounded by the lter uncertainty for all phases of ight. Some future items of investigation are presented related to suspected anomalies in the trajectory truth reference le.

Assessing the skill of hydrology models at simulating the water cycle in the HJ Andrews LTER: Assumptions, strengths and weaknesses

EPA Science Inventory

Simulated impacts of climate on hydrology can vary greatly as a function of the scale of the input data, model assumptions, and model structure. Four models are commonly used to simulate streamflow in model assumptions, and model structure. Four models are commonly used to simu...

Utilizing the trophic interactions of nematodes as indicators of changes in soil biota associated with loss of Bouteloua eriopoda grasslands

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

A theoretical framework of desertification has been developed within the Jornada Basin LTER that involves the rate of change and magnitude of wind and water erosion affected by spatial variation in the distribution of gap size changes from high connectivity of vegetated patches in grasslands to low ...

Scientific Outreach for K-6 Students: The LTER Schoolyard Children's Book Series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, M.; McKnight, D.

2009-04-01

Here we present information on the many steps involved in writing and publishing a science book for children. This talk builds on the success of the children's' book: My Water Comes from the Mountains, written by Tiffany Fourment and illustrated by Dorothy Emerling, and sponsored by the NWT LTER outreach program. The narrative of the book takes children of ages 7-10 on an illustrative journey from glacial and snowpack sources high on the Continental Divide to the plains and water in their faucet tap, introducing them to the distinctive wildlife and ecosystems along the way, including the diverse uses and human impact of water in Boulder Creek and St. Vrain watersheds. We then talk about developing and distributing a teachers guide and materials packet developed for instructional use in the classroom and based on the children's book: MY H2O: My Water Comes from the Mountains Teacher's Curriculum Guide and Kit; edited by Colleen Flanagan, organizational authors Colleen Flanagan, Kenneth Nova, and Tiffany Fourment. The Teacher's Guide adds accompanying lessons, incorporation of water-wise sustainability in the classroom and community, and improvement of environmental education teaching skills with exemplary projects and practical edification. Direct feedback from the teachers was incorporated into the Guide, and their questions about the water cycle in the Front Range were addressed thoroughly. Utilizing local expertise and resources, the Guide encompassed four themes: 1) Water cycle, 2) Watershed, 3) Flora/Fauna/Life Zones, and 4) Human Interaction/Impact with Water. Each section includes a thorough explanation of 7-8 interactive projects, along with corresponding background information, suggested approaches and the book's parallel page number(s) for supplementary purposes. We end by showing how this model was used to develop the children's book "The Lost Seal (http://www.mcmlter.org/lostseal/) as the next stage in a national program. The Lost Seal children's story, written by Antarctic scientist Diane McKnight, describes the first documented encounter with a live seal in the remote McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. Additional website information on the children's book "My Water Comes from the Mountains" is available at http://intranet.lternet.edu/archives/documents/Newsletters/NetworkNews/fall04/fall04_pg15.htm. All 433 pieces of orginal artwork for My Water Comes from the Mountains can be viewed at http://culter.colorado.edu/exec/Mywater/mywater_search_page.cgi.

U.S. EPA, Pesticide Product Label, FOOD PLANT FOGGING INSECTICIDE, 01/30/1990

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

2011-04-14

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From precipitation to groundwater baseflow in a native prairie ecosystem: a regional study of the Konza LTER in the Flint Hills of Kansas, USA

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Methods are developed to study hydrologic interactions across the surficial/groundwater interface in a native prairie ecosystem. Surficial ecohydrologic processes are simulated with the USDA’s EPIC model using daily climate data from the Kansas Weather Data Library, vegetation and soil data from the...

Landscaping practices, land use patterns and stormwater quantity and quality in urban watersheds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miles, B.; Band, L. E.

2011-12-01

Increasing quantity and decreasing quality of urban stormwater threatens biodiversity in local streams and reservoirs, jeopardizes water supplies, and ultimately contributes to estuarine eutrophication. To estimate the effects that present and alternative landscaping practices and land use patterns may have on urban stormwater quantity and quality, simulations of existing land use/land cover using the Regional Hydro-Ecologic Simulation System (RHESSys), a process-based surface hydrology and biogeochemistry model, were developed for watersheds in Baltimore, MD (as part of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) NSF Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site) and Durham, NC (as part of the NSF Urban Long-Term Research Area (ULTRA) program). The influence of land use patterns and landscaping practices on nutrient export in urban watersheds has been explored as part of the BES; this work has focused on improving our understanding of how residential landscaping practices (i.e. lawn fertilization rates) vary across land use and socioeconomic gradients. Elsewhere, others have explored the political ecology of residential landscaping practices - seeking to understand the economic, political, and cultural influences on the practice of high-input residential turf-grass management. Going forward, my research will synthesize and extend this prior work. Rather than pre-supposing predominant residential land use patterns and landscaping practices (i.e. lower-density periphery development incorporating high-input turf landscapes) alternate land use and landscaping scenarios (e.g. higher-density/transit-oriented development, rain gardens, vegetable gardens, native plant/xeriscaping) will be developed through interviews/focus groups with stakeholders (citizens, public officials, developers, non-profits). These scenarios will then be applied to the RHESSys models already developed for catchments in Baltimore and Durham. The modeled scenario results will be used to identify alternate land use patterns and landscaping practices that would: (1) help to reduce non-point sources of nutrient pollution in urban watersheds; and (2) be likely to gain public support. This research will inform sustainable development policy while furthering interdisciplinary research in the fields of planning and water resource management.

Using science-policy integration to improve ecosystem science and inform decision-making: Lessons from U.S. LTERs

USGS Publications Warehouse

Templer, Pamela H.; Lambert, Kathleen Fallon; Weiss, Marissa; Baron, Jill S.; Driscoll, Charles T.; Foster, David R.

2016-01-01

This Special Session took place on 12 August 2015 at the 100th Meeting of the Ecological Society of America in Baltimore, Maryland, and was conceived of and coordinated by the Science Policy Exchange. The Science Policy Exchange (SPE) is a boundary- spanning organization established to work at the interface of science and policy to confront pressing environmental challenges . SPE was created as a collaborative of six research institutions to increase the impact of science on environmental decisions. This session was organized by Marissa Weiss and co- organized by Pamela Templer, Kathleen Fallon Lambert, Jill Baron, Charles Driscoll, and David Foster. Along the theme of ESA ’ s Centennial meeting, the group of presenters represented collectively more than 100 years of experience in integration of science, policy, and outreach.

The Ecosystem-Economy Relationship: Insights from Six Forested LTER Sites

Treesearch

Paul N. Courant; Ernie Niemi; Ed. Whitelaw

1997-01-01

The debate over forest-management policy in the U.S. often is cast as a choice between jobs and [pick the environmental attribute of your choice]. The purpose of this paper is neither to rehash nor to characterize these conflicts, but to discuss insights into them that have emerged from an examination of the forest-economy relationship in different regions of the U.S....

Development of a Cost Effective Organization Model for the Shipbuilding Welder Labor Workforce

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

nation and intercept and destroy enem y aircraft under al l weather conditions (T/O 8840, 1990). The m ission statem ent is a set of generalized...lter the cou rse of the original pl an. In essence, no plan ever s urvives firs t contact with the enemy, and the enem y, in this case is m ulti

Simulating Energy, Water and Carbon Fluxes at the Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Site

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beltran-Przekurat, A. B.; Pielke, R. A.; Morgan, J. A.; Burke, I. C.

2005-12-01

Coupled atmospheric-biospheric models are a particularly valuable tool for studying the potential effects of land-use and land-cover changes on the near-surface atmosphere since the atmosphere and biosphere are allowed to dynamically interact through the surface and canopy energy balance. GEMRAMS is a coupled atmospheric-biospheric model comprised of an atmospheric model, RAMS, and an ecophysiological process-based model, GEMTM. In the first part of this study, the soil-vegetation-atmosphere-transfer (SVAT) scheme, LEAF2, from RAMS, coupled with GEMTM, are used to simulate energy, water and carbon fluxes over different cropping systems (winter wheat and irrigated corn) and over a mixed C3/C4 shortgrass prairie located at the USDA-ARS Central Plains Experimental Range near Nunn, Colorado, the LTER Shortgrass Steppe site. The new SVAT scheme, GEMLEAF, is forced with air temperature and humidity, wind speed and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). Calculated canopy temperature and relative humidity, soil moisture and temperature and PAR are used to compute sunlit/shaded leaf photosynthesis (for C3 and C4 plant types) and respiration. Photosynthate is allocated to leaves, shoots, roots and reproductive organs with variable partition coefficients, which are functions of soil water conditions. As water stress increases, the fraction of photosynthate allocated to root growth increases. Leaf area index (LAI) is estimated from daily leaf biomass growth, using the vegetation-prescribed specific leaf area. Canopy conductance, computed and based on photosynthesis and relative humidity, is used to calculate latent heat flux. Simulated energy and CO2 fluxes are compared to observations collected using Bowen ratio flux towers during two growing seasons. Seasonality of the fluxes reflecting different plant phenologies agrees well with the observed patterns. In the second part of this study, simulations for two clear days are performed with GEMRAMS over a model domain centered at the SGS site. Simulated spatial differences in the energy fluxes can be associated with the highly heterogeneous landscape in this area.

Land Use and Climate Alter Carbon Dynamics in Watersheds of Chesapeake Bay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaushal, S.; Duan, S.; Grese, M.; Pennino, M. J.; Belt, K. T.; Findlay, S.; Groffman, P. M.; Mayer, P. M.; Murthy, S.; Blomquist, J.

2011-12-01

There have been long-term changes in the quantity of organic carbon in streams and rivers globally. Shifts in the quality of organic carbon due to environmental changes may also impact downstream ecosystem metabolism and fate and transport of contaminants. We investigated long-term impacts of land use and hydrologic variability on organic carbon transport in watersheds of the Baltimore Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site and large rivers of the Chesapeake Bay. In small and medium-sized watersheds of the Baltimore LTER site, urban land use increased organic carbon concentrations in streams several-fold compared to forest and agricultural watersheds. Enzymatic activities of stream microbes were significantly altered across watershed land use during a record wet year. During the wet year, short-term bioassays showed that bioavailable dissolved organic carbon varied seasonally, but comprised a substantial proportion of the dissolved organic carbon pool. Similarly, measurements of biochemical oxygen demand across hydrologic variability suggest that reactive organic carbon export from small and medium-sized urban watersheds during storms can be substantial. At a larger regional scale, major tributaries such as the Potomac, Susquehanna, Patuxent, and Choptank rivers also showed similar variability as smaller watersheds in quantity and quality of organic carbon based on land use and climate. There were distinct isotopic values of d13C of particulate organic matter and fluorescence excitation emission matrices for rivers influenced by different land uses. Stable isotopic values of d13C of particulate organic matter and fluorescence excitation emission matrices showed marked seasonal changes in organic matter quality during spring floods in the Potomac River at Washington D.C. Across watershed size, there appeared to be differences in seasonal cycles of organic carbon quality and this may have been based on the degree of hydrologic connectivity between watersheds and streams and rivers. Overall, our results suggest that land use and climate can alter quantity and quality of carbon delivered from coastal watersheds and this may have impacts on downstream estuarine ecosystem processes.

Landscape-scale soil moisture heterogeneity and its influence on surface fluxes at the Jornada LTER site: Evaluating a new model parameterization for subgrid-scale soil moisture variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, I. T.; Prihodko, L.; Vivoni, E. R.; Denning, A. S.

2017-12-01

Arid and semiarid regions represent a large fraction of global land, with attendant importance of surface energy and trace gas flux to global totals. These regions are characterized by strong seasonality, especially in precipitation, that defines the level of ecosystem stress. Individual plants have been observed to respond non-linearly to increasing soil moisture stress, where plant function is generally maintained as soils dry down to a threshold at which rapid closure of stomates occurs. Incorporating this nonlinear mechanism into landscape-scale models can result in unrealistic binary "on-off" behavior that is especially problematic in arid landscapes. Subsequently, models have `relaxed' their simulation of soil moisture stress on evapotranspiration (ET). Unfortunately, these relaxations are not physically based, but are imposed upon model physics as a means to force a more realistic response. Previously, we have introduced a new method to represent soil moisture regulation of ET, whereby the landscape is partitioned into `BINS' of soil moisture wetness, each associated with a fractional area of the landscape or grid cell. A physically- and observationally-based nonlinear soil moisture stress function is applied, but when convolved with the relative area distribution represented by wetness BINS the system has the emergent property of `smoothing' the landscape-scale response without the need for non-physical impositions on model physics. In this research we confront BINS simulations of Bowen ratio, soil moisture variability and trace gas flux with soil moisture and eddy covariance observations taken at the Jornada LTER dryland site in southern New Mexico. We calculate the mean annual wetting cycle and associated variability about the mean state and evaluate model performance against this variability and time series of land surface fluxes from the highly instrumented Tromble Weir watershed. The BINS simulations capture the relatively rapid reaction to wetting events and more prolonged response to drying cycles, as opposed to binary behavior in the control.

Summertime grazing impact of the dominant macrozooplankton off the Western Antarctic Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bernard, Kim S.; Steinberg, Deborah K.; Schofield, Oscar M. E.

2012-04-01

The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a region of rapid climate change that is altering plankton community structure. To investigate how these changes may impact carbon and energy transfer in the pelagic food web, grazing rates of the five dominant macrozooplankton species (euphausiids Euphausia superba, Euphausia crystallorophias, and Thysanöessa macrura; the pteropod Limacina helicina, and the salp Salpa thompsoni) in the WAP were measured in January 2009 and 2010 as part of the Palmer Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) study. Measurements were made across the coastal-shelf-offshore and north-south gradients of the LTER survey grid. Highest grazing rates occurred offshore in both years, and in the south during 2009 and north during 2010, all associated with the presence of large localized salp blooms. During both years, E. superba was the major grazer at the coast, while S. thompsoni dominated grazing offshore. L. helicina was an important grazer throughout the study area during both years, but especially so over the shelf during 2009. During 2009, there was little difference in the relative importance of the macrozooplankton grazers along the north-south gradient. The presence of a salp bloom in the north during 2010, though, resulted in a distinct shift in the relative importance of major grazers from the euphausiids and L. helicina in the south to salps in the north. Grazing impact was low in coastal waters (≤0.3% of phytoplankton standing stock and ≤0.6% of primary productivity). In contrast, in the offshore waters, where salp blooms were observed, grazing impacts of up to 30% of standing stock and 169% of primary productivity were recorded. If S. thompsoni and L. helicina continue to expand their ranges and increase in abundance, the associated shift in the food web dynamics of the WAP will alter the regional flow of carbon through the WAP food webs and the export of carbon to depth.

AmeriFlux US-Skr Shark River Slough (Tower SRS-6) Everglades

DOE Data Explorer

Barr, Jordan G. [Everglades National Park; Fuentes, Jose [Pennsylvania State University

2016-01-01

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Skr Shark River Slough (Tower SRS-6) Everglades. Site Description - The Florida Everglades Shark River Slough Mangrove Forest site is located along the Shark River in the western region of Everglades National Park. Also referred to as site SRS6 of the Florida Coastal Everglades LTER program, freshwater in the mangrove riverine floods the forest floor under a meter of water twice per day. Transgressive discharge of freshwater from the Shark river follows annual rainfall distributions between the wet and dry seasons. Hurricane Wilma struck the site in October of 2005 causing significant damage. The tower was offline until the following October in order to continue temporally consistent measurements. In post-hurricane conditions, ecosystem respiration rates and solar irradiance transfer increased. 2007- 2008 measurements indicate that these factors led to an decline in both annual -NEE and daily NEE from pre-hurricane conditions in 2004-2005.

Engaging new generation of Arctic researchers: 14 years and counting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexeev, V. A.; Walsh, J. E.; Hock, R.; Loucks, D. J.; Kaden, U.

2016-12-01

Today, more than ever, an integrated cross-disciplinary approach is necessary to explain changes in the Arctic and understand their implications for the human environment. Advanced training and active involvement of early-career scientists is an important component of this cross-disciplinary approach. This effort led by the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) started in 2003. The NSF supported project that started in 2013 conducted four summer schools (one per year) focused on four themes in four different Arctic locations. It provided the participants with an interdisciplinary perspective on Arctic change and its impacts on diverse sectors of the North. It is linked to other ongoing long-term observational and educational programs (e.g. NABOS, Nansen and Amundsen Basins Observational System; LTER, Long Term Environmental Research) and targets young scientists by using the interdisciplinary and place-based setting to broaden their perspective on Arctic change and to enhance their communication skills. Each course for 15-25 people consisted of classroom and hands-on components and work with a multidisciplinary group of mentors on projects devoted to themes exemplified by the location. A specialist from the School of Education at UAF evaluated student's progress during the summer schools. Additionally, an anthropologist attended the 2016 summer school to study how students learn to build and assess models, as well as examine students' and instructors' attitudes toward science communication, which provided additional feedback about learning and teaching in these settings. Lessons learned during the 14 years of conducting summer schools, methods of attracting in-kind support and approaches to teaching students are prominently featured in this study. Activities during the two most recent schools, one conducted at the Toolik Lake Field Station on the Alaskan North Slope and another at the International Arctic Research Center of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2016 is another focus of this work.

A High Resolution Land Cover Data Product to Remove Urban Density Over-Estimation Bias for Coupled Urban-Vegetation-Atmosphere Interaction Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaffer, S. R.

2017-12-01

Coupled land-atmosphere interactions in urban settings modeled with the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) derive urban land cover from 30-meter resolution National Land Cover Database (NLCD) products. However, within urban areas, the categorical NLCD lose information of non-urban classifications whenever the impervious cover within a grid cell is above 0%, and the current method to determine urban area over estimates the actual area, leading to a bias of urban contribution. To address this bias of urban contribution an investigation is conducted by employing a 1-meter resolution land cover data product derived from the National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) dataset. Scenes during 2010 for the Central Arizona Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research (CAP-LTER) study area, roughly a 120 km x 100 km area containing metropolitan Phoenix, are adapted for use within WRF to determine the areal fraction and urban fraction of each WRF urban class. A method is shown for converting these NAIP data into classes corresponding to NLCD urban classes, and is evaluated in comparison with current WRF implementation using NLCD. Results are shown for comparisons of land cover products at the level of input data and aggregated to model resolution (1 km). The sensitivity of WRF short-term summertime pre-monsoon predictions within metropolitan Phoenix to different input data products of land cover, to method of aggregating these data to model grid scale (1 km), for the default and derived parameter values are examined with the Noah mosaic land surface scheme adapted for using these data. Issues with adapting these non-urban NAIP classes for use in the mosaic approach will also be discussed.

The role of the everglades mangrove ecotone region (EMER) in regulating nutrient cycling and wetland productivity in South Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rivera-Monroy, V. H.; Twilley, R.R.; Davis, S.E.; Childers, D.L.; Simard, M.; Chambers, R.; Jaffe, R.; Boyer, J.N.; Rudnick, D.T.; Zhang, K.; Castaneda-Moya, E.; Ewe, S.M.L.; Price, R.M.; Coronado-Molina, C.; Ross, M.; Smith, T.J.; Michot, B.; Meselhe, E.; Nuttle, W.; Troxler, T.G.; Noe, G.B.

2011-01-01

The authors summarize the main findings of the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (FCE-LTER) program in the EMER, within the context of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), to understand how regional processes, mediated by water flow, control population and ecosystem dynamics across the EMER landscape. Tree canopies with maximum height <3 m cover 49% of the EMER, particularly in the SE region. These scrub/dwarf mangroves are the result of a combination of low soil phosphorus (P < 59 ??g P g dw-1) in the calcareous marl substrate and long hydroperiod. Phosphorus limits the EMER and its freshwater watersheds due to the lack of terrigenous sediment input and the phosphorus-limited nature of the freshwater Everglades. Reduced freshwater delivery over the past 50years, combined with Everglades compartmentalization and a 10 cm rise in coastal sea level, has led to the landward transgression (???1.5 km in 54 years) of the mangrove ecotone. Seasonal variation in freshwater input strongly controls the temporal variation of nitrogen and P exports (99%) from the Everglades to Florida Bay. Rapid changes in nutrient availability and vegetation distribution during the last 50years show that future ecosystem restoration actions and land use decisions can exert a major influence, similar to sea level rise over the short term, on nutrient cycling and wetland productivity in the EMER. Copyright ?? 2011 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

The hydrogeology of urbanization: The lost springs of Washington, D.C., late Tertiary and Quaternary sediments of D.C., and the Baltimore Long Term Ecological Research site (LTER): Chapter

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bhaskar, Aditi; Pavich, Milan J.; Sharp, John M.

2015-01-01

Urbanization is a major process now shaping the environment. This field trip looks at the hydrogeology of the general Washington, D.C., area and focuses on the city's lost springs. Until 150 years ago, springs and shallow dug wells were the main source of drinking water for residents of Washington, D.C. Celebrating the nation's bicentennial, Garnett P. Williams of the U.S. Geological Survey examined changes in water supply and water courses since 1776. He examined old newspaper files to determine the location of the city's springs. This field trip visits sites of some of these springs (few of which are now flowing), discusses the hydrologic impacts of urbanization and the general geological setting, and finishes with the Baltimore Long Term Ecological Research site at Dead Run and its findings. The field trip visits some familiar locations in the Washington, D.C., area, and gives insights into their often hidden hydrologic past and present.

Integrating communication theory and practice: Successes and challenges in boundary-spanning work

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weiss, M.; Fallon Lambert, K.

2014-12-01

The Science Policy Exchange (SPE) is a consortium of leaders in ecosystem research united to facilitate science from innovation to impact. In our unique model, we catalyze actionable science on pressing environmental issues such as climate change, and undertake comprehensive stakeholder engagement, public communication, and policy outreach. Built on more than 10 years of experience creating programs at the interface of science and policy at Hubbard Brook, Harvard Forest, and other LTER sites, we apply science communication research to practice in various ways depending on the context and problem being addressed. In keeping with the research on co-production and the importance of establishing credibility, salience, and legitimacy, we engage stakeholders from the outset of each project. Stakeholders and scientists collaborate to define the scope of the project, frame questions relevant to society, and define communication products to meet their needs. To promote broader distribution and uptake, we combine message development, storytelling, and media training to craft and deliver relatable stories that tap into news values and human values. Three recent SPE successes include: (1) Wildlands and Woodlands: A regional forest conservation report released in 2010 that generated 137 media stories and influenced land conservation policy, (2) Changes to the Land: A suite of communication products developed in 2013 for a landscape scenarios project in Massachusetts that saturated the state's media markets and have been widely cited by policymakers, and (3) Co-benefits of Carbon Standards: A national air quality report released in 2014 that was cited in 76 media stories and helped reframe the national debate on carbon dioxide emissions standards in terms of their potential local health and environmental benefits. We will describe our successful applications of science communication research and discuss several critical disconnections between research and practice. These include, how much and what form of stakeholder engagement is most appropriate for a given project? How does the state of the science and the current policy context shape the pathways to impact and associated communication strategies? What can we learn from advocacy campaign to make our science communication sustained and more effective?

Small watershed-scale research and the challenges ahead

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larsen, M. C.; Glynn, P. D.

2008-12-01

For the past century, Federal mission science agencies (eg. USFS, NRCS, ARS, USGS) have had the long- term agency goals, infrastructure, and research staff to conduct research and data collection in small watersheds as well as support these activities for non-Federal partners. The National Science Foundation has been a strong partner with the Federal mission science agencies, through the LTER network, which is dependent on Federally supported research sites, and more recently with the emerging CUAHSI, WATERS, CZEN, and NEON initiatives. Much of the NSF-supported research builds on the foundations provided by their Federally supported partners, who sustain the long-term, extensive monitoring activity and research sites, including making long-term data available to all users via public interfaces. The future of these programs, and their enhancement/expansion to face the intensifying concurrent challenges of population growth, land-use change, and climate change, is dependent on a well-funded national commitment to basic science. Such a commitment will allow the scientific community to advance our understanding of these scientific challenges and to synthesize our understanding among research sites and at the national scale. Small watersheds serve as essential platforms where hypotheses can be tested, as sentinels for climate change, and as a basis for comparing and scaling up local information and syntheses to regional and continental scales. The science guides resource management and mitigation decisions and is fundamental to the development of predictive models. Furthermore, small-watershed research and monitoring programs are generally undervalued because many research questions that can be addressed now or in the future were not anticipated when the sites were initiated. Some examples include: 1) the quantification, characterization, and understanding of how emerging contaminants, personal care products, and endocrine disruptors affect organisms - substances that could not be detected until the recent increased sensitivity of modern techniques; 2) the recognition of changing climate and its effects on already-stressed water resources and ecosystems; 3) more integrated monitoring and modeling of ecosystem processes and quantification of ecosystem services. Historical hydrological and biogeochemical information available at USGS and other watershed-research and -monitoring sites can now be used in conjunction with active monitoring of biota and biological processes (especially those involving plants, invertebrates and microbes). The results will help provide a more nationally consistent framework for evaluating ecosystem health, and assessing ecosystem services, in the face of changing climate and land-use. These, and related science questions and societal issues are complex and require strong collaborations across disciplinary and organizational boundaries. Along with a well-funded national commitment to basic watershed research, the USGS continually seeks to strengthen its small-watershed and ecosystem-science programs through partnerships with NSF, State, and Federal agencies. Given the growing U.S. population, continual development in water-scarce regions, and general water- and soil-resource stress under competing national interests and priorities, the role of basic watershed-scale research and monitoring is essential because of its unique niche in the development of the improved environmental understanding and predictive models needed by resource managers.

Proceedings of the first U.S. Geological Survey scientific information management workshop, March 21-23, 2006

USGS Publications Warehouse

Henkel, Heather S.

2007-01-01

In March 2006, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) held the first Scientific Information Management (SIM) Workshop in Reston, Virginia. The workshop brought together more than 150 SIM professionals from across the organization to discuss the range and importance of SIM problems, identify common challenges and solutions, and investigate the use and value of “communities of practice” (CoP) as mechanisms to address these issues. The 3-day workshop began with presentations of SIM challenges faced by the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) network and two USGS programs from geology and hydrology. These presentations were followed by a keynote address and discussion of CoP by Dr. Etienne Wenger, a pioneer and leading expert in CoP, who defined them as "groups of people who share a passion for something that they know how to do and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better." Wenger addressed the roles and characteristics of CoP, how they complement formal organizational structures, and how they can be fostered. Following this motivating overview, five panelists (including Dr. Wenger) with CoP experience in different institutional settings provided their perspectives and lessons learned. The first day closed with an open discussion on the potential intersection of SIM at the USGS with SIM challenges and the potential for CoP. The second session began the process of developing a common vocabulary for both scientific data management and CoP, and a list of eight guiding principles for information management were proposed for discussion and constructive criticism. Following this discussion, 20 live demonstrations and posters of SIM tools developed by various USGS programs and projects were presented. Two community-building sessions were held to explore the next steps in 12 specific areas: Archiving of Scientific Data and Information; Database Networks; Digital Libraries; Emerging Workforce; Field Data for Small Research Projects; Knowledge Capture; Knowledge Organization Systems and Controlled Vocabularies; Large Time Series Data Sets; Metadata; Portals and Frameworks; Preservation of Physical Collections; and Scientific Data from Monitoring Programs. In about two-thirds of these areas, initial steps to forming CoP are now underway. The final afternoon included a panel in which information professionals, managers, program coordinators, and associate directors shared their perspectives on the workshop, on ways in which the USGS could better manage its scientific information, and on the use of CoP as informal mechanisms to complement formal organizational structures. The final session focused on developing the next steps, an action plan, and a communication strategy to ensure continued development.

Failure Detection of a Pseudolite-Based Reference System Using Residual Monitoring

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

inertial measurements contain white Gaussian noise, wfins and w ! ins. f bins = f b + abias + w f ins (2.3) !bibins = ! b ib + !bias + w ! ins (2.4) A...type of IMU being used and the length of navigation. For a more accurate model the bias can estimated as a drift, shown as abias and !bias. The drift...to be estimated inside a Kalman lter. _abias = abias T + wabias (2.5) where T is the time constant. The strapdown mechanization for raw inertial

Mid-Level Vision and Recognition of Non-Rigid Objects.

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

and the author perhaps asked to account for its lack of rigor. In computer vision, the critic often requires that the author provide particular runs ...shown here where run at 4 x 1.5 deg. Note that it is unclear though if only even symmetric lters are needed for Contour Texture as proposed there for 2D...the contrast is low. However, coloring runs into problems if the contour is not fully connected or if the inner side of the contour is hard to

Assessing the Climate Sensitivity of Cold Content and Snowmelt in Seasonal Alpine and Subalpine Snowpacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jennings, K. S.; Molotch, N. P.

2016-12-01

In cold, high-elevation sites, snowpack cold content acts as a buffer against climate warming by resisting snowmelt during periods of positive energy fluxes. To test the climate sensitivity of cold content and snowmelt, we employed the physical SNOWPACK snow model, forced with a 23-year, hourly, quality-controlled, gap-filled meteorological dataset from the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in the Front Range mountains of Colorado. SNOWPACK was run at two points with seasonal snowpacks within the LTER, one in the alpine (3528 m) and one in the subalpine (3022 m). Model output was validated using snow water equivalent (SWE), snowpack temperature, and cold content data from snow pits dug near the met stations and automated SWE data from nearby SNOTEL snow pillows. Cold content accumulates primarily through additions of new snow, while negative energy fluxes—cooling through longwave emission and sublimation—play a lesser role, particularly in the deeper snowpack of the alpine. On average, the snowpack energy balance becomes positive on April 1 in the alpine and March 8 in the subalpine. Peak SWE occurs after these dates and its timing is primarily determined by the amount of precipitation received after peak cold content, with persistent snowfall delaying the main snowmelt pulse. Years with lower cold content, due to reduced precipitation and/or increased air temperature, experience an earlier positive energy balance with more melt events occurring before the date of peak SWE, which has implications for soil moisture, streamflow volume and timing, water uptake by vegetation, and microbial respiration. Synthetic warming experiments show significant cold content reductions and increased late-winter/early-spring melt as positive energy balances occur earlier in the snow season (a forward shift between 5.1 and 21.0 days per °C of warming). These results indicate cold, high-elevation sites, which are critical for water resources in the western United States, may lose their cold content buffering capacity and begin to experience stronger negative trends in SWE with increased climate warming, even as the majority of winter precipitation continues to fall as snow.

Hydrological Controls on Ecosystem Dynamics in Lake Fryxell, Antarctica.

PubMed

Herbei, Radu; Rytel, Alexander L; Lyons, W Berry; McKnight, Diane M; Jaros, Christopher; Gooseff, Michael N; Priscu, John C

2016-01-01

The McMurdo Dry Valleys constitute the largest ice free area of Antarctica. The area is a polar desert with an annual precipitation of ∼ 3 cm water equivalent, but contains several lakes fed by glacial melt water streams that flow from four to twelve weeks of the year. Over the past ∼20 years, data have been collected on the lakes located in Taylor Valley, Antarctica as part of the McMurdo Dry Valley Long-Term Ecological Research program (MCM-LTER). This work aims to understand the impact of climate variations on the biological processes in all the ecosystem types within Taylor Valley, including the lakes. These lakes are stratified, closed-basin systems and are perennially covered with ice. Each lake contains a variety of planktonic and benthic algae that require nutrients for photosynthesis and growth. The work presented here focuses on Lake Fryxell, one of the three main lakes of Taylor Valley; it is fed by thirteen melt-water streams. We use a functional regression approach to link the physical, chemical, and biological processes within the stream-lake system to evaluate the input of water and nutrients on the biological processes in the lakes. The technique has been shown previously to provide important insights into these Antarctic lacustrine systems where data acquisition is not temporally coherent. We use data on primary production (PPR) and chlorophyll-A (CHL)from Lake Fryxell as well as discharge observations from two streams flowing into the lake. Our findings show an association between both PPR, CHL and stream input.

Soil Surface Sealing Reverse or Promote Desertification?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Assouline, S.; Thompson, S. E.; Chen, L.; Svoray, T.; Sela, S.; Katul, G. G.

2017-12-01

Vegetation cover in dry regions is a key variable determining desertification. Bare soils exposed to rainfall by desertification can form physical crusts that reduce infiltration, exacerbating water stress on the remaining vegetation. Paradoxically, field studies show that crust removal is associated with plant mortality in desert systems, while artificial biological crusts can improve plant regeneration. Here, it is shown how physical crusts can act as either drivers of, or buffers against desertification depending on their environmental context. The behavior of crusts is first explored using a simplified theory for water movement on a uniform, partly vegetated slope subject to stationary hydrologic conditions. Numerical model runs supplemented with field data from a semiarid Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site are then applied to represent more realistic environmental conditions. When vegetation cover is significant, crusts can drive desertification, but this process is potentially self-limiting. For low vegetation cover, crusts mitigate against desertification by providing water subsidy to plant communities through a runoff-runon mechanism.

My geoscience research and how it matters to you: Corn, climate, and classrooms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGill, B. M.

2017-12-01

In a corn field far north of New Orleans, I study how carbon moves between soils, water, and the atmosphere. More specifically, I look at how different farming practices affect carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the soil to the atmosphere and carbon storage in the soil and water. This is important because soils store about twice as much carbon as the atmosphere, so we need to understand how human activities, such as agriculture, disrupt or enhance carbon movement and, ultimately, contribute to or mitigate climate change. Carefully accounting for an ecosystem's greenhouse gas balance (emissions vs. storage) helps climate scientists project how future climate change will affect all of us. My research demonstrates that, in some cases, croplands are storing carbon—this finding will improve the accuracy of existing calculations of carbon gains and losses on farms. This could help farmers get credit for storing carbon in a future scenario with a price on carbon, and this could help policy makers design policy that incentivizes best management practices. Furthermore, through this work I have mentored undergraduate students and collaborated with a local high school science teacher and her classroom. This work was conducted at the only NSF-funded Long Term Ecological Research site focused on cropland agriculture, the Kellogg Biological Station LTER at Michigan State University.

Status of the Southern Carpathian forests in the long-term ecological research network.

PubMed

Badea, Ovidiu; Bytnerowicz, Andrzej; Silaghi, Diana; Neagu, Stefan; Barbu, Ion; Iacoban, Carmen; Iacob, Corneliu; Guiman, Gheorghe; Preda, Elena; Seceleanu, Ioan; Oneata, Marian; Dumitru, Ion; Huber, Viorela; Iuncu, Horia; Dinca, Lucian; Leca, Stefan; Taut, Ioan

2012-12-01

Air pollution, bulk precipitation, throughfall, soil condition, foliar nutrients, as well as forest health and growth were studied in 2006-2009 in a long-term ecological research (LTER) network in the Bucegi Mountains, Romania. Ozone (O(3)) was high indicating a potential for phytotoxicity. Ammonia (NH(3)) concentrations rose to levels that could contribute to deposition of nutritional nitrogen (N) and could affect biodiversity changes. Higher that 50% contribution of acidic rain (pH < 5.5) contributed to increased acidity of forest soils. Foliar N concentrations for Norway spruce (Picea abies), Silver fir (Abies alba), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), and European beech (Fagus sylvatica) were normal, phosphorus (P) was high, while those of potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and especially of manganese (Mn) were significantly below the typical European or Carpathian region levels. The observed nutritional imbalance could have negative effects on forest trees. Health of forests was moderately affected, with damaged trees (crown defoliation >25%) higher than 30%. The observed crown damage was accompanied by the annual volume losses for the entire research forest area up to 25.4%. High diversity and evenness specific to the stand type's structures and local climate conditions were observed within the herbaceous layer, indicating that biodiversity of the vascular plant communities was not compromised.

Toward a geoinformatics framework for understanding the social and biophysical influences on urban nutrient pollution due to residential impervious service connectivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miles, B.; Band, L. E.

2012-12-01

Water sustainability has been recognized as a fundamental problem of science whose solution relies in part on high-performance computing. Stormwater management is a major concern of urban sustainability. Understanding interactions between urban landcover and stormwater nutrient pollution requires consideration of fine-scale residential stormwater management, which in turn requires high-resolution LIDAR and landcover data not provided through national spatial data infrastructure, as well as field observation at the household scale. The objectives of my research are twofold: (1) advance understanding of the relationship between residential stormwater management practices and the export of nutrient pollution from stormwater in urbanized ecosystems; and (2) improve the informatics workflows used in community ecohydrology modeling as applied to heterogeneous urbanized ecosystems. In support of these objectives, I present preliminary results from initial work to: (1) develop an ecohydrology workflow platform that automates data preparation while maintaining data provenance and model metadata to yield reproducible workflows and support model benchmarking; (2) perform field observation of existing patterns of residential rooftop impervious surface connectivity to stormwater networks; and (3) develop Regional Hydro-Ecological Simulation System (RHESSys) models for watersheds in Baltimore, MD (as part of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) NSF Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site) and Durham, NC (as part of the NSF Urban Long-Term Research Area (ULTRA) program); these models will be used to simulate nitrogen loading resulting from both baseline residential rooftop impervious connectivity and for disconnection scenarios (e.g. roof drainage to lawn v. engineered rain garden, upslope v. riparian). This research builds on work done as part of the NSF EarthCube Layered Architecture Concept Award where a RHESSys workflow is being implemented in an iRODS (integrated Rule-Oriented Data System) environment. Modeling the ecohydrology of urban ecosystems in a reliable and reproducible manner requires a flexible scientific workflow platform that allows rapid prototyping with large-scale spatial datasets and model refinement integrating expert knowledge with local datasets and household surveys.

Beyond arctic and alpine: the influence of winter climate on temperate ecosystems.

PubMed

Ladwig, Laura M; Ratajczak, Zak R; Ocheltree, Troy W; Hafich, Katya A; Churchill, Amber C; Frey, Sarah J K; Fuss, Colin B; Kazanski, Clare E; Muñoz, Juan D; Petrie, Matthew D; Reinmann, Andrew B; Smith, Jane G

2016-02-01

Winter climate is expected to change under future climate scenarios, yet the majority of winter ecology research is focused in cold-climate ecosystems. In many temperate systems, it is unclear how winter climate relates to biotic responses during the growing season. The objective of this study was to examine how winter weather relates to plant and animal communities in a variety of terrestrial ecosystems ranging from warm deserts to alpine tundra. Specifically, we examined the association between winter weather and plant phenology, plant species richness, consumer abundance, and consumer richness in 11 terrestrial ecosystems associated with the U.S. Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network. To varying degrees, winter precipitation and temperature were correlated with all biotic response variables. Bud break was tightly aligned with end of winter temperatures. For half the sites, winter weather was a better predictor of plant species richness than growing season weather. Warmer winters were correlated with lower consumer abundances in both temperate and alpine systems. Our findings suggest winter weather may have a strong influence on biotic activity during the growing season and should be considered in future studies investigating the effects of climate change on both alpine and temperate systems.

Palmer LTER: Patterns of distribution of five dominant zooplankton species in the epipelagic zone west of the Antarctic Peninsula, 1993 2004

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, Robin M.; Quetin, Langdon B.; Martinson, Douglas G.; Iannuzzi, Rich A.; Stammerjohn, Sharon E.; Smith, Raymond C.

2008-09-01

Variability in the temporal-spatial distribution and abundance of zooplankton was documented each summer on the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) grid west of the Antarctic Peninsula between Anvers and Adelaide Islands during a 12-yr time series. Oblique tows to 120 m with a 2×2 m fixed-frame net were made at about 50 stations each January/February between 1993 and 2004. The numerically dominant macro- and mesozooplanktonic species >2 mm included three species of euphausiids ( Euphausia superba, Antarctic krill; Thysanoëssa macrura; Euphausia crystallorophias, ice krill), a shelled pteropod ( Limacina helicina), and a salp ( Salpa thompsoni). Life cycles, life spans, and habitat varied among these species. Abundance data from each year were allocated to 100 km by 20 km (alongshore by on/offshore) grid cells centered on cardinal transect lines and stations within the Palmer LTER grid. The long-term mean or climatology and means for each year were used to calculate annual anomalies across the grid. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to analyze for patterns and trends in the temporal-spatial variability of the five species. Questions included whether there are groups of species with similar patterns, and whether population cycles, species interactions or seasonal sea-ice parameters were correlated with detected patterns. Patterns in the climatology were distinct, and matched those of physical parameters. Common features included higher abundance in the north than in the south, independent of the cross-shelf gradients, and cross-shelf gradients with higher abundance either inshore ( E. crystallorophias) or offshore ( S. thompsoni). Anomalies revealed either cycles in the population, as episodic recruitment in Antarctic krill, or changes in anomaly pattern between the first and second half of the sampling period. The 1998 year, which coincided with a rapid change from a negative to a positive phase in the SOI, emerged as a year with either significant anomalies or that marked a change in anomaly patterns for different species. PCA analysis showed that the pattern of cumulative variance with increasing number of modes was distinctly different for shorter-lived versus longer-lived species; the first mode accounted for nearly 50% of the variance in the shorter-lived species and less than 25% in the longer-lived species. This suggested that the mechanisms driving variability in the temporal-spatial distribution of the shorter-lived, more oceanic species were less complex and more direct than those for the longer-lived euphausiids. Evidence from both the anomaly plots and the trend analysis suggested that salps have been more consistently present across the shelf from 1999 to present, and that the range of L. helicina has been expanding. With shorter life spans, these two species can respond more quickly to the increasing heat content on the shelf in this region. The cross-correlation analysis illustrated the negative correlation between salps and ice retreat and the number of ice days, and the positive correlation between the presence of ice krill and the day of ice retreat. These results suggest that for these species, several environmental controls on distribution and abundance were linked to seasonal sea-ice dynamics.

Computer-Based Training Methods for Surgical Training

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-07

c1J:Ptollmottetv 1an-2cm _,round the J»’l~l.a. Slightly ft ex.the knee " "d lt!move the ooep Ulird of 100 fat Pid. Rtt Pc1lell• Gimbe either everted...pcrtormed to restore norma l fum:tio n o f the musculosk~let£~1 system a lter acute injury ( eg fracture of a bone ). or to treat long standing defom1ities...Enoxaparin in the Prevention of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Symptomatic Pulmonary Embolism After Elective Hip Replacement or Revision Total Hip

Long-Term Patterns in Production and Export of Fecal Pellets by Krill and Salps along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinberg, D. K.; Ruck, K. E.; Cope, J. S.

2016-02-01

The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is one of the most rapidly warming regions on Earth, and where climate-induced changes in zooplankton abundance and species composition could dramatically affect the pelagic food web and biogeochemical cycling. We examined long-term (1993 to the present) and spatial trends in summer abundance of, and fecal pellet production (FPP) by, Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and gelatinous salps (Salpa thompsoni) and their relationship with physical and other environmental parameters. Zooplankton were collected as part of the Palmer, Antarctica Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PAL LTER) from the epipelagic zone in a region divided into latitudinal (North, South, and Far South) and cross-shelf (coastal, shelf, slope) sub-regions. Beginning in 2009, FPP and sinking rate experiments were conducted at representative stations along these gradients. FPP peaks occurred every 4-6 years in both species in the north and south, but alternated such that some years were characterized by high krill-mediated export, and others by high salp-mediated export. In the far south (where perennial sea ice still persists), and in both coastal and shelf sub-regions, krill FFP exceeded that of salps. Conversely, off the slope, salp FPP exceeded that of krill. Variability in krill FPP was strongly and positively influenced by primary production 2-years prior, and negatively correlated with sea surface temperature (no lag). Salp FPP was most significantly correlated with sea ice parameters, with highest FPP in years of lowest sea-ice extent, duration, and area. Warmer water and ice-free conditions favored salps over krill, which also increased overall potential export of fecal pellet carbon to depth. We discuss the implications of this potential increase in biological pump efficiency as the climate warms.

Thermal Fluxes and Temperatures in Small Urban Headwater Streams of the BES LTER: Landscape Forest and Impervious Patches and the Importance of Spatial and Temporal Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, H.; Belt, K. T.; Welty, C.; Heisler, G.; Pouyat, R. V.; McGuire, M. P.; Stack, W. P.

2006-05-01

Water and material fluxes from urban landscape patches to small streams are modulated by extensive "engineered" drainage networks. Small urban headwater catchments are different in character and function from their larger receiving streams because of their extensive, direct connections to impervious surface cover (ISC) and their sometimes buried nature. They need to be studied as unique functional hydrologic units if impacts on biota are to be fully understood. As part of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER project, continuous water temperature data are being collected at 2-minute intervals at over twenty small catchments representing various mixtures of forest and ISC. Suburban stream sites with greater ISC generally have higher summer water temperatures. Suburban catchments with most of their channel drainage contained within storm drain pipes show subdued diurnal variation and cool temperatures, but with very large spikes in summer runoff events. Conversely, high ISC urban piped streams have elevated "baseline" temperatures that stand well above all the other monitoring sites. There is a pronounced upstream-downstream effect; nested small headwater catchments experience more frequent, larger temperature spikes related to runoff events than downstream sites. Also, runoff-initiated temperature elevations at small stream sites unexpectedly last much longer than the storm runoff hydrographs. These observations suggest that for small headwater catchments, urban landscapes not only induce an ambient, "heat island" effect on stream temperatures, but also introduce thermal disturbance regimes and fluxes that are not trivial to aquatic biota.

Dirt: Integrating Scientific and Local Knowledge to Support Global Land Management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okin, G.; Herrick, J.; Bestelmeyer, B.; Hanan, N. P.; Neff, J. C.; Peters, D. P. C.; Sala, O.; Salley, S. W.; Vivoni, E. R.; Wills, S. A.

2017-12-01

"Dirt." "It's that elm shade, red rust clay you grew up on - That plowed up ground that your dad damned his luck on." We will draw on the first lines of the chorus from a song by Florida Georgia Line to explain how our collective research can provide insights to help prevent the next Dust Bowl, increase returns on investments in land restoration, and limit nutrient runoff to the Gulf of Mexico. Our presentation will show how we are supporting management decisions in New Mexico, Namibia and Mongolia by integrating NRCS soil survey information with an understanding of soil variability, and landscape patterns and dynamics developed at the Jornada LTER and USDA-ARS research unit, working with and drawing on related research from around the world. We will highlight work identifying wind erosion thresholds based on easily measured changes in vegetation structure. We will also demonstrate how landscape stratification by soils can be used to increase the probability of success of restoration treatments. We will end with a demonstration of a suite of mobile phone apps that are being developed to increase access to scientific knowledge by farmers, policymakers and natural resource managers around the world, and to allow them to contextualize and share their own soil-specific local knowledge. A co-benefit is the use as a crowd-sourcing tool.

Burning management in the tallgrass prairie affects root decomposition, soil food web structure and carbon flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, E. A.; Denef, K.; Milano de Tomasel, C.; Cotrufo, M. F.; Wall, D. H.

2015-09-01

Root litter decomposition is a major component of carbon (C) cycling in grasslands, where it provides energy and nutrients for soil microbes and fauna. This is especially important in grasslands where fire is a common management practice and removes aboveground litter accumulation. In this study, we investigated whether fire affects root decomposition and C flow through the belowground food web. In a greenhouse experiment, we applied 13C-enriched big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) root litter to intact tallgrass prairie soil cores collected from annually burned (AB) and infrequently burned (IB) treatments at the Konza Prairie Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. Incorporation of 13C into microbial phospholipid fatty acids and nematode trophic groups was measured on six occasions during a 180-day decomposition study to determine how C was translocated through the soil food web. Results showed significantly different soil communities between treatments and higher microbial abundance for IB. Root decomposition occurred rapidly and was significantly greater for AB. Microbes and their nematode consumers immediately assimilated root litter C in both treatments. Root litter C was preferentially incorporated in a few groups of microbes and nematodes, but depended on burn treatment: fungi, Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungivore nematodes for AB and only omnivore nematodes for IB. The overall microbial pool of root litter-derived C significantly increased over time but was not significantly different between burn treatments. The nematode pool of root litter-derived C also significantly increased over time, and was significantly higher for the AB treatment at 35 and 90 days after litter addition. In conclusion, the C flow from root litter to microbes to nematodes is not only measurable, but significant, indicating that higher nematode trophic levels are critical components of C flow during root decomposition which, in turn, is significantly affected by fire management practices. Not only does fire affect the soil community and root decomposition for Konza Prairie LTER soils, but the lower microbial abundance, greater root turnover, and the increased incorporation of root litter C by microbes and nematodes for AB suggests that tallgrass prairie management through annual burning increases root litter-derived C flow through the soil food web.

Advances in remote sensing of forest background reflectance with MODIS BRDF data across Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pisek, Jan; Alikas, Krista; Lukeš, Petr; Lundin, Lars; Kobler, Johannes; Santos-Reis, Margarida; Chen, Jing

2017-04-01

Spatial and temporal patterns of forest background (understory) reflectance are crucial for retrieving biophysical parameters of forest canopies (overstory) and subsequently for ecosystem modeling. However, systematic reflectance data covering different site types are almost missing. This presentation will focus on the validation of background reflectance retrievals using MODIS bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) data against in-situ understory reflectance measurements covering a diverse set of long-term ecological research (LTER) sites distributed along a wide latitudinal and elevational gradient across Europe: protected coniferous blueberry forest in Sweden, karst forest system in Austria, floodplain broadleaf forest and coniferous forest in the Czech Republic, and Mediterranean agro-sylvo-pastoral woodlands in Portugal. The multi-angle remote sensing data-based methodology was originally developed for the forest background signal retrieval in a boreal region. Here its performance will be tested across diverse forest conditions and moments during the growing season, which is a necessary step before conducting extensive mapping over forested areas. The results can be also used as an input for improved modeling of local carbon and energy fluxes.

Analysis of streamflow distribution of non-point source nitrogen export from long-term urban-rural catchments to guide watershed management in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duncan, J. M.; Band, L. E.; Groffman, P.

2017-12-01

Discharge, land use, and watershed management practices (stream restoration and stormwater control measures) have been found to be important determinants of nitrogen (N) export to receiving waters. We used long-term water quality stations from the Baltimore Ecosystem Study Long-Term Ecological Research (BES LTER) Site to quantify nitrogen export across streamflow conditions at the small watershed scale. We calculated nitrate and total nitrogen fluxes using methodology that allows for changes over time; weighted regressions on time, discharge, and seasonality. Here we tested the hypotheses that a) while the largest N stream fluxes occur during storm events, there is not a clear relationship between N flux and discharge and b) N export patterns are aseasonal in developed watersheds where sources are larger and retention capacity is lower. The goal is to scale understanding from small watersheds to larger ones. Developing a better understanding of hydrologic controls on nitrogen export is essential for successful adaptive watershed management at societally meaningful spatial scales.

Mineral Wells FAA, Texas. Ft. Wolters Mineral Wells/Texas. Revised Uniform Summary of Surface Weather Observations. Part A-F

DTIC Science & Technology

1972-05-18

DIRECTION AND SPEED (FROM HOURLY OBSERVATIONS) 0394,3 FT WIILTF.R’ AAF TEX/ MINERAI . WELLS 49-65,67-70 JUI) STATION STATION AM TRANS MONTM ALL WtI4THEk...DAIA PROCESSING DIVISCJN .~USAF ETAC PSYCHROMET(RICSU M R4 ’ AIR WEATHER SERYICE/MAC 03943 FT WO1LTER$ AAF TEX/ MINERAI . WELL$ 49*63#67-70 MAR____...AAF TEX/ MINERAI . WELLS 49-65b67-70 APRI STATION STATION NAME YEARS MONTH PAGE 2 0900-1100 HOURS (L. S. T.) Temp. WET BULB TEMPERATURE DEPRESSION (F

Natural Variation in the Carbon Oxidation State and Oxidative Ratio of a Deciduous Forest

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masiello, C. A.; Calligan, L. J.; Gallagher, M. E.; Hockaday, W. C.; Robertson, G. P.

2007-12-01

Here we report natural variability in the oxidative ratio (OR) and carbon oxidation state (Cox) of a temperate, deciduous forest measured on an annual basis via elemental analysis of leaf litter. The OR of the terrestrial biosphere is a key component in O2 -based calculations of the biosphere's uptake of fossil fuel CO2 (eg [ Keeling, et al., 1996]). Ecosystem OR has been assumed to be invariant; however, small OR variations may cause significant shifts in the calculated size of the terrestrial biospheric C sink [ Randerson, et al., 2006]. Accurate measurements of OR are necessary for the accurate apportionment of fossil fuel CO2 between the atmosphere, oceans, and terrestrial biosphere. Ecosystem OR is linearly related to Cox, a parameter which can be easily measured via elemental analysis, calorimetry, or solid state nuclear magnetic resonance [ Masiello, et al., 2007]. We are measuring Cox and OR at the three deciduous forest sites within the Kellogg Biological Station NSF LTER (lter.kbs.msu.edu). We report OR from litter collected from three forest sites from 1998-2003, a time series which covers periods of both normal and low precipitation. We also report error introduced in the Cox to OR conversion via a range of plausible assumptions about ecosystem N cycling. Keeling, R. F., et al. (1996), Global and hemispheric CO2 sinks deduced from changes in atmospheric O2 concentration, Nature, 381, 218-221. Masiello, C.A. et al. (in review 2007) Two new approaches for measuring ecosystem carbon oxidation state and oxidative ratio. J.G.R. Biogeosciences. Randerson, J. T., et al. (2006), Is carbon within the global terrestrial biosphere becoming more oxidized? Implications for trends in atmospheric O2, Global Change Biology, 12, 260-271.

The Origin of DIRT (Detrital Input and Removal Treatments): the Legacy of Dr. Francis D. Hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Townsend, K. L.; Lajtha, K.; Caldwell, B.; Sollins, P.

2007-12-01

Soil organic matter (SOM) plays a key role in the cycling and retention of nitrogen and carbon within soil. Both above and belowground detrital inputs determine the nature and quantity of SOM. Studies on detrital impacts on SOM dynamics are underway at several LTER, ILTER and LTER-affiliated sites using a common experimental design, Detrital Input and Removal Treatments (DIRT). The concept for DIRT was originally based on experimental plots established at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum by Dr. Francis D. Hole in 1956 to study the effects of detrital inputs on pedogenesis. These plots are located on two forested sites and two prairie sites within the arboretum. Manipulations of the forested sites include double litter, no litter and removal of the O and A horizons. Manipulations of the prairie sites include harvest, mulch, bare and burn. These original treatments have largely been maintained since 1956. After 40 years of maintenance, there were significant differences in soil carbon between the double and no litter plots. The double litter plots had increased by nearly 30% while the no litter plots had decreased over 50%. The original DIRT plots are now 50 years old and have been re-sampled, where possible, for total carbon and nitrogen, labile and recalcitrant carbon fractions, net and gross nitrogen mineralization rates, and SOM bioavailability through CO2 respiration. The soils were fractionated by density to examine the role of carbon in each density fraction. The mean age of carbon in each fraction was determined by radiocarbon dating. This sampling and analysis is of special significance because it provides a glimpse into the future SOM trajectories for the new DIRT sites: Harvard Forest (MA), Bousson (PA), Andrews Experimental Forest (OR) and Sikfokut (Hungary).

Microbial community controls on decomposition and soil carbon storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frey, S. D.

2016-12-01

Soil is one of the most diverse habitats on Earth and one of the least characterized in terms of the identification and ecological roles of soil organisms. Soils also contain the largest repository of organic C in the terrestrial biosphere and the activities of heterotrophic soil organisms are responsible for one of the largest annual fluxes of CO2 to the atmosphere. A fundamental controversy in ecosystem ecology is the degree to which identification of microbial taxa informs our ability to understand and model ecosystem-scale processes, such as soil carbon storage and fluxes. We have evidence that microbial identity does matter, particularly in a global change context where soil microorganisms experience selective pressures to adapt to changing environments. In particular, our work at the Harvard Forest Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) site demonstrates that the microbial community is fundamentally altered by global change stressors (climate warming, nitrogen deposition, biotic invasion) and that microbial taxa exposed to long-term environmental change exhibit an altered capacity to decompose organic matter. This talk will discuss the relative importance of changes in microbial community structure versus microbial physiology for soil organic matter degradation and stabilization.

Interannual and seasonal variability in short-term grazing impact of Euphausia superba in nearshore and offshore waters west of the Antarctic Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, R. M.; Quetin, L. B.; Haberman, K. L.

1998-11-01

Our focus in this paper is the interaction between macrozooplanktonic grazers and primary producers, and the interannual and seasonal variability in the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (Palmer LTER) study region from Anvers Island to Adelaide Island. Short-term grazing estimates are calculated by integrating (1) theoretical and experimental estimates of ingestion rates in response to the standing stock of phytoplankton, and (2) field measurements of phytoplankton standing stock and grazer biomass. Field data come from three austral summer cruises (January/February of 1993, 1994, and 1995) and one sequence of seasonal cruises (summer, fall and winter 1993). The relative and absolute abundance of the dominant macrozooplankton grazers, Euphausia superba and Salpa thompsoni, varied by at least an order of magnitude on the spatial and temporal scales observed. Mean grazing rates ranged from 0.4 to 9.0 μg chlorophyll m -2 h -1 for the Antarctic krill and salp populations over the three summer cruises. This leads to variability in the flow of carbon from the primary producers through the grazers on the same scales. Temporal and spatial variability in grazing impact and faecal pellet production are high.

Uncertainty of streamwater solute fluxes in five contrasting headwater catchments including model uncertainty and natural variability (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aulenbach, B. T.; Burns, D. A.; Shanley, J. B.; Yanai, R. D.; Bae, K.; Wild, A.; Yang, Y.; Dong, Y.

2013-12-01

There are many sources of uncertainty in estimates of streamwater solute flux. Flux is the product of discharge and concentration (summed over time), each of which has measurement uncertainty of its own. Discharge can be measured almost continuously, but concentrations are usually determined from discrete samples, which increases uncertainty dependent on sampling frequency and how concentrations are assigned for the periods between samples. Gaps between samples can be estimated by linear interpolation or by models that that use the relations between concentration and continuously measured or known variables such as discharge, season, temperature, and time. For this project, developed in cooperation with QUEST (Quantifying Uncertainty in Ecosystem Studies), we evaluated uncertainty for three flux estimation methods and three different sampling frequencies (monthly, weekly, and weekly plus event). The constituents investigated were dissolved NO3, Si, SO4, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), solutes whose concentration dynamics exhibit strongly contrasting behavior. The evaluation was completed for a 10-year period at five small, forested watersheds in Georgia, New Hampshire, New York, Puerto Rico, and Vermont. Concentration regression models were developed for each solute at each of the three sampling frequencies for all five watersheds. Fluxes were then calculated using (1) a linear interpolation approach, (2) a regression-model method, and (3) the composite method - which combines the regression-model method for estimating concentrations and the linear interpolation method for correcting model residuals to the observed sample concentrations. We considered the best estimates of flux to be derived using the composite method at the highest sampling frequencies. We also evaluated the importance of sampling frequency and estimation method on flux estimate uncertainty; flux uncertainty was dependent on the variability characteristics of each solute and varied for different reporting periods (e.g. 10-year, study period vs. annually vs. monthly). The usefulness of the two regression model based flux estimation approaches was dependent upon the amount of variance in concentrations the regression models could explain. Our results can guide the development of optimal sampling strategies by weighing sampling frequency with improvements in uncertainty in stream flux estimates for solutes with particular characteristics of variability. The appropriate flux estimation method is dependent on a combination of sampling frequency and the strength of concentration regression models. Sites: Biscuit Brook (Frost Valley, NY), Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest and LTER (West Thornton, NH), Luquillo Experimental Forest and LTER (Luquillo, Puerto Rico), Panola Mountain (Stockbridge, GA), Sleepers River Research Watershed (Danville, VT)

Health Monitoring of a Satellite System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, Robert H.; Ng, Hok K.; Speyer, Jason L.; Guntur, Lokeshkumar S.; Carpenter, Russell

2004-01-01

A health monitoring system based on analytical redundancy is developed for satellites on elliptical orbits. First, the dynamics of the satellite including orbital mechanics and attitude dynamics is modelled as a periodic system. Then, periodic fault detection filters are designed to detect and identify the satellite's actuator and sensor faults. In addition, parity equations are constructed using the algebraic redundant relationship among the actuators and sensors. Furthermore, a residual processor is designed to generate the probability of each of the actuator and sensor faults by using a sequential probability test. Finally, the health monitoring system, consisting of periodic fault detection lters, parity equations and residual processor, is evaluated in the simulation in the presence of disturbances and uncertainty.

AmeriFlux US-Ha1 Harvard Forest EMS Tower (HFR1)

DOE Data Explorer

Munger, J. William [Harvard University

2016-01-01

This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-Ha1 Harvard Forest EMS Tower (HFR1). Site Description - The Harvard Forest tower is on land owned by Harvard University. The site is designated as an LTER site. Most of the surrounding area was cleared for agrigulture during European settlement in 1600-1700. The site has been regrowing since before 1900 (based on tree ring chronologies) and is now predominantly red oak and red maple, with patches of mature hemlock stand and individual white pine. Overstory trees were uprooted by hurricane in 1938. Climate measurements have been made at Harvard Forest since 1964.

NEON's eddy-covariance: interoperable flux data products, software and services for you, now

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metzger, S.; Desai, A. R.; Durden, D.; Hartmann, J.; Li, J.; Luo, H.; Durden, N. P.; Sachs, T.; Serafimovich, A.; Sturtevant, C.; Xu, K.

2017-12-01

Networks of eddy-covariance (EC) towers such as AmeriFlux, ICOS and NEON are vital for providing the necessary distributed observations to address interactions at the soil-vegetation-atmosphere interface. NEON, close to full operation with 47 tower sites, will represent the largest single-provider EC network globally. Its standardized observation and data processing suite is designed specifically for inter-site comparability and analysis of feedbacks across multiple spatial and temporal scales. Furthermore, NEON coordinates EC with rich contextual observations such as airborne remote sensing and in-situ sampling bouts. In January 2018 NEON enters its operational phase, and EC data products, software and services become fully available to the science community at large. These resources strive to incorporate lessons-learned through collaborations with AmeriFlux, ICOS, LTER and others, to suggest novel systemic solutions, and to synergize ongoing research efforts across science communities. Here, we present an overview of the ongoing product release, alongside efforts to integrate and collaborate with existing infrastructures, networks and communities. Near-real-time heat, water and carbon cycle observations in "basic" and "expanded", self-describing HDF5 formats become accessible from the NEON Data Portal, including an Application Program Interface. Subsequently, they are ingested into the AmeriFlux processing pipeline, together with inclusion in FLUXNET globally harmonized data releases. Software for reproducible, extensible and portable data analysis and science operations management also becomes available. This includes the eddy4R family of R-packages underlying the data product generation, together with the ability to directly participate in open development via GitHub version control and DockerHub image hosting. In addition, templates for science operations management include a web-based field maintenance application and a graphical user interface to simplify problem tracking and resolution along the entire data chain. We hope that this presentation can initiate further collaboration and synergies in challenge areas, and would appreciate input and discussion on continued development.

Long-Term Network Experiments and Interdisciplinary Campaigns Conducted by the USDA-Agricultural Research Service

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodrich, D. C.; Kustas, W. P.; Cosh, M. H.; Moran, S. M.; Marks, D. G.; Jackson, T. J.; Bosch, D. D.; Rango, A.; Seyfried, M. S.; Scott, R. L.; Prueger, J. H.; Starks, P. J.; Walbridge, M. R.

2014-12-01

The USDA-Agricultural Research Service has led, or been integrally involved in, a myriad of interdisciplinary field campaigns in a wide range of locations both nationally and internationally. Many of the shorter campaigns were anchored over the existing national network of ARS Experimental Watersheds and Rangelands. These long-term outdoor laboratories provided a critical knowledge base for designing the campaigns as well as historical data, hydrologic and meteorological infrastructure coupled with shop, laboratory, and visiting scientist facilities. This strong outdoor laboratory base enabled cost-efficient campaigns informed by historical context, local knowledge, and detailed existing watershed characterization. These long-term experimental facilities have also enabled much longer term lower intensity experiments, observing and building an understanding of both seasonal and inter-annual biosphere-hydrosphere-atmosphere interactions across a wide range of conditions. A sampling of these experiments include MONSOON'90, SGP97, SGP99, Washita'92, Washita'94, SMEX02-05 and JORNEX series of experiments, SALSA, CLASIC and longer-term efforts over the ARS Little Washita, Walnut Gulch, Little River, Reynolds Creek, and OPE3 Experimental Watersheds. This presentation will review some of the highlights and key findings of these campaigns and long-term efforts including the inclusion of many of the experimental watersheds and ranges in the Long-Term Agro-ecosystems Research (LTAR) network. The LTAR network also contains several locations that are also part of other observational networks including the CZO, LTER, and NEON networks. Lessons learned will also be provided for scientists initiating their participation in large-scale, multi-site interdisciplinary science.

The Long-Term Agro-Ecosystem Research (LTAR) Network: A New In-Situ Data Network For Agriculture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walbridge, M. R.

2014-12-01

Agriculture in the 21st Century faces significant challenges due to increases in the demand for agricultural products from a global population expected to reach 9.5 billion by 2050, changes in land use that are reducing the area of arable land worldwide, and the uncertainties associated with increasing climate variability and change. There is broad agreement that meeting these challenges will require significant changes in agro-ecosystem management at the landscape scale. In 2012, the USDA/ARS announced the reorganization of 10 existing benchmark watersheds, experimental ranges, and research farms into a Long-Term Agro-ecosystem Research (LTAR) network. Earlier this year, the LTAR network expanded to 18 sites, including 3 led by land grant universities and/or private foundations. The central question addressed by the LTAR network is, "How do we sustain or enhance productivity, profitability, and ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems and agricultural landscapes"? All 18 LTAR sites possess rich historical databases that extend up to 100 years into the past. However as LTAR moves forward, the focus is on collecting a core set of common measurements over the next 30-50 years that can be used to draw inferences regarding the nature of agricultural sustainability and how it varies across regional and continental-scale gradients. As such, LTAR is part long-term research network and part observatory network. Rather than focusing on a single site, each LTAR has developed regional partnerships that allow it to address agro-ecosystem function in the large basins and eco-climatic zones that underpin regional food production systems. Partners include other long-term in-situ data networks (e.g., Ameriflux, CZO, GRACEnet, LTER, NEON). 'Next steps' include designing and implementing a cross-site experiment addressing LTAR's central question.

Relating isotopic composition of precipitation to atmospheric patterns and local moisture recycling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Logan, K. E.; Brunsell, N. A.; Nippert, J. B.

2016-12-01

Local land management practices such as irrigation significantly alter surface evapotranspiration (ET), regional boundary layer development, and potentially modify precipitation likelihood and amount. How strong this local forcing is in comparison to synoptic-scale dynamics, and how much ET is recycled locally as precipitation are areas of great uncertainty and are especially important when trying to forecast the impact of local land management strategies on drought mitigation. Stable isotope analysis has long been a useful tool for tracing movement throughout the water cycle. In this study, reanalysis data and stable isotope samples of precipitation events are used to estimate the contribution of local moisture recycling to precipitation at the Konza Prairie LTER - located in the Great Plains, downwind of intensive agricultural areas. From 2001 to 2014 samples of all precipitation events over 5mm were collected and 18O and D isotopes measured. Comparison of observed precipitation totals and MERRA and ERA-interim reanalysis totals is used to diagnose periods of strong local moisture contribution (especially from irrigation) to precipitation. Large discrepancies in precipitation between observation and reanalysis, particularly MERRA, tend to follow dry periods during the growing season, presumably because while ERA-Interim adjusts soil moisture using observed surface temperature and humidity, MERRA includes no such local soil moisture adjustment and therefore lacks potential precipitation feedbacks induced by irrigation. The δ18O and δD signature of local irrigation recycling is evaluated using these incongruous observations. Self-organizing maps (SOM) are then used to identify a comprehensive range of synoptic conditions that result in precipitation at Konza LTER. Comparison of isotopic signature and SOM classification of rainfall events allows for identification of the primary moisture source and estimation of the contribution of locally recycled moisture. The climatology of precipitation source and changes in the influence of local moisture over the course of 14 years of observation are explored.

Biological and physical controls on O2/Ar, Ar and pCO2 variability at the Western Antarctic Peninsula and in the Drake Passage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eveleth, R.; Cassar, N.; Doney, S. C.; Munro, D. R.; Sweeney, C.

2017-05-01

Using simultaneous sub-kilometer resolution underway measurements of surface O2/Ar, total O2 and pCO2 from annual austral summer surveys in 2012, 2013 and 2014, we explore the impacts of biological and physical processes on the O2 and pCO2 system spatial and interannual variability at the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). In the WAP, mean O2/Ar supersaturation was (7.6±9.1)% and mean pCO2 supersaturation was (-28±22)%. We see substantial spatial variability in O2 and pCO2 including sub-mesoscale/mesoscale variability with decorrelation length scales of 4.5 km, consistent with the regional Rossby radius. This variability is embedded within onshore-offshore gradients. O2 in the LTER grid region is driven primarily by biological processes as seen by the median ratio of the magnitude of biological oxygen (O2/Ar) to physical oxygen (Ar) supersaturation anomalies (%) relative to atmospheric equilibrium (2.6), however physical processes have a more pronounced influence in the southern onshore region of the grid where we see active sea-ice melting. Total O2 measurements should be interpreted with caution in regions of significant sea-ice formation and melt and glacial meltwater input. pCO2 undersaturation predominantly reflects biological processes in the LTER grid. In contrast we compare these results to the Drake Passage where gas supersaturations vary by smaller magnitudes and decorrelate at length scales of 12 km, in line with latitudinal changes in the regional Rossby radius. Here biological processes induce smaller O2/Ar supersaturations (mean (0.14±1.3)%) and pCO2 undersaturations (mean (-2.8±3.9)%) than in the WAP, and pressure changes, bubble and gas exchange fluxes drive stable Ar supersaturations.

The MAREDAT Global Database of High Performance Liquid Chromatography Marine Pigment Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Peloquin, J.; Swan, C.; Gruber, N.; Vogt, M.; Claustre, H.; Ras, J.; Uitz, J.; Barlow, R.; Behrenfeld, M.; Bidigare, R.;

Soil organic carbon dynamics across a nitrogen deposition gradient: application of the PnET-SOM model to northeastern forest ecosystems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tonitto, C.; Goodale, C. L.; Ollinger, S. V.; Jenkins, J.

2009-12-01

Anthropogenic forcing of the C and N cycles has caused rapid change in atmospheric CO2 and N deposition, with complex and uncertain effects on forest C and N balance. We developed the PnET-SOM model to enhance the model description of carbon and nitrogen coupling. Here we applied PnET-SOM to study changes to ecosystem carbon storage across a nitrogen deposition gradient. We designed the PnET-SOM model to: 1) represent SOM structured around measurable SOM pools, 2) expand simulated soil horizon complexity beyond the 1-box approach to hydrology and SOM structure used in PnET-CN, 3) model humified and mineral associated SOM using parameters derived from C14 field studies, and 4) couple C and N cycles to allow N-limitation of decomposition and plant growth. We explicitly modeled labile, biochemically recalcitrant (humified SOM), and physically-chemically protected (mineral associated SOM) C pools. These SOM pools are modeled in distinct soil horizons including: a forest floor, a mixed organic horizon, an A horizon, and a B horizon. Slow turnover pools of the A and B horizon constitute a significant proportion of SOC; explicitly modeling a deeper soil profile is important for estimating ecosystem SOC storage. In the latest version of PnET-SOM, we described N mineralization-immobilization in the forest floor based on equations derived in the LIDET synthesis study. Validation of the PnET-SOM model was conducted using 1) long-term water flux and nitrate leaching data from the Hubbard Brook LTER, 2) CO2 respiration observations from the Harvard Forest LTER, and 3) C and N stock and flux observations from the Harvard Forest LTER. In this work, we applied the PnET-SOM model to study the effects of an N deposition gradient on SOC dynamics over a 300 year simulation. We represented the effects of N deposition on litter decomposition by varying the exponential decay parameters of the litter layer based on observations from the Harvard Forest N addition experiment. We derived the change in limit value across the N deposition gradient simulated by applying a polynomial fit to limit values observed in the Harvard Forest N addition experimental plots. In PnET-SOM, changes in SOC dynamics under varying N deposition rates are derived from 1) change in litter decomposition rate, which directly affects OM inputs into soil pools, and 2) altered N availability which limits decomposition of OM throughout the soil profile. In our model application, the coarse woody debris pool decreased with increasing N deposition, while the forest floor pools increased. Relative to SOC pools under current N deposition rates at the Harvard Forest (8 gN/m2), deposition at a rate of 20 gN/m2 over a 300 year simulation resulted in a 3.4% increase in the O horizon humified SOC pool, a 2.3% increase in the A horizon humified SOC pool, a 1.3% increase in the A horizon mineral associated SOC pool, and a 0.14% increase in the B horizon mineral associated SOC pool.

Modeling alpine grasslands with two integrated hydrologic models: a comparison of the different process representation in CATHY and GEOtop

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camporese, M.; Bertoldi, G.; Bortoli, E.; Wohlfahrt, G.

2017-12-01

Integrated hydrologic surface-subsurface models (IHSSMs) are increasingly used as prediction tools to solve simultaneously states and fluxes in and between multiple terrestrial compartments (e.g., snow cover, surface water, groundwater), in an attempt to tackle environmental problems in a holistic approach. Two such models, CATHY and GEOtop, are used in this study to investigate their capabilities to reproduce hydrological processes in alpine grasslands. The two models differ significantly in the complexity of the representation of the surface energy balance and the solution of Richards equation for water flow in the variably saturated subsurface. The main goal of this research is to show how these differences in process representation can lead to different predictions of hydrologic states and fluxes, in the simulation of an experimental site located in the Venosta Valley (South Tyrol, Italy). Here, a large set of relevant hydrological data (e.g., evapotranspiration, soil moisture) has been collected, with ground and remote sensing observations. The area of interest is part of a Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, a mountain steep, heterogeneous slope, where the predominant land use types are meadow, pasture, and forest. The comparison between data and model predictions, as well as between simulations with the two IHSSMs, contributes to advance our understanding of the tradeoffs between different complexities in modeĺs process representation, model accuracy, and the ability to explain observed hydrological dynamics in alpine environments.

Global Fiducials Program Imagery: New Opportunities for Geospatial Research, Outreach, and Education

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Price, S. D.

2012-12-01

MOLNIA, Bruce F., PRICE, Susan D. and, KING, Stephen E., U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 562 National Center, Reston, VA 20192, sprice@usgs.gov The Civil Applications Committee (CAC), operated by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), is the Federal interagency committee that facilitates Federal civil agency access to U.S. National Systems space-based electro-optical (EO) imagery for natural disaster response; global change investigations; ecosystem monitoring; mapping, charting, and geodesy; and related topics. The CAC's Global Fiducials Program (GFP) has overseen the systematic collection of high-resolution imagery to provide geospatial data time series spanning a decade or more at carefully selected sites to study and monitor changes, and to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of dynamic and sensitive areas of our planet. Since 2008, more than 4,500 one-meter resolution EO images which comprise time series from 85 GFP sites have been released for unrestricted public use. Initial site selections were made by Federal and academic scientists based on each site's unique history, susceptibility, or environmental value. For each site, collection strategies were carefully defined to maximize information extraction capabilities. This consistency enhances our ability to understand Earth's dynamic processes and long-term trends. Individual time series focus on Arctic sea ice change; temperate glacier behavior; mid-continent wetland dynamics; barrier island response to hurricanes; coastline evolution; wildland fire recovery; Long-Term Ecological Resource (LTER) site processes; and many other topics. The images are available from a USGS website at no cost, in an orthorectified GeoTIFF format with supporting metadata, making them ideal for use in Earth science education and GIS projects. New on-line tools provide enhanced analysis of these time-series imagery. For additional information go to http://gfp.usgs.gov or http://gfl.usgs.gov.Bering Glacier is the largest and longest glacier in continental North America, with a length of 190 km, a width of 40 km, and an area of about 5,000 km2. In the nine years between the 1996 image and the 2005 image, parts of the terminus retreated by more than 5 km and thinned by as much as 100 m. Long-term monitoring of Bering Glacier will enable scientists to better understand the dynamics of surging glaciers as well as how changing Alaska climate is affecting temperate glacier environments.

Preparing the EPIC Model for Evaluating Bioenergy Production Systems: A Test of the Denitrification Submodel using a Long-Term Dataset

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manowitz, D. H.; Schwab, D. E.; Izaurralde, R. C.

2010-12-01

As bioenergy production continues to increase, it is important to be able to predict not only the crop yields that are expected from future production, but also the various environmental impacts that will accompany it. Therefore, models that can be used to make such predictions must be validated against as many of these agricultural outputs as possible. The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model is a widely used and tested model for simulating many agricultural ecosystem processes including plant growth, crop yield, carbon and nutrient cycling, wind and water erosion, runoff, leaching, as well as changes in soil physical and chemical properties. This model has undergone many improvements, including the addition of a process-based denitrification submodel. Here we evaluate the performance of EPIC in its ability to simulate nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes and related variables as observed in selected treatments of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) cropping systems study at Kellogg Biological Station (KBS). We will provide a brief description of the EPIC model in the context of bioenergy production, describe the denitrification submodel, and compare simulated and observed values of crop yields, N2O emissions, soil carbon dynamics, and soil moisture.

Accuracy and Precision in Measurements of Biomass Oxidative Ratio and Carbon Oxidation State

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, M. E.; Masiello, C. A.; Randerson, J. T.; Chadwick, O. A.; Robertson, G. P.

2007-12-01

Ecosystem oxidative ratio (OR) is a critical parameter in the apportionment of anthropogenic CO2 between the terrestrial biosphere and ocean carbon reservoirs. OR is the ratio of O2 to CO2 in gas exchange fluxes between the terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere. Ecosystem OR is linearly related to biomass carbon oxidation state (Cox), a fundamental property of the earth system describing the bonding environment of carbon in molecules. Cox can range from -4 to +4 (CH4 to CO2). Variations in both Cox and OR are driven by photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition. We are developing several techniques to accurately measure variations in ecosystem Cox and OR; these include elemental analysis, bomb calorimetry, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A previous study, comparing the accuracy and precision of elemental analysis versus bomb calorimetry for pure chemicals, showed that elemental analysis-based measurements are more accurate, while calorimetry- based measurements yield more precise data. However, the limited biochemical range of natural samples makes it possible that calorimetry may ultimately prove most accurate, as well as most cost-effective. Here we examine more closely the accuracy of Cox and OR values generated by calorimetry on a large set of natural biomass samples collected from the Kellogg Biological Station-Long Term Ecological Research (KBS-LTER) site in Michigan.

How will wind and water erosion change in drylands in the future?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okin, G. S.; Sala, O.; Vivoni, E. R.

2017-12-01

Drylands are characterized as much by high spatial and temporal variability as they are by low precipitation. Cover that is patchy at multiple scales allows connectivity for wind and water transport. Vegetation dynamics at interannual scales occurs in the context of community change (including woody encroachment) at decadal scales. Periods of drought alternate with relatively wet periods. Future predictions for the world's drylands are that many will become more arid, but near all will experience greater climate variability. This work explores how future variability will affect transport by wind and water, both of which are crucial elements of biotic-abiotic feedbacks that control community change in drylands. This work is based on long-term observations from the Jornada Long Term Ecological Research (LTER), but with lessons that are applicable elsewhere. We find strong relationships between vegetation community, precipitation and aeolian transport related to changes in connectivity. We further identify strong, scale-dependent relationships between precipitation and runoff. Thus, aeolian transport decreases with increasing annual precipitation and transport by water increases with annual precipitation, with the combined effect that increased variability in annual precipitation is likely to increase both water and wind transport. The consequence of this is that feedbacks associated with community change are likely to strengthen in the future.

Subsoil denitrification experiments at KBS MSU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shcherbak, I.; Robertson, G. P.

2011-12-01

Denitrification is a major soil process that produces nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas. Most research on denitrification has, for various reasons, concentrated on the top soil layer, ignoring depths below 10-20 cm. Although denitrification is considered to be the most active in top soil, this layer usually accounts for only 10% of the total volume of the soil profile. Our research addresses the questions: How significant is denitrification at depth in the soil profile and how does it vary with land-use? We have two field experiments at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) in southwest Michigan: 1) tilled versus no-tillage rainfed fertilized corn and 2) rainfed versus irrigated corn at six fertilizer levels, with N2O concentrations measured at 10 depths (3, 7, 15, 20, 25, 50, 55, 70, 75, 125 cm) and 5 depths (10, 20, 30, 50, 75 cm), respectively , along with N2O fluxes to the atmosphere in both. Soil environment data (texture, water content, temperature and nitrate content) represent a combination of measured values and simulated values using the SALUS (System Approach to Land Use Sustainability) model. We used diffusion and water balance equations that incorporated carbon dioxide concentrations and flux data collected simultaneously with N2O to determine diffusivity as a function of water content and soil temperature. We used the same diffusivity to obtain N2O production as function of moisture, temperature, and nitrate availability. Further validation of the production function was performed with data collected from the KBS Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site , where we also measured belowground concentrations during the 2011 growing season.

Evaluation of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to Monitor Forest Health Conditions in Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webley, P. W.; Hatfield, M. C.; Heutte, T. M.; Winton, L. M.

2017-12-01

US Forest Service Alaska Region Forest Health Protection (FHP) and University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Alaska Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration (ACUASI) are evaluating the capability of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS, "drone" informally) to monitor forest health conditions in Alaska's Interior Region. On July 17-20 2017, FHP and ACUASI deployed two different UAS at permanent forest inventory plots managed by the UAF programs Bonanza Creek Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) and Cooperative Alaska Forest Inventory (CAFI). The purpose of the mission was to explore capabilities of UAS for evaluating aspen tree mortality at inaccessible locations and at a scale and precision not generally achievable with currently used ground- or air-based methods. Drawing from experience gained during the initial 2016 campaign, this year emphasized the efficient use of UAS to accomplish practical field research in a variety of realistic situations. The vehicles selected for this years' effort included the DJI Matrice quadcopter with the Zenmuse-X3 camera to quickly capture initial video of the site and tree conditions; followed by the ING Responder (single rotor electric helicopter based on the Gaui X7 airframe) outfitted with a Nikon D810 camera to collect high-resolution stills suitable for construction of orthomosaic models. A total of 12 flights were conducted over the campaign, with two full days dedicated to the Delta Junction Gerstle River Intermediate (GRI) sites and the remaining day at the Bonanza Creek site. In addition to demonstrating the ability of UAS to operate safely and effectively in various canopy conditions, the effort also validated the ability of teams to deliver UAS and scientific payloads into challenging terrain using all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and foot traffic. Analysis of data from the campaign is underway. Because the permanent plots have been recently evaluated it is known that nearly all aspen mortality is caused by an aggressive canker; at some plots up to 70% of aspen stems have canker and most of these trees are dead. Once the imagery is processed the team will statistically calculate the degree of agreement between UAS and ground detection methods. This measure of reliability is necessary to evaluate the usefulness of UAS for the purposes of forest health detection and monitoring.

Assessment of VIIRS daily BRDF/Albedo product using in situ measurement of SURFRAD sites and MODIS V006 daily BRDF/Albedo product

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Wang, Z.; Sun, Q.; Schaaf, C.; Roman, M. O.

2014-12-01

Surface albedo is defined as the ratio of upwelling to downwelling radiative flux. It's important for understanding the global energy budget. Remote sensing albedo products provide global time continuous coverage to help capture global energy variability and change. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi-NPP satellite, launched on October 28, 2011, is aiming to provide continues data record with the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), which has been providing Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF)/Albedo product since 2000. By utilizing the same approach that was used for the most recently V006 daily MODIS BRDF/Albedo product, VIIRS has the ability to keep providing products for research and operational users. Validating albedo product of VIIRS using in situmeasured albedo can assure the quality for land surface climate and biosphere models, and comparing with MODIS product can assure time continues of BRDF/albedo product. The daily BRDF/Albedo product still uses 16-day period multispectral, cloud-cleared, atmospherically-corrected surface reflectances to fit the Ross-Thick/Li-Sparse-Reciprocal semi-empirical BRDF model. But the multiday observations are also weighted based on proximity to the production date in order to emphasis on that individual day. Surface Radiation Budget Network (SURFRAD) was established in 1993 through the support of NOAA's Office of Global Programs. In situ albedo was driven from downwelling and upwelling radiative flux measured from the towers. Fraction of diffuse sky light was calculated using the direct and diffuse solar recorded in the data. It was further used to translate VIIRS, MODIS black sky and white sky albedos into actual albedo at local solar noon. Results show that VIIRS, MODIS and in situ albedo agree well at SURFARD spatially representative sites. While the VIIRS surface reflectance, snow, and cloud algorithms are still undergoing revision, the result shows that VIIRS can provide comparable albedo products with MODIS. The accuracy of both products can meet the requirement for climate and biosphere models. In situ albedo also can be gained from Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), FLUXNET and Long Term Ecological Research network (LTER) etc., which will be used in future validation work.

Optical Absorption Spectra of Nuclear Filters Modified by Deposition of Silver Nano- and Microparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolyanskii, A. S.; Kozlova, N. V.; Zheltova, A. V.; Aksyutina, A. S.; Shvedov, A. S.; Lakeev, S. G.

2015-07-01

Light scattering and interference patterns are studied in the optical absorption spectra of nuclear filters based on polyethylene terephthalate fi lms modifi ed by dry aerosol deposition of silver nano- and microparticles. Surface plasmon polaritons and localized plasmons formed by the passage of light through porous silver films are found to have an effect on the diffraction and interference modes. The thickness of silver nano- and microparticle coatings on the surface of the nuclear fi lters was determined from the shift in the interference patterns in the optical absorption spectra of the modified nuclear filters relative to the original nuclear filters. A correlation was found between the estimated coating thickness and the average surface roughness of the nuclear filters modified by layers of silver nano- and microparticles.

The potential to characterize ecological data with terrestrial laser scanning in Harvard Forest, MA.

PubMed

Orwig, D A; Boucher, P; Paynter, I; Saenz, E; Li, Z; Schaaf, C

2018-04-06

Contemporary terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is being used widely in forest ecology applications to examine ecosystem properties at increasing spatial and temporal scales. Harvard Forest (HF) in Petersham, MA, USA, is a long-term ecological research (LTER) site, a National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) location and contains a 35 ha plot which is part of Smithsonian Institution's Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO). The combination of long-term field plots, eddy flux towers and the detailed past historical records has made HF very appealing for a variety of remote sensing studies. Terrestrial laser scanners, including three pioneering research instruments: the Echidna Validation Instrument, the Dual-Wavelength Echidna Lidar and the Compact Biomass Lidar, have already been used both independently and in conjunction with airborne laser scanning data and forest census data to characterize forest dynamics. TLS approaches include three-dimensional reconstructions of a plot over time, establishing the impact of ice storm damage on forest canopy structure, and characterizing eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) canopy health affected by an invasive insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid ( Adelges tsugae ). Efforts such as those deployed at HF are demonstrating the power of TLS as a tool for monitoring ecological dynamics, identifying emerging forest health issues, measuring forest biomass and capturing ecological data relevant to other disciplines. This paper highlights various aspects of the ForestGEO plot that are important to current TLS work, the potential for exchange between forest ecology and TLS, and emphasizes the strength of combining TLS data with long-term ecological field data to create emerging opportunities for scientific study.

The potential to characterize ecological data with terrestrial laser scanning in Harvard Forest, MA

PubMed Central

Boucher, P.; Saenz, E.; Li, Z.

2018-01-01

Contemporary terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is being used widely in forest ecology applications to examine ecosystem properties at increasing spatial and temporal scales. Harvard Forest (HF) in Petersham, MA, USA, is a long-term ecological research (LTER) site, a National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) location and contains a 35 ha plot which is part of Smithsonian Institution's Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO). The combination of long-term field plots, eddy flux towers and the detailed past historical records has made HF very appealing for a variety of remote sensing studies. Terrestrial laser scanners, including three pioneering research instruments: the Echidna Validation Instrument, the Dual-Wavelength Echidna Lidar and the Compact Biomass Lidar, have already been used both independently and in conjunction with airborne laser scanning data and forest census data to characterize forest dynamics. TLS approaches include three-dimensional reconstructions of a plot over time, establishing the impact of ice storm damage on forest canopy structure, and characterizing eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) canopy health affected by an invasive insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). Efforts such as those deployed at HF are demonstrating the power of TLS as a tool for monitoring ecological dynamics, identifying emerging forest health issues, measuring forest biomass and capturing ecological data relevant to other disciplines. This paper highlights various aspects of the ForestGEO plot that are important to current TLS work, the potential for exchange between forest ecology and TLS, and emphasizes the strength of combining TLS data with long-term ecological field data to create emerging opportunities for scientific study. PMID:29503723

Observations and simulations of snowpack cold content and its relationship to snowmelt timing and rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jennings, K. S.; Molotch, N. P.

2017-12-01

Mountain snowpacks serve as a vital water resource for more than 1 billion people across the globe. Two key properties of snowmelt—rate and timing—are controlled by the snowpack energy budget where incoming positive fluxes are balanced by a decrease in the energy deficit of the snowpack and a change in the phase of water from solid to liquid. In this context, the energy deficit, or cold content, regulates snowmelt as runoff does not commence until the deficit approaches zero. There is significant uncertainty surrounding cold content despite its relevance to snowmelt processes, likely due to the inherent difficulties in its observation. Our work has clarified the previously unresolved meteorological and energy balance controls on cold content development in seasonal snowpacks by leveraging two unique datasets from the Niwot Ridge LTER in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. The first is a long-term snow pit record of snowpack properties from an alpine and subalpine site within the LTER. These data were augmented with a 23-year simulation of the snowpack at both sites using a quality controlled, serially complete, hourly forcing dataset. The observations and simulations both indicated that cold content primarily developed through new snowfall, while a negative energy budget provided a secondary pathway for cold content development, mainly through longwave emission and sublimation. Cold content gains from snowfall outnumbered energy balance gains by 438% in the alpine and 166% in the subalpine. Increased spring precipitation and later peak cold content significantly delayed snowmelt onset and daily melt rates were reduced by 32.2% in the alpine and 36.1% in the subalpine when an energy deficit needed to be satisfied. Furthermore, preliminary climate change simulations indicated warmer air temperatures reduced cold content accumulation, which increased the amount of snow lost to melt throughout the winter as incoming positive fluxes had to overcome smaller energy deficits. Overall, this work shows that meteorological and energy balance processes that increase cold content (e.g., snowfall, longwave emission, and sublimation) delay snowmelt onset and damp snowmelt rate, a relationship that will likely be impacted by climate warming with resultant effects on water resource availability.

The detection of variability at 1μm and 4μm in the Y0 WISEP J173835.52+273258.9

DOE PAGES

Leggett, Sandy K.; Cushing, Michael C.; Hardegree-Ullman, Kevin K.; ...

2016-10-18

We have monitored photometrically the Y0 brown dwarf WISEP J173835.52+273258.9 (W1738) at both near- and mid-infrared wavelengths. This . 1 Gyr-old 400 K dwarf is at a distance of 8 pc and has a mass around 5 MJupiter. We observed W1738 using two near-infrared lters at 1 m, Y and J, on Gemini observatory, and two mid-infrared lters at 4 m, [3.6] and [4.5], on the Spitzer observatory. Twenty-four hours were spent on the source by Spitzer on each of June 30 and October 30 2013 UT. Between these observations, around 5 hours were spent on the source by Geminimore » on each of July 17 and August 23 2013 UT. The mid-infrared light curves show signi cant evolution between the two observations separated by four months. We nd that a double sinusoid can be t to the [4.5] data, where one sinusoid has a period of 6:0 0:1 hours and the other a period of 3:0 0:1 hours. The near-infrared observations suggest variability with a 3:0 hour period, although only at a . 2 con dence level. We interpret our results as showing that the Y dwarf has a 6:0 0:1 hour rotation period, with one or more large-scale surface features being the source of variability. The peak-to-peak amplitude of the light curve at [4.5] is 3%. The amplitude of the near-infrared variability, if real, may be as high as 5 to 30%. Intriguingly, this size of variability and the wavelength dependence can be reproduced by atmospheric models that include patchy KCl and Na 2S clouds and associated small changes in surface temperature. The small number of large features, and the timescale for evolution of the features, is very similar to what is seen in the atmospheres of the solar system gas giants.« less

The Environmental Data Initiative data repository: Trustworthy practices that foster preservation, fitness, and reuse for environmental and ecological data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Servilla, M. S.; Brunt, J.; Costa, D.; Gries, C.; Grossman-Clarke, S.; Hanson, P. C.; O'Brien, M.; Smith, C.; Vanderbilt, K.; Waide, R.

2017-12-01

The Environmental Data Initiative (EDI) is an outgrowth of more than 30 years of information management experience and technology from LTER Network data practitioners. EDI builds upon the PASTA data repository software used by the LTER Network Information System and manages more than 42,000 data packages, containing tabular data, imagery, and other formats. Development of the repository was a community process beginning in 2009 that included numerous working groups for generating use cases, system requirements, and testing of completed software, thereby creating a vested interested in its success and transparency in design. All software is available for review on GitHub, and refinements and new features are ongoing. Documentation is also available on Read-the-docs, including a comprehensive description of all web-service API methods. PASTA is metadata driven and uses the Ecological Metadata Language (EML) standard for describing environmental and ecological data; a simplified Dublin Core document is also available for each data package. Data are aggregated into packages consisting of metadata and other related content described by an OAI-ORE document. Once archived, each data package becomes immutable and permanent; updates are possible through the addition of new revisions. Components of each data package are accessible through a unique identifier, while the entire data package receives a DOI that is registered in DataCite. Preservation occurs through a combination of DataONE synchronization/replication and by a series of local and remote backup strategies, including daily uploads to AWS Glacier storage. Checksums are computed for all data at initial upload, with random verification occurring on a continuous basis, thus ensuring the integrity of data. PASTA incorporates a series of data quality tests to ensure that data are correctly documented with EML before data are archived; data packages that fail any test are forbidden in the repository. These tests are a measure data fitness, which ultimately increases confidence in data reuse and synthesis. The EDI data repository is recognized by multiple organizations, including EarthCube's Council of Data Facilities, the United States Geological Survey, FAIRsharing.org, re3data.org, and is a PLOS and Nature recommended data repository.

The 3D Distribution of Dissolved and Colloidal Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb in the Western Antarctic Peninsula Shelf Region; Implications for Natural Fe Fertilization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherrell, R. M.; Fitzsimmons, J. N.; Roccanova, J.; Schofield, O.; Meredith, M. P.

2016-02-01

The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) shelf region is is a natural Fe fertilization zone where primary production exceeds that of the adjacent open Southern Ocean. Until recently, however, distributions of Fe and of other bioactive metals were completely lacking for the WAP, and the sources and delivery mechanisms of Fe to the euphotic zone were only speculated upon. We have previously presented surface water (2m) dissolved (dTM, <0.2µm) and particulate (pTM, >0.45µm) distributions for Fe and a suite of other bioactive metals over the WAP shelf, covering the Palmer LTER sampling grid for Jan. 2010, 2011 and 2012. We now report the first complete 3D distribution of dissolved and colloidal Fe (and Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb) over the LTER grid in Jan. 2015, allowing assessment of dFe size speciation, sources and transport pathways in this dynamic shelf system. Dissolved metals were analyzed by automated offline preconcentration (seaFAST-pico, ESI) followed by sector-field ICP-MS. We confirm previous findings of low ( 0.1nM) dFe in surface waters on the mid-outer shelf in the northern portion of the grid, and now find that concentrations at this level or below persist through the euphotic zone. However, dFe increases rapidly with depth, with low surface values underlain by substantially higher concentrations even at 50m. Inner shelf surface waters are generally substantially > 0.1nM, suggesting Fe replete conditions in this region. Vertical profiles reveal that dFe generally increases with depth, much moreso in the inner shelf (dFe up to 5.0nM) than the outer shelf. A general N-S gradient in dFe is also evident, with concentrations higher in the southern WAP, especially in Marguerite Bay. In addition, shelf stations often show a dFe maximum suggesting remineralization from sinking biogenic particles. These findings for dFe and for the other metals, will be used to help unravel the biogeochemical workings of natural Fe fertilization in this region.

How does complex terrain influence responses of carbon and water cycle processes to climate variability and climate change? (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bond, B. J.; Peterson, K.; McKane, R.; Lajtha, K.; Quandt, D. J.; Allen, S. T.; Sell, S.; Daly, C.; Harmon, M. E.; Johnson, S. L.; Spies, T.; Sollins, P.; Abdelnour, A. G.; Stieglitz, M.

2010-12-01

We are pursuing the ambitious goal of understanding how complex terrain influences the responses of carbon and water cycle processes to climate variability and climate change. Our studies take place in H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, an LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) site situated in Oregon’s central-western Cascade Range. Decades of long-term measurements and intensive research have revealed influences of topography on vegetation patterns, disturbance history, and hydrology. More recent research has shown surprising interactions between microclimates and synoptic weather patterns due to cold air drainage and pooling in mountain valleys. Using these data and insights, in addition to a recent LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) reconnaissance and a small sensor network, we are employing process-based models, including “SPA” (Soil-Plant-Atmosphere, developed by Mathew Williams of the University of Edinburgh), and “VELMA” (Visualizing Ecosystems for Land Management Alternatives, developed by Marc Stieglitz and colleagues of the Georgia Institute of Technology) to focus on two important features of mountainous landscapes: heterogeneity (both spatial and temporal) and connectivity (atmosphere-canopy-hillslope-stream). Our research questions include: 1) Do fine-scale spatial and temporal heterogeneity result in emergent properties at the basin scale, and if so, what are they? 2) How does connectivity across ecosystem components affect system responses to climate variability and change? Initial results show that for environmental drivers that elicit non-linear ecosystem responses on the plot scale, such as solar radiation, soil depth and soil water content, fine-scale spatial heterogeneity may produce unexpected emergent properties at larger scales. The results from such modeling experiments are necessarily a function of the supporting algorithms. However, comparisons based on models such as SPA and VELMA that operate at much different spatial scales (plots vs. hillslopes) and levels of biophysical organization (individual plants vs. aggregate plant biomass) can help us to understand how and why mountainous ecosystems may have distinctive responses to climate variability and climate change.

Methane production and consumption in grassland and boreal ecosystems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schimel, David S.; Burke, Ingrid C.; Johnston, Carol; Pastor, John

1994-01-01

The objectives of the this project were to develop a mechanistic understanding of methane production and oxidation suitable for incorporation into spatially explicit models for spatial extrapolation. Field studies were undertaken in Minnesota, Canada, and Colorado to explore the process controls over the two microbial mediated methane transformations in a range of environments. Field measurements were done in conjunction with ongoing studies in Canada (the Canadian Northern Wetlands Projects: NOWES) and in Colorado (The Shortgrass Steppe Long Term Ecological Research Project: LTER). One of the central hypotheses of the proposal was that methane production should be substrate limited, as well as being controlled by physical variables influencing microbial activity (temperature, oxidation status, and pH). Laboratory studies of peats from Canada and Minnesota (Northern and Southern Boreal) were conducted with amendments of a methanogenic substrate at multiple temperatures and at multiple pHs (the latter by titrating samples). The studies showed control by substrate, pH, and temperature in order in anaerobic samples. Field and laboratory manipulations of natural plant litter, rather than an acetogenic substrate, showed similarly large effects. The studies concluded that substrate is an important control over methanogenesis, that substrate availability in the field is closely coupled to the chemistry of the dominant vegetation influencing its decomposition rate, that most methane is produced from recent plant litter, and that landscape changes in pH are an important control, highly correlated with vegetation.

Quadratic Polynomial Regression using Serial Observation Processing:Implementation within DART

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hodyss, D.; Anderson, J. L.; Collins, N.; Campbell, W. F.; Reinecke, P. A.

2017-12-01

Many Ensemble-Based Kalman ltering (EBKF) algorithms process the observations serially. Serial observation processing views the data assimilation process as an iterative sequence of scalar update equations. What is useful about this data assimilation algorithm is that it has very low memory requirements and does not need complex methods to perform the typical high-dimensional inverse calculation of many other algorithms. Recently, the push has been towards the prediction, and therefore the assimilation of observations, for regions and phenomena for which high-resolution is required and/or highly nonlinear physical processes are operating. For these situations, a basic hypothesis is that the use of the EBKF is sub-optimal and performance gains could be achieved by accounting for aspects of the non-Gaussianty. To this end, we develop here a new component of the Data Assimilation Research Testbed [DART] to allow for a wide-variety of users to test this hypothesis. This new version of DART allows one to run several variants of the EBKF as well as several variants of the quadratic polynomial lter using the same forecast model and observations. Dierences between the results of the two systems will then highlight the degree of non-Gaussianity in the system being examined. We will illustrate in this work the differences between the performance of linear versus quadratic polynomial regression in a hierarchy of models from Lorenz-63 to a simple general circulation model.

Prediction of Tibial Rotation Pathologies Using Particle Swarm Optimization and K-Means Algorithms.

PubMed

Sari, Murat; Tuna, Can; Akogul, Serkan

2018-03-28

The aim of this article is to investigate pathological subjects from a population through different physical factors. To achieve this, particle swarm optimization (PSO) and K-means (KM) clustering algorithms have been combined (PSO-KM). Datasets provided by the literature were divided into three clusters based on age and weight parameters and each one of right tibial external rotation (RTER), right tibial internal rotation (RTIR), left tibial external rotation (LTER), and left tibial internal rotation (LTIR) values were divided into three types as Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 (Type 2 is non-pathological (normal) and the other two types are pathological (abnormal)), respectively. The rotation values of every subject in any cluster were noted. Then the algorithm was run and the produced values were also considered. The values of the produced algorithm, the PSO-KM, have been compared with the real values. The hybrid PSO-KM algorithm has been very successful on the optimal clustering of the tibial rotation types through the physical criteria. In this investigation, Type 2 (pathological subjects) is of especially high predictability and the PSO-KM algorithm has been very successful as an operation system for clustering and optimizing the tibial motion data assessments. These research findings are expected to be very useful for health providers, such as physiotherapists, orthopedists, and so on, in which this consequence may help clinicians to appropriately designing proper treatment schedules for patients.

Second BRITE-Constellation Science Conference: Small satellites—big science, Proceedings of the Polish Astronomical Society volume 5

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zwintz, Konstanze; Poretti, Ennio

2017-09-01

In 2016 the BRITE-Constellation mission had been operational for more than two years. At that time, several hundreds of bright stars of various types had been observed successfully in the two BRITE lters and astonishing new discoveries had been made. Therefore, the time was ripe to host the Second BRITE-Constellation Science Conference: Small satellites | big science" from August 22 to 26, 2016, in the beautiful Madonnensaal of the University of Innsbruck, Austria. With this conference, we brought together the scientic community interested in BRITE-Constellation, pro- vided an update on the status of the mission, presented and discussed latest scientic results, shared our experiences with the data, illustrated successful cooperations between professional and amateur ground-based observers and BRITE scientists, and explored new ideas for future BRITE-Constellation observations.

LifeWatch - a Large-scale eScience Infrastructure to Assist in Understanding and Managing our Planet's Biodiversity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernández Ernst, Vera; Poigné, Axel; Los, Walter

2010-05-01

Understanding and managing the complexity of the biodiversity system in relation to global changes concerning land use and climate change with their social and economic implications is crucial to mitigate species loss and biodiversity changes in general. The sustainable development and exploitation of existing biodiversity resources require flexible and powerful infrastructures offering, on the one hand, the access to large-scale databases of observations and measures, to advanced analytical and modelling software, and to high performance computing environments and, on the other hand, the interlinkage of European scientific communities among each others and with national policies. The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) selected the "LifeWatch e-science and technology infrastructure for biodiversity research" as a promising development to construct facilities to contribute to meet those challenges. LifeWatch collaborates with other selected initiatives (e.g. ICOS, ANAEE, NOHA, and LTER-Europa) to achieve the integration of the infrastructures at landscape and regional scales. This should result in a cooperating cluster of such infrastructures supporting an integrated approach for data capture and transmission, data management and harmonisation. Besides, facilities for exploration, forecasting, and presentation using heterogeneous and distributed data and tools should allow the interdisciplinary scientific research at any spatial and temporal scale. LifeWatch is an example of a new generation of interoperable research infrastructures based on standards and a service-oriented architecture that allow for linkage with external resources and associated infrastructures. External data sources will be established data aggregators as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) for species occurrences and other EU Networks of Excellence like the Long-Term Ecological Research Network (LTER), GMES, and GEOSS for terrestrial monitoring, the MARBEF network for marine data, and the Consortium for European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF) and its European Distributed Institute for Taxonomy (EDIT) for taxonomic data. But also "smaller" networks and "volunteer scientists" may send data (e.g. GPS supported species observations) to a LifeWatch repository. Autonomous operating wireless environmental sensors and other smart hand-held devices will contribute to increase data capture activities. In this way LifeWatch will directly underpin the development of GEOBON, the biodiversity component if GEOSS, the Global Earth observation System. To overcome all major technical difficulties imposed by the variety of currently and future technologies, protocols, data formats, etc., LifeWatch will define and use common open interfaces. For this purpose, the LifeWatch Reference Model was developed during the preparatory phase specifying the service-oriented architecture underlying the ICT-infrastructure. The Reference Model identifies key requirements and key architectural concepts to support workflows for scientific in-silico experiments, tracking of provenance, and semantic enhancement, besides meeting the functional requirements mentioned before. It provides guidelines for the specification and implementation of services and information models, defining as well a number of generic services and models. Another key issue addressed by the Reference Model is that the cooperation of many developer teams residing in many European countries has to be organized to obtain compatible results in that conformance with the specifications and policies of the Reference Model will be required. The LifeWatch Reference Model is based on the ORCHESTRA Reference Model for geospatial-oriented architectures and services networks that provides a generic framework and has been endorsed as best practice by the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). The LifeWatch Infrastructure will allow (interdisciplinary) scientific researchers to collaborate by creating e-Laboratories or by composing e-Services which can be shared and jointly developed. For it a long-term vision for the LifeWatch Biodiversity Workbench Portal has been developed as a one-stop application for the LifeWatch infrastructure based on existing and emerging technologies. There the user can find all available resources such as data, workflows, tools, etc. and access LifeWatch applications that integrate different resource and provides key capabilities like resource discovery and visualisation, creation of workflows, creation and management of provenance, and the support of collaborative activities. While LifeWatch developers will construct components for solving generic LifeWatch tasks, users may add their own facilities to fulfil individual needs. Examples for application of the LifeWatch Reference Model and the LifeWatch Biodiversity Workbench Portal will be given.

Carbon Structural Investigations of Concentric Layers Within Macro-aggregates From Forest and Agricultural Soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dria, K. J.; Gamblin, D. E.; Smucker, A. J.; Park, E.; Filley, T. R.

2004-12-01

Much of the current research on the potential of agricultural and forest soils to act as sinks for greenhouse gases focuses on the capacity of the systems to form long-term stabilized fractions of soil organic matter (SOM). One proposed mechanism is that carbon is sequestered within soil aggregate interiors during the aggregation process. Repeated wetting-drying cycles change internal pore geometries and associated microhabitats and create more stable macro-aggregates. Research by Smucker and coworkers (EGU Abstracts, 2004) suggest that the exterior portions of aggregates contain greater concentrations of C and N than their interiors, establishing gradients of \\ä13C values across these aggregates. We present the results of a study to test if there exists molecular evidence of such gradients. Soil samples from forest, conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) agriculture ecosystems in Hoytville and Wooster LTER sites were gently sieved into various size fractions. Soil macro-aggregates (6.3-9.5mm) were peeled, by mechanical erosion chambers, into concentric layers and separated into exterior, transitional and interior regions. Alkaline CuO oxidation was used to determine the composition of lignin, suberin, and cutin biopolymers to determine changes in source and degradative states of SOM. Preliminary results indicate that both soils show similar relative yields of lignin and hydroxyl fatty acids with a greater abundance of lignin than cutin and suberin acids. Greater abundances (per 100mg organic carbon) of CuO products were observed in the native forest than in either agricultural system. The lignin in the NT agricultural soil was least oxidized, followed by the forest soils, then the CT agricultural soils. For both soils, slight trends in biopolymer concentrations were observed between the exterior, transitional and interior regions of the aggregates from the forest and CT or NT ecosystems.

Assessing the Relationship Between Spectral Vegetation Indices and Shrub Cover in the Jornada Basin, New Mexico

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duncan, Jeff; Stow, D.; Franklin, J.; Hope, A.

1993-01-01

We assessed the statistical relations between Spectral Vegetation Indices (SVI's) derived from SPOT multi-spectral data and semi-arid shrub cover at the Jornada LTER site in New Mexico. Despite a limited range of shrub cover in the sample the analyses resulted in r(sup 2) values as high as 0 central dot 77. Greenness SVI's (e.g., Simple Ratio, NDVI, SAVI, PVI and an orthogonal Greenness index) were shown to be more sensitive to shrub type and phenology than brightness SVis (e.g., green, red and near-infrared reflectances and a Brightness index). The results varied substantially with small-scale changes in plot size (60m by 60m to 100m by 100m) as a consequence of landscape heterogeneity. The results also indicated the potential for the spectral differentiation of shrub types, and shrubs from grass, using multi-temporal, multi-spectral analysis.

Calibration of Cosmic Ray Neutron Probes in complex systems: open research issues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piussi, Laura; Tomelleri, Enrico; Bertoldi, Giacomo; Zebisch, Marc; Niedrist, Georg; Tonon, Giustino

2017-04-01

Soil moisture is a key variable for environmental monitoring, hydrological and climate change research as it controls mass and energy fluxes in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. Actual soil moisture monitoring methods are capable of providing observations either at a very big spatial scale and timely spotty satellite observations or at a very small scale and timely continuous point measurements. In this framework, meso-scale timely continuous measurements appear of key relevance, thus, recently, Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensing (CRNS) is gaining more and more importance, because of its capacity to deliver long time-series of observations within a footprint of 500m of diameter. Even if during the last years a remarkable number of papers have been published, the calibration of Cosmic Ray Neutron Probes (CRPs) in heterogeneous ecosystems is still an open issue. The CRP is sensitive to all the Hydrogen species and their distribution within the footprint, thus in environments that can be assumed as homogeneous a good accordance between the CRNS data and observed soil moisture can be reached, but, where Hydrogen distributions are complex, different calibration campaigns lead to different results. In order to improve the efficiency of the method, a better understanding of the effects of combined spatial and temporal variability has to be reached. The aim of the actual work is to better understand the effects of multiple Hydrogen sources that vary in time and space and evaluate different approaches in calibration over complex terrain in a mountain area. We present different calibration approaches used for an alpine pasture, which is a research site of the LTER network in South-Tyrol (Italy). In the study site long-term soil moisture observations are present and are used for remote-sensing data validation. For this specific and highly heterogeneous site, the effects of heterogeneous land-cover and topography on CRP calibration are evaluated and some hypotheses on the major sources of uncertainty are formulated.

Nitrogen amendments have predictable effects on soil microbial communities and processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramirez, K. S.; Craine, J. M.; Fierer, N.

2011-12-01

Ecosystems worldwide are receiving increasing amounts of reactive nitrogen (N) through anthropogenic activities. While there has been much effort devoted to quantifying aboveground impacts of anthropogenic N effects, less work has focused on identifying belowground impacts. Bacteria play critical roles in ecosystem processes and identifying how anthropogenic N impacts bacterial communities may elucidate how critical microbially-mediated ecosystem functions are altered by N additions. In order to connect changes in soil processes to changes in the microbial community, we need to first determine if the changes are consistent across different soil types and ecosystems. We assessed the patterns of N effects across a variety of ecosystems in two ways. First, utilizing long-term experimental N gradients at Cedar Creek LTER, MN and Kellogg Biological Station LTER, MI, we examined the response of microbial communities to anthropogenic N additions. Using high-throughput pyrosequencing techniques we quantified changes in soil microbial communities across the nitrogen gradients. We observed strong directional shifts in community composition at both sites; N fertilization consistently impacted both the phylogenetic and taxonomic structure of soil bacterial community structure in a predictable manner regardless of ecosystem type. For example, at both sites Acidobacteria experienced significant declines as nitrogen increased, while other groups such as Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased in relative abundance. Our results suggest that bacterial communities across these N fertility gradients are structured by either nitrogen and/or soil carbon availability, rather than by shifts in the plant community or soil pH indirectly associated with the elevated nitrogen inputs. Still, this field-work does not incorporate changes in soil processes (e.g. soil respiration) or microbial activity (e.g. microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activity), or separate N from C effects. To address these factors, we performed a lab experiment, amending 30 soils collected from across North America with inorganic N. From this year-long incubation we obtained soil respiration, microbial biomass, bacterial community and extracellular enzyme activity measurements. Across all soil types we consistently observed a significant decrease in both soil respiration, approximately 10%, and microbial biomass, approximately 35%. Using high-throughput pyrosequencing we identified seven bacterial groups that responded significantly to the N additions, including those observed in our field survey. Together, this work suggests that increases in soil N shifts the functional capabilities of the microbial community and highlights possibly mechanisms behind the observed changes.

Using the Rapid-Scanning, Ultra-Portable, Canopy Biomass Lidar (CBL) Alone and In Tandem with the Full-Waveform Dual-Wavelength Echidna® Lidar (DWEL) to Establish Forest Structure and Biomass Estimates in a Variety of Ecosystems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaaf, C.; Paynter, I.; Saenz, E. J.; Li, Z.; Strahler, A. H.; Peri, F.; Erb, A.; Raumonen, P.; Muir, J.; Howe, G.; Hewawasam, K.; Martel, J.; Douglas, E. S.; Chakrabarti, S.; Cook, T.; Schaefer, M.; Newnham, G.; Jupp, D. L. B.; van Aardt, J. A.; Kelbe, D.; Romanczyk, P.; Faulring, J.

2014-12-01

Terrestrial lidars are increasingly being deployed in a variety of ecosystems to calibrate and validate large scale airborne and spaceborne estimates of forest structure and biomass. While these lidars provide a wealth of high resolution information on canopy structure and understory vegetation, they tend to be expensive, slow scanning and somewhat ponderous to deploy. Therefore, frequent deployments and characterization of larger areas of a hectare or more can still be challenging. This suggests a role for low cost, ultra-portable, rapid scanning (but lower resolution) instruments -- particularly in scanning extreme environments and as a way to augment and extend strategically placed scans from the more highly capable lidars. The Canopy Biomass Lidar (CBL) is an inexpensive, highly portable, fast-scanning (33 seconds), time-of-flight, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) instrument, built in collaboration with RIT, by U Mass Boston. The instrument uses a 905nm SICK time of flight laser with a 0.25o resolution and 30m range. The higher resolution, full-waveform Dual Wavelength Echidna® Lidar (DWEL), developed by Boston University, U Mass Lowell and U Mass Boston, builds on the Australian CSIRO single wavelength, full-waveform Echidna® Validation Instrument (EVI), but utilizes two simultaneous laser pulses at 1064 and 1548 nm to separate woody returns from those of foliage at a range of up to 100m range. The UMass Boston CBL has been deployed in rangelands (San Joaquin Experimental Range, CA), high altitude conifers (Sierra National Forest, CA), mixed forests (Harvard Forest LTER MA), tropical forests (La Selva and Sirena Biological Stations, Costa Rica), eucalypts (Karawatha, Brisbane TERN, Australia), and woodlands (Alice Holt Forest, UK), frequently along-side the DWEL, as well as in more challenging environments such as mangrove forests (Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica) and Massachusetts salt marshes and eroding bluffs (Plum Island LTER, and UMass Boston Nantucket Field Station). Multiple hemispherical point clouds can be combined to generate detailed reconstructions of ecosystem biomass and structure. By combining these scans and reconstructions, the strengths of the DWEL can be coupled with the speed and portability of the CBL to extrapolate comprehensive structure information to larger areas.

First 2 years of Atmospheric CO2 measurements in the Estany Llong plain (2100 masl, Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici, Pyrenees, Catalonia, Spain).

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Curcoll, Roger; Recolons, Montserrat; Font, Anna; Agraz, Laura; Parga, Elena; Bacardit, Montse; Camarero, Lluís.; Pueyo, Salva; Rodó, Xavier; Morguí, Josep Anton

2010-05-01

Since April 2009, air samples are being taken bi-weekly at 10 GMT in the plain of the Estany Llong at 2100 masl. Estany Llong air sampling site (ELL, 42°34'29''N 0°57'17''E) is a remote site situated in the SW principal valley of the Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. New Flask-sampling equipment for Remote Mountain Sites was developed by the Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (IC3) to allow flask sampling in extreme weather conditions and carrying the sampling equipment for more than 10 km without damaging flasks. Dry Air analysis for CO2 are done at the Laboratory of IC3 using two coupled modified IRGA Licor-7000, where both pressure and flow are externally controlled. Far away from populated areas, ELL site acts as a remote site, but it is also responding to discrete events as snow melting, summer cattle breeding on pastures and trekking frequentation. Series of CO2 obtained are included as part of Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) at the Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici. In the long term, these measurements show the mountain ecosystems contribution and geomorphologic influence on the CO2 budget of the air masses crossing a mountain range.

Nitrogen fluxes and retention in urban watershed ecosystems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Groffman, P.M.; Law, N.L.; Belt, K.T.; Band, L.E.; Fisher, G.T.

2004-01-01

Although the watershed approach has long been used to study whole-ecosystem function, it has seldom been applied to study human-dominated systems, especially those dominated by urban and suburban land uses. Here we present 3 years of data on nitrogen (N) losses from one completely forested, one agricultural, and six urban/suburban watersheds, and input-output N budgets for suburban, forested, and agricultural watersheds. The work is a product of the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, a long-term study of urban and suburban ecosystems, and a component of the US National Science Foundation's long-term ecological research (LTER) network. As expected, urban and suburban watersheds had much higher N losses than did the completely forested watershed, with N yields ranging from 2.9 to 7.9 kg N ha-1 y-1 in the urban and suburban watersheds compared with less than 1 kg N ha-1 y -1 in the completely forested watershed. Yields from urban and suburban watersheds were lower than those from an agricultural watershed (13-19.8 kg N ha-1 y-1). Retention of N in the suburban watershed was surprisingly high, 75% of inputs, which were dominated by home lawn fertilizer (14.4 kg N ha-1 y-1) and atmospheric deposition (11.2 kg N ha-1 y-1). Detailed analysis of mechanisms of N retention, which must occur in the significant amounts of pervious surface present in urban and suburban watersheds, and which include storage in soils and vegetation and gaseous loss, is clearly warranted.

Ulcerative disease outbreak in crayfish Orconectes propinquus linked to Saprolegnia australis in big Muskellunge Lake, Wisconsin.

PubMed

Krugner-Higby, Lisa; Haak, Danielle; Johnson, Pieter T J; Shields, Jeffery D; Jones, William M; Reece, Kimberly S; Meinke, Tim; Gendron, Annette; Rusak, James A

2010-07-26

Crayfish populations in the area of the North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project, Wisconsin, USA, have been monitored for >25 yr. In 2005, native crayfish Orconectes propinquus from Big Muskellunge Lake were found with ulcerated lesions in the cuticle. In 2006, lesions occurred in 9.5% of sampled crayfish from the lake (n=3146). Ulcers generally occurred on the appendages of affected individuals but varied in location and severity. The prevalence of ulcers varied widely among sites, sample depths, and sampling dates, ranging from < 2% to >20%. The prevalence of ulcers in crayfish increased from a minimum in early June to a maximum in late July and August. In aquarium trials, healthy crayfish representing either O. propinquus or O. rusticus co-housed with ulcerated crayfish did not develop ulcers within 4 wk of exposure. Gross and histopathologic analyses of ulcerated crayfish revealed the presence of filamentous hyphae in the lesions while hemocytic infiltrates, melanotic reactions and silver-stained sections indicated that the ulcers had an oomycete etiology. Excised samples of ulcerated crayfish cuticle grown in culture developed an oomycete that was identified as Saprolegnia australis by PCR amplification and sequence analysis of 2 different DNA fragments. This is the first report of the occurrence of ulcers in wild crayfish associated with S. australis infection in the U.S.A. The advent of the outbreak and its underlying ecological causes are still under investigation.

Water and Solute Mass Transport in Soils Developed on glacial Drift: A Br Tracer Investigation Using Instrumented Soil Monoliths at an Agricultural Long Term Ecological Research Site (Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, Southern Michigan)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, L.; Hamilton, S. K.; Walter, L. M.

2004-12-01

Hydrologic processes control the residence time of water in the soil column. This is of central importance in understanding mineral weathering rates in terms of reaction kinetics and solute transport. In order to better quantify the coupling between water and solute mass transport and to better define controls on carbonate and aluminosilicates weathering rates, we have conducted bromide-tracer introduction experiments at four replicate soil monoliths (4 m3 volume) instrumented and managed by the KBS-LTER. Monolith soils are developed on the pitted outwash plain of the morainic system left by the last retreat of the Wisconsin glaciation, around 12,000 years ago. Soil profiles from the monolith sections extend to 200 cm and they were sampled and characterized texturally and mineralogically. Quartz and feldspar are dominant throughout the soil profile, while carbonates and hornblende occur only in deeper soil horizons. The four replicate monoliths are instrumented with gas and soil water sampling devices (Prenart tension lysimeters) at various depths. The monoliths also have a large capacity tray at the bottom, which permits collection of water for weight and chemical determinations. A bromide tracer solution (as lithium bromide) was applied to coincide as closely as possible with a major snowmelt event (2/27/04). The saturated and unsaturated transport of bromide through the four monoliths was followed as a function of time and soil profile depth for the duration of the snowmelt as well as intermittent rain events. Because the soil was saturated at the time of bromide application, the bromide solution is expected to move rapidly through macropores, followed by slower movement into micropores. The unsaturated transport of bromide is largely controlled by the intensity and duration of the rains if it is dominated by piston flow as opposed to preferential channel flow. In general, the tracer moved through the shallow soils very quickly, which is shown by early sharp peaks in bromide concentrations. Transport of bromide into deeper soil horizons, however, differs markedly among the four monoliths. Even within a given monolith, waters sampled at the same depth by different tension lysimeters show a very different pattern of bromide transport over time with some lyimeters suggesting piston flow, while others in the same monolith suggest preferential channel flow. These differences are likely driven by heterogeneous soil textures. The water recovered from the monolith trays over the first three months of the study period is between 80 and 90 percent of the total precipitation recorded at the LTER site. This recovery is reasonable given the fact that temperature was low and crops were not yet actively growing. The recovery of bromide is different among the monoliths and in general is less than 50 percent, which means more than 50 percent of tracer is still in the soils even after three months. Residence time of water has been calculated after some assumptions on the breakthrough curve. The water mass transport constraints imposed by the bromide tracer study will be utilized in concert with additional data on soil water geochemistry.

Chemical and physical characterisation of water in an alpine permafrost area (Col d'Olen LTER site, Italian NW-Alps)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giardino, Marco; Colombo, Nicola; Fratianni, Simona; Guenzi, Diego; Acquaotta, Fiorella; Perotti, Luigi; Freppaz, Michele; Godone, Danilo; Said Pullicino, Daniel; Martin, Maria; Viglietti, Davide; Gorra, Roberta; Mania, Ilaria; Viviano, Gaetano; Salerno, Franco; Balestrini, Raffaella

2015-04-01

High altitude areas in the Alps are characterised by the permafrost environment, which reacts sensitively to climate change. During the last decades several studies on alpine permafrost-related hazards have been performed, but few studies have focused on the geochemical content of the water that drains permafrost areas or outflow from rock glaciers (Williams et al., 2006; Thies et al., 2007; Krainer et al., 2011). Rock glaciers have physical and chemical influences on interflowing waters and their discharge can be highly enriched in solutes. For example, unexpected high nickel and manganese concentrations exceeding the EU limits for drinking water have been recently reported in some studies investigating rock glacier discharges (Ilyashuk et al., 2014). The present study aims to evaluate rock glacier solute fluxes into a high altitude lake in the Italian NW-Alps (Col d'Olen LTER site, Aosta Valley) in order to understand the impact of climate parameters on alpine permafrost, in particular the effects of permafrost ice melt on the water quality of mountain headwaters. This objective has been achieved through an integrated-multidisciplinary research programme involving climate analysis, rock glacier ground surface temperature investigation, water physiochemical and microbiological analyses. Nine automatic and three manned weather stations located in the surrounding areas of the rock glacier (radius: 12 km) have been used to study the relationships between climatic parameters and permafrost dynamics. Moreover, meteorological data have been collected by installing portable instruments in situ, integrated in a Mini Automatic Weather Station. To investigate the correlations between physiochemical features of water and the thermal state of the rock glacier surface, the ground temperature monitoring has been conducted. Temperature dataloggers have been buried 5/10 cm into the ground, regularly distributed on the rockglacier surface and in few surrounding sites. Total Station was used to achieve position for each datalogger and differential GNSS was used to acquire global geographic coordinates with centimetric precision in order to accurately interpolate ground temperature data grid. Water quality monitoring was conducted using a multiparameter spectrometer probe. In particular, NO3-Neq, DOCeq, TOCeq and turbidity were analysed, and UV-visible absorbance spectra (220-720 nm) were recorded every three hours during summer and early autumn seasons. Water sampling in the rock glacier lake (and related inflows) was conducted on weekly basis starting with the initiation of snow melt runoff until freeze-up in the early autumn. Moreover, the ablation water of the Indren Glacier (located in the study area) has been analysed in order to use it as reference data. Water samples have been analysed for anions, cations, trace elements, nutrient content (TOC, DOC, TDP, DOP, TDN, DON), EC (Electrical Conductivity), Eh (redox potential) and pH. Finally, in order to assess microbial diversity and abundance of communities, functionally related to ecosystem nutrient dynamics, diversity and abundance of microbial communities were analysed. The fine material in the permafrost feature has been characterised through the determination of Ntot, Corg, N forms and heavy metals.

Fostering Collaboration Across the U.S. Critical Zone Observatories Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharkey, S.; White, T. S.

2017-12-01

The Critical Zone (CZ) is defined as the permeable layer from the top of the vegetation canopy to the bottom of freely circulating groundwater where rock, soil, water, air and life meet. The study of the CZ is motivated by an overall lack of understanding of the coupled physical, chemical, and biological processes in this zone at differing spatial and temporal scales. Critical Zone Observatories (CZOs), supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation's Geosciences Directorate, are natural laboratories that aim to provide infrastructure, data and models to gain understanding of the evolution and function of the CZ from grain-to-watershed scales. The nine U.S. observatories span a range of climatic, ecologic, geologic, and physiographic environments from California to Puerto Rico, working on site-specific hypotheses and network-scale goals. CZO research infrastructure allows for teams of cross-disciplinary scientists at each site to further CZ science using field and theoretical approaches, education and outreach, and cross-CZO science. Cross-CZO science emerges from a set of common CZ science questions and hypotheses focused on CZ structure and evolution, event-based and continuous fluxes across CZ interfaces, and changes in storage of major CZ reservoirs at the catchment scale. CZO research seeks to understand coupled processes across all timescales using quantitative models parameterized from observations of meteorological variables, streams, and groundwater, and sampling and analyzing landforms, bedrock, soils, and ecosystems. Each observatory strives to apply common infrastructure, protocols and measurements that help quantify the composition and fluxes of energy, water, solutes, sediments, energy, and mass across boundaries of the CZ system through both space and time. This type of approach enables researchers to access and integrate data in a way that allows for the isolation of environmental variables and comparison of processes and responses across environmental gradients. There is opportunity to foster cross-collaborations with existing research infrastructure (i.e. LTER, NEON, international CZOs) to promote cross-site science and expand upon geologic, climatic, ecological, land use and hydrologic gradients required to understand the CZ.

Prospects for phenological monitoring in an arid southwestern U.S. rangeland using field observations with hyperspatial and moderate resolution imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Browning, D. M.; Laliberte, A. S.; Rango, A.; Herrick, J. E.

2009-12-01

Relating field observations of plant phenological events to remotely sensed depictions of land surface phenology remains a challenge to the vertical integration of data from disparate sources. This research conducted at the Jornada Basin Long-Term Ecological Research site in southern New Mexico capitalizes on legacy datasets pertaining to reproductive phenology and biomass and hyperspatial imagery. Large amounts of exposed bare soil and modest cover from shrubs and grasses in these arid and semi-arid ecosystems challenge the integration of field observations of phenology and remotely sensed data to monitor changes in land surface phenology. Drawing on established field protocols for reproductive phenology, hyperspatial imagery (4 cm), and object-based image analysis, we explore the utility of two approaches to scale detailed observations (i.e., field and 4 cm imagery) to the extent of long-term field plots (50 x 50m) and moderate resolution Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery (30 x 30m). Very high resolution color-infrared imagery was collected June 2007 across 15 LTER study sites that transect five distinct vegetation communities along a continuum of grass to shrub dominance. We examined two methods for scaling spectral vegetation indices (SVI) at 4 cm resolution: pixel averaging and object-based integration. Pixel averaging yields the mean SVI value for all pixels within the plot or TM pixel. Alternatively, the object-based method is based on a weighted average of SVI values that correspond to discrete image objects (e.g., individual shrubs or grass patches). Object-based image analysis of 4 cm imagery provides a detailed depiction of ground cover and allows us to extract species-specific contributions to upscaled SVI values. The ability to discern species- or functional-group contributions to remotely sensed signals of vegetation greenness can greatly enhance the design of field sampling protocols for phenological research. Furthermore, imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is a cost-effective and increasingly available resource and generation of UAV mosaics has been accomplished so that larger study areas can be addressed. This technology can provide a robust basis for scaling relationships for phenology-based research applications.

Reaching the Diffraction Limit - Differential Speckle and Wide-Field Imaging for the Gemini-N Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, Nic J.; Howell, Steve; Horch, Elliott

2016-01-01

Speckle imaging allows telescopes to achieve di raction limited imaging performance. The technique requires cameras capable of reading out frames at a very fast rate, e ectively `freezing out' atmospheric seeing. The resulting speckles can be correlated and images reconstructed that are at the di raction limit of the telescope. These new instruments are based on the successful performance and design of the Di erential Speckle Survey Instrument (DSSI) [2, 1]. The instruments are being built for the Gemini-N and WIYN telescopes and will be made available to the community via the peer review proposal process. We envision their primary use to be validation and characterization of exoplanet targets from the NASA K2 and TESS missions and RV discovered exoplanets. Such targets will provide excellent follow-up candidates for both the WIYN and Gemini telescopes [3]. Examples of DSSI data are shown in the gures below. We expect similar data quality in speckle imaging mode with the new instruments. Additionally, both cameras will have a wide- eld mode and standard SDSS lters. They will be highly versatile instruments and it is that likely many other science programs will request time on the cameras. The limiting magnitude for speckle observations, will remain around 13-14th at WIYN and 16-17th at Gemini, while wide- eld, normal CCD imaging operation should be able to go to much fainter, providing usual CCD imaging and photometric capabilities. The instruments will also have high utility as scoring cameras for telescope engineering purposes, or other applications where high time resolution is needed. Instrument support will be provided, including a software pipeline that takes raw speckle data to fully reconstructed images.

The ergot alkaloid gene cluster in Claviceps purpurea: extension of the cluster sequence and intra species evolution.

PubMed

Haarmann, Thomas; Machado, Caroline; Lübbe, Yvonne; Correia, Telmo; Schardl, Christopher L; Panaccione, Daniel G; Tudzynski, Paul

2005-06-01

The genomic region of Claviceps purpurea strain P1 containing the ergot alkaloid gene cluster [Tudzynski, P., Hölter, K., Correia, T., Arntz, C., Grammel, N., Keller, U., 1999. Evidence for an ergot alkaloid gene cluster in Claviceps purpurea. Mol. Gen. Genet. 261, 133-141] was explored by chromosome walking, and additional genes probably involved in the ergot alkaloid biosynthesis have been identified. The putative cluster sequence (extending over 68.5kb) contains 4 different nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) genes and several putative oxidases. Northern analysis showed that most of the genes were co-regulated (repressed by high phosphate), and identified probable flanking genes by lack of co-regulation. Comparison of the cluster sequences of strain P1, an ergotamine producer, with that of strain ECC93, an ergocristine producer, showed high conservation of most of the cluster genes, but significant variation in the NRPS modules, strongly suggesting that evolution of these chemical races of C. purpurea is determined by evolution of NRPS module specificity.

Response of NDVI, biomass, and ecosystem gas exchange to long-term warming and fertilization in wet sedge tundra.

PubMed

Boelman, Natalie T; Stieglitz, Marc; Rueth, Heather M; Sommerkorn, Martin; Griffin, Kevin L; Shaver, Gaius R; Gamon, John A

2003-05-01

This study explores the relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), aboveground plant biomass, and ecosystem C fluxes including gross ecosystem production (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER) and net ecosystem production. We measured NDVI across long-term experimental treatments in wet sedge tundra at the Toolik Lake LTER site, in northern Alaska. Over 13 years, N and P were applied in factorial experiments (N, P and N + P), air temperature was increased using greenhouses with and without N + P fertilizer, and light intensity (photosynthetically active photon flux density) was reduced by 50% using shade cloth. Within each treatment plot, NDVI, aboveground biomass and whole-system CO(2) flux measurements were made at the same sampling points during the peak-growing season of 2001. We found that across all treatments, NDVI is correlated with aboveground biomass ( r(2)=0.84), GEP ( r(2)=0.75) and ER ( r(2)=0.71), providing a basis for linking remotely sensed NDVI to aboveground biomass and ecosystem carbon flux.

Long-term forest soil warming alters microbial communities in temperate forest soils

PubMed Central

DeAngelis, Kristen M.; Pold, Grace; Topçuoğlu, Begüm D.; van Diepen, Linda T. A.; Varney, Rebecca M.; Blanchard, Jeffrey L.; Melillo, Jerry; Frey, Serita D.

2015-01-01

Soil microbes are major drivers of soil carbon cycling, yet we lack an understanding of how climate warming will affect microbial communities. Three ongoing field studies at the Harvard Forest Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) site (Petersham, MA) have warmed soils 5°C above ambient temperatures for 5, 8, and 20 years. We used this chronosequence to test the hypothesis that soil microbial communities have changed in response to chronic warming. Bacterial community composition was studied using Illumina sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, and bacterial and fungal abundance were assessed using quantitative PCR. Only the 20-year warmed site exhibited significant change in bacterial community structure in the organic soil horizon, with no significant changes in the mineral soil. The dominant taxa, abundant at 0.1% or greater, represented 0.3% of the richness but nearly 50% of the observations (sequences). Individual members of the Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria showed strong warming responses, with one Actinomycete decreasing from 4.5 to 1% relative abundance with warming. Ribosomal RNA copy number can obfuscate community profiles, but is also correlated with maximum growth rate or trophic strategy among bacteria. Ribosomal RNA copy number correction did not affect community profiles, but rRNA copy number was significantly decreased in warming plots compared to controls. Increased bacterial evenness, shifting beta diversity, decreased fungal abundance and increased abundance of bacteria with low rRNA operon copy number, including Alphaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria, together suggest that more or alternative niche space is being created over the course of long-term warming. PMID:25762989

Regional- and local-scale variations in benthic megafaunal composition at the Arctic deep-sea observatory HAUSGARTEN

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, J.; Krumpen, T.; Soltwedel, T.; Gutt, J.; Bergmann, M.

2016-02-01

The Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) observatory HAUSGARTEN, in the eastern Fram Strait, provides us the valuable ability to study the composition of benthic megafaunal communities through the analysis of seafloor photographs. This, in combination with extensive sampling campaigns, which have yielded a unique data set on faunal, bacterial, biogeochemical and geological properties, as well as on hydrography and sedimentation patterns, allows us to address the question of why variations in megafaunal community structure and species distribution exist within regional (60-110 km) and local (<4 km) scales. Here, we present first results from the latitudinal HAUSGARTEN gradient, consisting of three different stations (N3, HG-IV, S3) between 78°30‧N and 79°45‧N (2351-2788 m depth), obtained via the analysis of images acquired by a towed camera (OFOS-Ocean Floor Observation System) in 2011. We assess variability in megafaunal densities, species composition and diversity as well as biotic and biogenic habitat features, which may cause the patterns observed. While there were significant regional-scale differences in megafaunal composition and densities between the stations (N3=26.74±0.63; HG-IV=11.21±0.25; S3=18.34±0.39 individuals m-2), significant local differences were only found at HG-IV. Regional-scale variations may be due to the significant differences in ice coverage at each station as well as the different quantities of protein available, whereas local-scale differences at HG-IV may be a result of variation in bottom topography or factors not yet identified.

Canopy structural complexity predicts forest canopy light absorption at continental scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Atkins, J. W.; Fahey, R. T.; Hardiman, B. S.; Gough, C. M.

2017-12-01

Understanding how the physical structure of forest canopies influence light acquisition is a long-standing area of inquiry fundamental to advancing understanding of many areas of the physical sciences, including the modeling and interpretation of biogeochemical cycles. Conventional measures of forest canopy structure employed in earth system models are often limited to leaf area index (LAI)—a measure of the quantity of leaves in the canopy. However, more novel multi-dimensional measures of canopy structural complexity (CSC) that describe the arrangement of vegetation are now possible because of technological advances, and may improve modeled estimates of canopy light absorption. During 2016 and 2017, we surveyed forests at sites from across the eastern, southern, and midwestern United States using portable canopy LiDAR (PCL). This survey included 14 National Ecological Observation Network (NEON), Long-Term Ecological Research Network (LTER,) Ameriflux, and University affiliated sites. Our findings show that a composite model including CSC parameters and LAI explains 96.8% of the variance in light acquisition, measured as the fraction of photosynthetically absorbed radiation (fPAR) at the continental scale, and improvement of 12% over an LAI only model. Under high light sky conditions, measures of CSC are more strongly coupled with light acquisition than under low light, possibly because light scattering partially decouples CSC from canopy light absorption under low, predominately diffuse light conditions. We conclude that scalable estimates of CSC metrics may improve continent-wide estimates of canopy light absorption and, therefore, carbon uptake, with implications for remote sensing and earth system modeling.

Coccolithophore diversity and dynamics at a coastal site in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cerino, Federica; Malinverno, Elisa; Fornasaro, Daniela; Kralj, Martina; Cabrini, Marina

2017-09-01

Two years-data (May 2011-February 2013) obtained from a monthly sampling carried out at the coastal long term Ecological Research station C1-LTER in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea) were analysed to describe the seasonal dynamics and diversity of coccolithophore assemblages and to assess their relationship with environmental forcing. Coccolithophores represented 10.7% of the total Utermöhl phytoplankton that were mainly dominated by small (<10 μm) flagellates and diatoms (62.2% and 24.8% of total abundances, respectively). Coccolithophore abundances obtained by polarized light microscopy analysis ranged from 0.2 to 35.3 · 104 coccospheres L-1 with a mean value of 5.2 · 104 coccospheres L-1. A marked seasonal pattern was observed with a main peak in December-February (2.5-31.5 · 104 coccospheres L-1), in correspondence of the winter mixing, mainly due to Emiliania huxleyi, and a secondary peak in May-June (0.7-15.0 · 104 coccospheres L-1), coinciding with the increase of the light intensity and the beginning of the seasonal stratification, dominated by holococcolithophores and small Syracosphaera species. The most abundant taxa were E. huxleyi and holococcolithophores, followed by Acanthoica quattrospina, Syracosphaera species and other minor species. Statistical analyses recognized four distinct groups, corresponding to seasonal variations of environmental conditions. Considering the two years, some species displayed a recurrent seasonal pattern highlighting possible species-specific ecological requirements, while others showed an interannual variability probably due to local factors.

Isotopologue fractionation during nitrous oxide reduction in soil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jinuntuya, M.; Sutka, R. L.; Ostrom, P. H.; Gandhi, H.; Ostrom, N. E.

2007-12-01

Reduction of N2O is a challenge to studies using isotope values to resolve global budgets and microbial sources of this critical greenhouse gas. Prior research has demonstrated that the difference in δ15N between the central (α) and outer (β) N atoms in the N2O can be used to distinguish N2O derived from nitrification and denitrification (Sutka et al., 2003; 2006; Toyoda et al., 2005). If the intramolecular distribution of 15N, however, is altered during reduction, apportionments of N2O to nitrification and denitrification will be inaccurate. Isotopologue analyses of N2O within soil mesocosm experiments were used to investigate fractionation during N2O reduction at four different levels of water filled pores space (WFPS) 60, 80, 100 and 110%. Uncultivated successional soils were obtained from the Kellogg Biological Station Long Term Ecological Research Site located in Michigan (KBS LTER). Isotopic enrichment factors (ɛ) for δ15N, δ18O, δ15Nα and δ15Nβ ranged from -4.2 to -9.0, -12.5 to -23.6, -6.4 to -10.0 and -2.0 to -7.9, respectively. With the exception of SP, lower fractionation factors were observed at higher WFPS demonstrating the importance of diffusion in limiting the expression of enzymatic fractionation. Isotopic discrimination in SP during N2O reduction was small and the ɛ values varied between -4.5 and 0 ‰. Strong correlations were evident between δ18O and δ15N during reduction and segregation against 18O was 2.7 times greater than 15N. Similarly, 18O was discriminated against approximately 2.0 times more than 15Nα. These relationships (1) provide a definitive means for establishing that isotope effects during reduction are present and (2) may provide a means to determine the source signatures even when reduction occurs.

Bathymetric patterns in standing stock and diversity of deep-sea nematodes at the long-term ecological research observatory HAUSGARTEN (Fram Strait)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grzelak, Katarzyna; Kotwicki, Lech; Hasemann, Christiane; Soltwedel, Thomas

2017-08-01

Bathymetric patterns in standing stocks and diversity are a major topic of investigation in deep-sea biology. From the literature, responses of metazoan meiofauna and nematodes to bathymetric gradients are well studied, with a general decrease in biomass and abundance with increasing water depth, while bathymetric diversity gradients often, although it is not a rule, show a unimodal pattern. Spatial distribution patterns of nematode communities along bathymetric gradients are coupled with surface-water processes and interacting physical and biological factors within the benthic system. We studied the nematode communities at the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) observatory HAUSGARTEN, located in the Fram Strait at the Marginal Ice Zone, with respect to their standing stocks as well as structural and functional diversity. We evaluated whether nematode density, biomass and diversity indices, such as H0, Hinf, EG(50), Θ- 1, are linked with environmental conditions along a bathymetric transect spanning from 1200 m to 5500 m water depth. Nematode abundance, biomass and diversity, as well as food availability from phytodetritus sedimentation (indicated by chloroplastic pigments in the sediments), were higher at the stations located at upper bathyal depths (1200-2000 m) and tended to decrease with increasing water depth. A faunal shift was found below 3500 m water depth, where genus composition and trophic structure changed significantly and structural diversity indices markedly decreased. A strong dominance of very few genera and its high turnover particularly at the abyssal stations (4000-5500 m) suggests that environmental conditions were rather unfavorable for most genera. Despite the high concentrations of sediment-bound chloroplastic pigments and elevated standing stocks found at the deepest station (5500 m), nematode genus diversity remained the lowest compared to all other stations. This study provides a further insight into the knowledge of deep-sea nematodes, their diversity patterns and a deeper understanding of the environmental factors shaping nematodes communities at bathyal and abyssal depths.

Microbial Growth and Metabolism in Soil - Refining the Interpretation of Carbon Use Efficiency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geyer, K.; Frey, S. D.

2016-12-01

Carbon use efficiency (CUE) describes a critical step in the terrestrial carbon cycle where microorganisms partition organic carbon (C) between stabilized organic forms and CO2. Application of this concept, however, begins with accurate measurements of CUE. Both traditional and developing approaches still depend on numerous assumptions that render them difficult to interpret and potentially incompatible with one another. Here we explore the soil processes inherent to traditional (e.g., substrate-based, biomass-based) and emerging (e.g., growth rate-based, calorimetry) CUE techniques in order to better understand the information they provide. Soil from the Harvard Forest Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site in Massachusetts, USA, was amended with both 13C-glucose and 18O-water and monitored over 72 h for changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC), respiration (R), microbial biomass (MB), DNA synthesis, and heat flux (Q). Four different CUE estimates were calculated: 1) (ΔDOC - R)/ΔDOC (substrate-based), 2) Δ13C-MB/(Δ13C-MB + R) (biomass-based), 3) Δ18O-DNA/(Δ18O-DNA + R) (growth rate-based), 4) Q/R (energy-based). Our results indicate that microbial growth (estimated by both 13C and 18O techniques) was delayed for 40 h after amendment even though DOC had declined to pre-amendment levels within 48 h. Respiration and heat flux also peaked after 40 h. Although these soils have a relatively high organic C content (5% C), respired CO2 was greater than 88% glucose-derived throughout the experiment. All estimates of microbial growth (Spearman's ρ >0.83, p<0.01) and efficiency (Spearman's ρ >0.65, p<0.05) were positively correlated, but strong differences in the magnitude of CUE suggest incomplete C accounting. This work increases the transparency of CUE techniques for researchers looking to choose the most appropriate measure for their scale of inquiry or to use CUE estimates in modeling applications.

Evaluation of MODIS and VIIRS Albedo Products Using Ground and Airborne Measurements and Development of Ceos/Wgcv/Lpv Albedo Ecv Protocols

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Z.; Roman, M. O.; Schaaf, C.; Sun, Q.; Liu, Y.; Saenz, E. J.; Gatebe, C. K.

2014-12-01

Surface albedo, defined as the ratio of the hemispheric reflected solar radiation flux to the incident flux upon the surface, is one of the essential climate variables and quantifies the radiation interaction between the atmosphere and the land surface. An absolute accuracy of 0.02-0.05 for global surface albedo is required by climate models. The MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) standard BRDF/albedo product makes use of a linear "kernel-driven" RossThick-LiSparse Reciprocal (RTLSR) BRDF model to describe the reflectance anisotropy. The surface albedo is calculated by integrating the BRDF over the above ground hemisphere. While MODIS Terra was launched in Dec 1999 and MODIS Aqua in 2002, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi-NPP satellite was launched more recently on October 28, 2011. Thus a long term record of BRDF, albedo and Nadir BRDF-Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) products from VIIRS can be generated through MODIS heritage algorithms. Several investigations have evaluated the MODIS albedo products during the growing season, as well as during dormant and snow covered periods. The Land Product Validation (LPV) sub-group of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Working Group on Calibration and Validation (WGCV) aims to address the challenges associated with the validation of global land products. The validation of global surface radiation/albedo products is one of the LPV subgroup activities. In this research, a reference dataset covering various land surface types and vegetation structure is assembled to assess the accuracy of satellite albedo products. This dataset includes in situ data (Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), FLUXNET and Long Term Ecological Research network (LTER) etc.) and airborne measurements (e.g. Cloud Absorption Radiometer (CAR)). Spatially representative analysis is applied to each site to establish whether the ground measurements can adequately represent moderate spatial resolution remotely sensed albedo products.

Hyperspectral and Hypertemporal Longwave Infrared Data Characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeganathan, Nirmalan

The Army Research Lab conducted a persistent imaging experiment called the Spectral and Polarimetric Imagery Collection Experiment (SPICE) in 2012 and 2013 which focused on collecting and exploiting long wave infrared hyperspectral and polarimetric imagery. A part of this dataset was made for public release for research and development purposes. This thesis investigated the hyperspectral portion of this released dataset through data characterization and scene characterization of man-made and natural objects. First, the data were contrasted with MODerate resolution atmospheric TRANsmission (MODTRAN) results and found to be comparable. Instrument noise was characterized using an in-scene black panel, and was found to be comparable with the sensor manufacturer's specication. The temporal and spatial variation of certain objects in the scene were characterized. Temporal target detection was conducted on man-made objects in the scene using three target detection algorithms: spectral angle mapper (SAM), spectral matched lter (SMF) and adaptive coherence/cosine estimator (ACE). SMF produced the best results for detecting the targets when the training and testing data originated from different time periods, with a time index percentage result of 52.9%. Unsupervised and supervised classification were conducted using spectral and temporal target signatures. Temporal target signatures produced better visual classification than spectral target signature for unsupervised classification. Supervised classification yielded better results using the spectral target signatures, with a highest weighted accuracy of 99% for 7-class reference image. Four emissivity retrieval algorithms were applied on this dataset. However, the retrieved emissivities from all four methods did not represent true material emissivity and could not be used for analysis. This spectrally and temporally rich dataset enabled to conduct analysis that was not possible with other data collections. Regarding future work, applying noise-reduction techniques before applying temperature-emissivity retrieval algorithms may produce more realistic emissivity values, which could be used for target detection and material identification.

Autonomous gliders reveal features of the water column associated with foraging by adelie penguins.

PubMed

Kahl, L Alex; Schofield, Oscar; Fraser, William R

2010-12-01

Despite their strong dependence on the pelagic environment, seabirds and other top predators in polar marine ecosystems are generally studied during their reproductive phases in terrestrial environments. As a result, a significant portion of their life history is understudied which in turn has led to limited understanding. Recent advances in autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) technologies have allowed satellite-tagged Adélie penguins to guide AUV surveys of the marine environment at the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) site on the western Antarctic Peninsula. Near real-time data sent via Iridium satellites from the AUVs to a centralized control center thousands of miles away allowed scientists to adapt AUV sampling strategies to meet the changing conditions of the subsurface. Such AUV data revealed the water masses and fine-scale features associated with Adélie penguin foraging trips. During this study, the maximum concentration of chlorophyll was between 30 and 50 m deep. Encompassing this peak in the chlorophyll concentration, within the water-column, was a mixture of nutrient-laden Upper Circumpolar Deep (UCDW) and western Antarctic Peninsula winter water (WW). Together, data from the AUV survey and penguin dives reveal that 54% of foraging by Adélie penguins occurs immediately below the chlorophyll maximum. These data demonstrate how bringing together emerging technologies, such as AUVs, with established methods such as the radio-tagging of penguins can provide powerful tools for monitoring and hypothesis testing of previously inaccessible ecological processes. Ocean and atmosphere temperatures are expected to continue increasing along the western Antarctic Peninsula, which will undoubtedly affect regional marine ecosystems. New and emerging technologies such as unmanned underwater vehicles and individually mounted satellite tracking devices will provide the tools critical to documenting and understanding the widespread ecological change expected in polar regions.

The Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization of a Corn Ecosystem's Oxidative Ratio and Its Carbon Cycle Implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, M. E.; Masiello, C. A.; Hockaday, W. C.; McSwiney, C. P.; Robertson, G. P.

2008-12-01

One of the most effective ways to estimate the size of carbon sinks in the terrestrial biosphere and oceans is through paired measurements of atmospheric CO2 and O2 concentrations (e.g. (Keeling et al. 1996)). Successful use of this technique requires knowledge of the oxidative ratio (OR) of the terrestrial biosphere (the ratio of moles of O2 released per moles of CO2 consumed in gas fluxes between the terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere.) Historically the terrestrial biosphere's OR has been assumed to be a constant, approximately 1.1 (e.g. Prentice et al. 2001). However, small shifts in the biosphere's OR values can lead to large variations in the calculated sizes of the terrestrial biosphere and ocean carbon sinks (Randerson et al. 2006). We have recently shown that it is possible to measure the OR of biomass to at least +/- 0.01 units (Masiello et al., 2008), and that there is significant natural variability in ecosystem OR. Ecosystem OR is impacted by human activities. In this presentation, we explore the effects of one major form of anthropogenic ecosystem alteration: nitrogen fertilization. We are measuring ecosystem OR in corn agricultural ecosystems under a range of nitrogen fertilization treatments at the Kellogg Biological Station- Long Term Ecological Research Site (KBS-LTER) in Michigan. We measure OR indirectly, through its relationship with organic carbon oxidation state (Cox) (Masiello et al. 2008). Here we present data showing the effects of varying corn ecosystem nitrogen fertilization rates (from 0 to 202 kg N/ha) on ecosystem OR and the implications it will have on apportionment calculations.

Linking phytoplankton and bacterioplankton community dynamics to iron-binding ligand production in a microcosm experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hogle, S. L.; Bundy, R.; Barbeau, K.

2016-02-01

Several significant lines of evidence implicate heterotrophic bacterioplankton as agents of iron cycling and sources of iron-binding ligands in seawater, but direct and mechanistic linkages have mostly remained elusive. Currently, it is unknown how microbial community composition varies during the course of biogenic particle remineralization and how shifts in community structure are related to sources and sinks of Fe-binding ligands. In order to simulate the rise, decline, and ultimate remineralization of a phytoplankton bloom, we followed the production of different classes of Fe-binding ligands as measured by electrochemical techniques, Fe concentrations, and macronutrient concentrations in a series of iron-amended whole seawater incubations over a period of six days during a California Current Ecosystem Long Term Ecological Research (CCE-LTER) process cruise. At the termination of the experiment phytoplankton communities were similar across iron treatments, but high iron conditions generated greater phytoplankton biomass and increased nutrient drawdown suggesting that phytoplankton communities were in different phases of bloom development. Strikingly, L1 ligands akin to siderophores in binding strength were only observed in high iron treatments implicating phytoplankton bloom phase as an important control. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene surveys, we observed that the abundance of transiently dominant copiotroph bacteria were strongly correlated with L1 concentrations. However, incubations with similar L1 concentrations and binding strengths produced distinct copiotroph community profiles dominated by a few strains. We suggest that phytoplankton bloom maturity influences algal-associated heterotrophic community succession, and that L1 production is either directly or indirectly tied to the appearance and eventual dominance of rarely abundant copiotroph bacterial strains.

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Carbon Fluxes in Glacial Meltwater Streams, Antarctica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Torrens, C.; Lyons, W. B.; McKnight, D. M.; Welch, K. A.; Gooseff, M. N.

2017-12-01

In the McMurdo Dry Valleys [MDV], Antarctica, glacial meltwater streams are the primary biogeochemical connectors linking glaciers, soils and lakes. These streams control the supply of nutrients and carbon to their terminal lakes, yet little is known about the magnitude, timing or distribution of these fluxes. The McMurdo Long Term Ecological Research project [MCM LTER] has collected over 20 years of sample data on dissolved organic and inorganic carbon in Taylor Valley streamwater; this is the first spatial and temporal analysis of this data. MDV streams are characterized by strong diel pulses in streamflow, specific electrical conductance, and temperature. Unlike temperate stream systems, there is no terrestrial vegetation, lateral overland flow or deep groundwater connection in MDV streams. As a result, the organic carbon is autochthonous, originating from stream microbial mats. Inorganic carbon is primarily bicarbonate; its source is hyporheic zone weathering. The carbonate system is in atmospheric equilibrium, reflecting the wide and shallow stream channels. Preliminary data show that the DOC flux varies with streamflow and is greater on the rising limb of the diel flow pulse. This pattern is more distinct in longer streams. DIC data does not show the same pattern, although the response may be blurred by a lag in hyporheic response to flood pulses and the lack of time-series data for alkalinity. Stream flood pulse dynamics control carbon loading to MDV lakes. As the climate changes, so will the timing and magnitude of diel flood pulses. This is likely to increase carbon loading to the Dry Valley lakes, altering the ecosystem carbon balance. This study increases our understanding of past and current patterns of carbon fluxes from streams to lakes; understanding past patterns will improve predictions of future changes.

(abstract) Monitoring the Freeze/Thaw Transitions in Taiga Forests Using ERS-1 SAR

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rignot, E.; Williams, C.; Donald, K. Mc; Way, J. B.; Zimmerman, R.; Viereck, L.

1994-01-01

Automated recording stations have been installed at the Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest, a Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site located near Fairbanks, Alaska, in a forest stand of the Tanana River floodplain underlain by discontinuous permafrost. These stations provide a continuous record of dielectric constant and temperature of tree trunks, and soil moisture and temperature profiles down to the root zone. Along with the weather stations deployed at the same location, these measurements provide a continuous record of the environmental and phenologic conditions of the forest during a complete seasonal cycle. At the same time, ERS-1 SAR imaged the study site repeatedly from space to provide radar backscatter measurements of the forest approximately three times a month. Here, we examine the temporal dynamic of ERS-1 SAR measurements in relation with the changing environmental and phenologic state of the forest canopy and of the forest ground layers during the winter/spring and fall/winter transitions of 1992 and 1993. During these transitions, we examine whether changes in radar backscatter observed by ERS-1 may be related to freezing or thawing of the soil and vegetation in order to determine the start and end of the growing season for the forest. The results of this analysis are used in turn to determine whether similar changes are observed over larger regions. Mosaics of SAR data generated along three different North-South Alaskan ERS-1 transects that intercept with our study site are used in combination with hourly air temperature and daily precipitation rates gathered at airport weather stations by the National Weather Service. Results obtained using ERS-1 data collected from January 1992 to mid-1993 will be discussed.

Effects of changing climate on European stream invertebrate communities: A long-term data analysis.

PubMed

Jourdan, Jonas; O'Hara, Robert B; Bottarin, Roberta; Huttunen, Kaisa-Leena; Kuemmerlen, Mathias; Monteith, Don; Muotka, Timo; Ozoliņš, Dāvis; Paavola, Riku; Pilotto, Francesca; Springe, Gunta; Skuja, Agnija; Sundermann, Andrea; Tonkin, Jonathan D; Haase, Peter

2018-04-15

Long-term observations on riverine benthic invertebrate communities enable assessments of the potential impacts of global change on stream ecosystems. Besides increasing average temperatures, many studies predict greater temperature extremes and intense precipitation events as a consequence of climate change. In this study we examined long-term observation data (10-32years) of 26 streams and rivers from four ecoregions in the European Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) network, to investigate invertebrate community responses to changing climatic conditions. We used functional trait and multi-taxonomic analyses and combined examinations of general long-term changes in communities with detailed analyses of the impact of different climatic drivers (i.e., various temperature and precipitation variables) by focusing on the response of communities to climatic conditions of the previous year. Taxa and ecoregions differed substantially in their response to climate change conditions. We did not observe any trend of changes in total taxonomic richness or overall abundance over time or with increasing temperatures, which reflects a compensatory turnover in the composition of communities; sensitive Plecoptera decreased in response to warmer years and Ephemeroptera increased in northern regions. Invasive species increased with an increasing number of extreme days which also caused an apparent upstream community movement. The observed changes in functional feeding group diversity indicate that climate change may be associated with changes in trophic interactions within aquatic food webs. These findings highlight the vulnerability of riverine ecosystems to climate change and emphasize the need to further explore the interactive effects of climate change variables with other local stressors to develop appropriate conservation measures. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantifying Vegetation Structure with Lightweight, Rapid-Scanning Terrestrial Lidar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paynter, I.; Genest, D.; Saenz, E. J.; Strahler, A. H.; Li, Z.; Peri, F.; Schaaf, C.

2016-12-01

Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) is proving a competent technology for observing vegetation structure. Terrestrial laser scanners (TLS) are ground-based instruments which utilize hundreds of thousands to millions of lidar observations to provide detailed structural and reflective information of their surroundings. TLS has enjoyed initial success as a validation tool for satellite and airborne estimates of vegetation structure, and are producing independent estimates with increasing accuracy. Reconstruction techniques for TLS observations of vegetation have also improved rapidly, especially for trees. However, uncertainties and challenges still remain in TLS modelling of vegetation structure, especially in geometrically complex ecosystems such as tropical forests (where observation extent and density is hampered by occlusion) and highly temporally dynamic coastal ecosystems (such as saltmarshes and mangroves), where observations may be restricted to narrow microstates. Some of these uncertainties can be mitigated, and challenges met, through the use of lidar instruments optimized for favorable deployment logistics through low weight, rapid scanning, and improved durability. We have conducted studies of vegetation structure in temperate and tropical forests, saltmarshes and mangroves, utilizing a highly portable TLS with considerable deployment flexibility, the Compact Biomass Lidar (CBL). We show results from studies in the temperate Long Term Ecological Research site of Harvard Forest (MA, USA); the tropical forested long-term Carbono sites of La Selva Biological Station (Sarapiqui, Costa Rica); and the saltmarsh LTER of Plum Island (MA, USA). These results demonstrate the improvements to observations in these ecosystems which are facilitated by the specifications of the CBL (and similar TLS) which are optimized for favorable deployment logistics and flexibility. We show the benefits of increased numbers of scanning positions, and specialized deployment platforms to meet ecosystem challenges.

Inter-annual variability of NDVI in response to long-term warming and fertilization in wet sedge and tussock tundra.

PubMed

Boelman, Natalie T; Stieglitz, Marc; Griffin, Kevin L; Shaver, Gaius R

2005-05-01

This study explores the relationship between the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and aboveground plant biomass for tussock tundra vegetation and compares it to a previously established NDVI-biomass relationship for wet sedge tundra vegetation. In addition, we explore inter-annual variation in NDVI in both these contrasting vegetation communities. All measurements were taken across long-term experimental treatments in wet sedge and tussock tundra communities at the Toolik Lake Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site, in northern Alaska. Over 15 years (for wet sedge tundra) and 14 years (for tussock tundra), N and P were applied in factorial experiments (N, P and N+P), air temperature was increased using greenhouses with and without N+P fertilizer, and light intensity was reduced by 50% using shade cloth. during the peak growing seasons of 2001, 2002, and 2003, NDVI measurements were made in both the wet sedge and tussock tundra experimental treatment plots, creating a 3-year time series of inter-annual variation in NDVI. We found that: (1) across all tussock experimental tundra treatments, NDVI is correlated with aboveground plant biomass (r2 = 0.59); (2) NDVI-biomass relationships for tussock and wet sedge tundra communities are community specific, and; (3) NDVI values for tussock tundra communities are typically, but not always, greater than for wet sedge tundra communities across all experimental treatments. We suggest that differences between the response of wet sedge and tussock tundra communities in the same experimental treatments result from the contrasting degree of heterogeneity in species and functional types that characterize each of these Arctic tundra vegetation communities.

The 2014/15 Warm Anomaly in the Southern California Current - Physical and Biological Responses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ralf, G.

2016-02-01

The 2014/15 Warm Anomaly (WarmA) off Southern California manifested itself in the summer of 2014 as an anomalously warm surface layer in the Southern Calif. Bight with low concentrations of Chl a. This layer intensified in spatial extent, covering the entire CalCOFI surface area by the winter of 2015 with temperature anomalies 3 StDev larger than long-term averages. Concentrations of nutrients, phytoplankton biomass and rates of primary production were extremely low during the WarmA. The evolution of the WarmA as well as the 2015/16 El Niño with time will be compared to the evolution of the weak and strong El Niño's observed over the last 60 years. These events provide unique insights in the controls of phytoplankton biomass and production in the southern California Current System. Preliminary analyses suggest that the response of the phytoplankton community to the WarmA was consistent with responses to similar forcing during the prior decade. This presentation is based on data collected during the quarterly CalCOFI cruises by the CalCOFI and the CCE-LTER groups.

Hydrology and Geomorphology of Tallgrass Prairie Intermittent Headwater Streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniels, M. D.; Grudzinski, B.

2011-12-01

The arid to semi-arid Great Plains region of the United States covers more than 1 million km2, yet virtually nothing is known about the geomorphology of its intermittent headwater streams. These streams and the perennial rivers they feed support a unique and increasingly endangered assemblage of endemic fish species. While human impacts in the region are not at first glace significant, the reality is that the Great Plains are an intensively managed landscape, with pervasive cattle grazing, channelization, and groundwater over-pumping affecting these systems. These stresses will only increase with potential climate and related land use changes. Few natural remnants of native grassland remain today, limiting opportunities to study the natural dynamics of these systems in contrast to the anthropogenically modified systems. This paper presents a review of the existing geomorphological and hydrological knowledge of Great Plains headwater streams and presents the initial analysis of an 18 year intermittent headwater stream record from the tallgrass Konza Prairie LTER, Kansas. Results suggest that fire frequency and grazing and the resultant riparian vegetation composition strongly influence stream flow dynamics as well as stream geomorphology.

Quantifying particulate matter deposition in Niwot Ridge, Colorado: Collection of dry deposition using marble inserts and particle imaging using the FlowCAM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goss, Natasha R.; Mladenov, Natalie; Seibold, Christine M.; Chowanski, Kurt; Seitz, Leslie; Wellemeyer, T. Barret; Williams, Mark W.

2013-12-01

Atmospheric wet and dry deposition are important sources of carbon for remote alpine lakes and soils. The carbon inputs from dry deposition in alpine National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) collectors, including aeolian dust and biological material, are not well constrained due to difficulties in retaining particulate matter in the collectors. Here, we developed and tested a marble insert for dry deposition collection at the Niwot Ridge Long Term Ecological Research Station (NWT LTER) Soddie site (3345 m) between 24 May and 8 November 2011. We conducted laboratory tests of the insert's effect on particulate matter (PM) mass and non-purgeable organic carbon (DOC) and found that the insert did not significantly change either measurement. Thus, the insert may enable dry deposition collection of PM and DOC at NADP sites. We then developed a method for enumerating the collected wet and dry deposition with the Flow Cytometer and Microscope (FlowCAM), a dynamic-image particle analysis tool. The FlowCAM has the potential to establish morphology, which affects particle settling and retention, through particle diameter and aspect ratio. Particle images were used to track the abundance of pollen grains over time. Qualitative image examination revealed that most particles were biological in nature, such as intact algal cells and pollen. Dry deposition loading to the Soddie site as determined by FlowCAM measurements was highly variable, ranging from 100 to >230 g ha-1 d-1 in June-August 2011 and peaking in late June. No significant difference in diameter or aspect ratio was found between wet and dry deposition, suggesting fundamental similarities between those deposition types. Although FlowCAM statistics and identification of particle types proved insightful, our total-particle enumeration method had a high variance and underestimated the total number of particles when compared to imaging of relatively large volumes (60-125 mL) from a single sample. We recommend use of the FlowCAM, especially for subclasses of particles, but in light of uncertainty in particle counts, believe that it should be paired with traditional methods such as microscopy in this stage of the technique's development. Analysis of well-mixed samples produced lower variability than settling methods used for algae samples. Use of the marble inserts in the dry deposition collector in the NADP context is recommended, and the implications of various particle counting and identification methods are explored.

Effects of Intensified 21st Century Drought on the Boreal Forest of Alaska

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juday, G. P.; Alix, C. M.; Jess, R.; Grant, T. A., III

2014-12-01

A long term perspective on several quasi-decadal cycles of intensifying drought stress across boreal Alaska has been synthesized from monitoring of forest reference stands at Bonanza Creek LTER, Interior Alaska Research Natural Areas, and tree ring sampling across Alaska. The Alaska boreal forest is largely made up of tree populations with two growth responses to temperature increases. Negative responders are more common, and found across the warm, dry Interior. Positive responders are largely in western Alaska, a maritime climate region near the Bering Sea, and at high elevation of the Brooks and Alaska Ranges. Following the North Pacific climate regime shift in 1976-77, negative responder Interior white and black spruce, aspen, and birch all experienced major growth reductions, particularly in warm drought years. Elevated summer temperatures and low annual precipitation of recent decades at low elevations of the Tanana and central Yukon Valleys were outside the values which previously defined the species distributions limits, Long term survival prospects are questionable. Simultaneously, recent elevated temperatures were associated with growth increases of positive responders. On fertile floodplain sites of the lower Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers, the growth rate of positive responding white spruce is now greater than negative responders for the first time in centuries. NDVI trends in recent decades confirm these opposite growth trends in their respective regions. During peak warm/dry anomalies, forest disturbance, an important process for tree regeneration over the long term, intensified in boreal Alaska. Several insect outbreaks of wood-boring and defoliating species associated with warm temperature/drought stress anomalies appeared, many of them severe, and some not previously known to outbreak. Significant tree injury (e.g. top dieback) and mortality resulted. Wildfire extent and severity increased and reached record levels. The overall pattern has been described as biome shift. Future research is needed on the distribution of boreal forest refuge habitats in the Interior, drought effects on natural tree regeneration and growth/health of young tree populations, carbon accumulation profiles under the modern drought regime compared to earlier, and the genetic disruption of biome shift.

A threshold-based approach for muscle contraction detection from surface EMG signals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morantes, Gaudi; Fernández, Gerardo; Altuve, Miguel

2013-11-01

Surface electromyographic (SEMG) signals are commonly used as control signals in prosthetic and orthotic devices. Super cial electrodes are placed on the skin of the subject to acquire its muscular activity through this signal. The muscle contraction episode is then in charge of activating and deactivating these devices. Nevertheless, there is no gold standard" to detect muscle contraction, leading to delayed responses and false and missed detections. This fact motivated us to propose a new approach that compares a smoothed version of the SEMG signal with a xed threshold, in order to detect muscle contraction episodes. After preprocessing the SEMG signal, the smoothed version is obtained using a moving average lter, where three di erent window lengths has been evaluated. The detector was tuned by maximizing sensitivity and speci city and evaluated using SEMG signals obtained from the anterior tibial and gastrocnemius muscles, taken during the walking of ve subjects. Compared with traditional detection methods, we obtain a reduction of 3 ms in the detection delay, an increase of 8% in sensitivity but a decrease of 15% in speci city. Future work is directed to the inclusion of a temporal threshold (a double-threshold approach) to minimize false detections and reduce detection delays.

5 CFR 470.201 - Purposes of research programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Purposes of research programs. 470.201... PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECTS Regulatory Requirements Pertaining to Research Programs § 470.201 Purposes of research programs. The purposes of research programs undertaken...

5 CFR 470.201 - Purposes of research programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Purposes of research programs. 470.201... PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECTS Regulatory Requirements Pertaining to Research Programs § 470.201 Purposes of research programs. The purposes of research programs undertaken...

Positive feedback between increasing atmospheric CO2 and ecosystem productivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gelfand, I.; Hamilton, S. K.; Robertson, G. P.

2009-12-01

Increasing atmospheric CO2 will likely affect both the hydrologic cycle and ecosystem productivity. Current assumptions that increasing CO2 will lead to increased ecosystem productivity and plant water use efficiency (WUE) are driving optimistic predictions of higher crop yields as well as greater availability of freshwater resources due to a decrease in evapotranspiration. The plant physiological response that drives these effects is believed to be an increase in carbon uptake either by (a) stronger CO2 gradient between the stomata and the atmosphere, or by (b) reduced CO2 limitation of enzymatic carboxylation within the leaf. The (a) scenario will lead to increased water use efficiency (WUE) in plants. However, evidence for increased WUE is mostly based on modeling studies, and experiments producing a short duration or step-wise increase in CO2 concentration (e.g. free-air CO2 enrichment). We hypothesize that the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration is having a positive effect on ecosystem productivity and WUE. To investigate this hypothesis, we analyzed meteorological, ANPP, and soil CO2 flux datasets together with carbon isotopic ratio (13C/12C) of archived plant samples from the long term ecological research (LTER) program at Kellogg Biological Station. The datasets were collected between 1989 and 2007 (corresponding to an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration of ~33 ppmv at Mauna Loa). Wheat (Triticum aestivum) samples taken from 1989 and 2007 show a significant decrease in the C isotope discrimination factor (Δ) over time. Stomatal conductance is directly related to Δ, and thus Δ is inversely related to plant intrinsic WUE (iWUE). Historical changes in the 13C/12C ratio (δ13C) in samples of a perennial forb, Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), taken from adjacent successional fields, indicate changes in Δ upon uptake of CO2 as well. These temporal trends in Δ suggest a positive feedback between the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere, air temperature, and plant iWUE. This positive feedback is expressed by (a) nonparallel changes of δ13C signal of atmospheric CO2 (δa) and plant samples (δp), (b) negative correlation between the Δ and average temperatures during the growth season, although only for temperatures up to 21°C. The lack of effect at higher temperatures suggests a negative influence of growing season warming on the iWUE. These results suggest a complex feedback between atmospheric CO2 increase, plant physiology, ecosystem productivity, and soil CO2 fluxes. These complex effects support our hypothesis of a CO2 fertilization effect on plant productivity, and they raise additional questions regarding adaptation of plants to changing atmospheric CO2 and climate.

USAF Summer Research Program - 1993 Graduate Student Research Program Final Reports, Volume 8, Phillips Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-12-01

Research Program Phillips Laboratory Kirtland Air Force Base Albuquerque, New Mexico Sponsored by: Air ...Summer Research Program Phillips Laboratory Sponsored by. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico...UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM -- 1993 SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM FINAL REPORTS VOLUME 8

Vulnerability of boreal zone for increased nitrogen loading due to climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rankinen, Katri; Holmberg, Maria

2016-04-01

The observed rapid warming of the boreal zone that has been observed in Finland (0.14 °C by decade) is expected to continue (http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1/). Also precipitation is assumed to increase in future. These changes may increase nitrogen (N) loading from terrestrial environments to water bodies by accelerating soil organic matter decay and by increasing runoff. Nitrogen is limiting nutrient in the Baltic Sea but also in some lakes, so increased loading may increase eutrophication. Further, high nitrate levels in drinking water may cause methaemoglobin anemia for humans, and nitrate is also connected to increased risk of diabetes and cancer. Thus EU has set upper limits to nitrate concentration in drinking water. MONIMET (LIFE12 ENV/FI/000409) is a project about Climate Change Indicators and Vulnerability of Boreal Zone. We simulated N loading from two boreal catchments to the receiving waters by the dynamic, catchment scale model INCA in different climate change and land use change scenarios. We calculated land use specific N loading values for these two well monitored catchments that belong to the LTER (The Long Term Ecological Research) monitoring network. We upscaled the results to the larger river basin, combining them with the information on drinking water supply to assess the vulnerability. Specific emphasis was paid on nitrate concentrations in soil water and groundwater. In general, land use change has higher influence on N loading than increase in precipitation and temperature alone. Peak runoff will sift from snow melting peak in April to late autumn and winter. Growing season will become longer allowing more efficient vegetation uptake of nutrients. Small groundwater aquifers and private wells in the middle of agricultural fields will be in the risk of increased N concentrations, if agricultural N loading increases due to changes in agricultural patterns and land use change.

Weed Diversity Affects Soybean and Maize Yield in a Long Term Experiment in Michigan, USA.

PubMed

Ferrero, Rosana; Lima, Mauricio; Davis, Adam S; Gonzalez-Andujar, Jose L

2017-01-01

Managing production environments in ways that promote weed community diversity may enhance both crop production and the development of a more sustainable agriculture. This study analyzed data of productivity of maize (corn) and soybean in plots in the Main Cropping System Experiment (MCSE) at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research (KBS-LTER) in Michigan, USA, from 1996 to 2011. We used models derived from population ecology to explore how weed diversity, temperature, and precipitation interact with crop yields. Using three types of models that considered internal and external (climate and weeds) factors, with additive or non-linear variants, we found that changes in weed diversity were associated with changes in rates of crop yield increase over time for both maize and soybeans. The intrinsic capacity for soybean yield increase in response to the environment was greater under more diverse weed communities. Soybean production risks were greatest in the least weed diverse systems, in which each weed species lost was associated with progressively greater crop yield losses. Managing for weed community diversity, while suppressing dominant, highly competitive weeds, may be a helpful strategy for supporting long term increases in soybean productivity. In maize, there was a negative and non-additive response of yields to the interaction between weed diversity and minimum air temperatures. When cold temperatures constrained potential maize productivity through limited resources, negative interactions with weed diversity became more pronounced. We suggest that: (1) maize was less competitive in cold years allowing higher weed diversity and the dominance of some weed species; or (2) that cold years resulted in increased weed richness and prevalence of competitive weeds, thus reducing crop yields. Therefore, we propose to control dominant weed species especially in the years of low yield and extreme minimum temperatures to improve maize yields. Results of our study indicate that through the proactive management of weed diversity, it may be possible to promote both high productivity of crops and environmental sustainability.

Weed Diversity Affects Soybean and Maize Yield in a Long Term Experiment in Michigan, USA

PubMed Central

Ferrero, Rosana; Lima, Mauricio; Davis, Adam S.; Gonzalez-Andujar, Jose L.

2017-01-01

Managing production environments in ways that promote weed community diversity may enhance both crop production and the development of a more sustainable agriculture. This study analyzed data of productivity of maize (corn) and soybean in plots in the Main Cropping System Experiment (MCSE) at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station Long-Term Ecological Research (KBS-LTER) in Michigan, USA, from 1996 to 2011. We used models derived from population ecology to explore how weed diversity, temperature, and precipitation interact with crop yields. Using three types of models that considered internal and external (climate and weeds) factors, with additive or non-linear variants, we found that changes in weed diversity were associated with changes in rates of crop yield increase over time for both maize and soybeans. The intrinsic capacity for soybean yield increase in response to the environment was greater under more diverse weed communities. Soybean production risks were greatest in the least weed diverse systems, in which each weed species lost was associated with progressively greater crop yield losses. Managing for weed community diversity, while suppressing dominant, highly competitive weeds, may be a helpful strategy for supporting long term increases in soybean productivity. In maize, there was a negative and non-additive response of yields to the interaction between weed diversity and minimum air temperatures. When cold temperatures constrained potential maize productivity through limited resources, negative interactions with weed diversity became more pronounced. We suggest that: (1) maize was less competitive in cold years allowing higher weed diversity and the dominance of some weed species; or (2) that cold years resulted in increased weed richness and prevalence of competitive weeds, thus reducing crop yields. Therefore, we propose to control dominant weed species especially in the years of low yield and extreme minimum temperatures to improve maize yields. Results of our study indicate that through the proactive management of weed diversity, it may be possible to promote both high productivity of crops and environmental sustainability. PMID:28286509

The use of high-frequency data to engage students in quantitative reasoning and scientific discourse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Reilly, C.; Meixner, T.; Bader, N.; Carey, C.; Castendyk, D.; Gougis-Darner, R.; Fuller, R.; Gibson, C.; Klug, J.; Richardson, D.; Stomberg, J.

2014-12-01

Scientists are increasingly using sensor-collected, high-frequency datasets to study environmental processes. To expose undergraduate students to similar experiences, our team has developed six classroom modules that utilize large, long-term, and sensor-based, datasets for science courses designed to: 1) Improve quantitative skills and reasoning; 2) Develop scientific discourse and argumentation; and 3) Increase student engagement in science. A team of ten interdisciplinary faculty from both private and public research universities and undergraduate institutions have developed flexible modules suitable for a variety of undergraduate courses. These modules meet a series of pedagogical goals that include: 1) Developing skills required to manipulate large datasets at different scales to conduct inquiry-based investigations; 2) Developing students' reasoning about statistical variation; and 3) Fostering desirable conceptions about the nature of environmental science. Six modules on the following topics are being piloted during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 academic years prior to broad dissemination: 1) Temporal stream discharge evaluation using USGS data; 2) Temporal stream nutrient loads and eutrophication risk using USGS and MCM-LTER data; 3) Climate change using NOAA weather and Vostok ice core data; 4) Lake ice-off dates using GLEON data; 5) Thermal dynamics in lakes using GLEON data; and 6) Lake metabolism dynamics using GLEON data. To assess achievement of the pedagogical goals, we will use pre/post questionnaires and video-recordings of students working on modules. Questionnaires will contain modified items from the Experimental Design Ability Test (Sirum & Humberg 2011), the Views on the Nature of Science questionnaire (Lederman et al. 2001), and a validated instrument to measure students' ideas about variation (Watson et al. 2003). Information gained from these assessments and recordings will allow us to determine whether our modules are effective at engaging students and increasing their quantitative skills. Feedback will also be used by the faculty to revise the modules before they are posted online for widespread dissemination in 2016. This project is funded by an NSF TUES grant.

Determinants of Tree Assemblage Composition at the Mesoscale within a Subtropical Eucalypt Forest

PubMed Central

Hero, Jean-Marc; Butler, Sarah A.; Lollback, Gregory W.; Castley, James G.

2014-01-01

A variety of environmental processes, including topography, edaphic and disturbance factors can influence vegetation composition. The relative influence of these patterns has been known to vary with scale, however, few studies have focused on environmental drivers of composition at the mesoscale. This study examined the relative importance of topography, catchment flow and soil in influencing tree assemblages in Karawatha Forest Park; a South-East Queensland subtropical eucalypt forest embedded in an urban matrix that is part of the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network South-East Queensland Peri-urban SuperSite. Thirty-three LTER plots were surveyed at the mesoscale (909 ha), where all woody stems ≥1.3 m high rooted within plots were sampled. Vegetation was divided into three cohorts: small (≥1–10 cm DBH), intermediate (≥10–30 cm DBH), and large (≥30 cm DBH). Plot slope, aspect, elevation, catchment area and location and soil chemistry and structure were also measured. Ordinations and smooth surface modelling were used to determine drivers of vegetation assemblage in each cohort. Vegetation composition was highly variable among plots at the mesoscale (plots systematically placed at 500 m intervals). Elevation was strongly related to woody vegetation composition across all cohorts (R2: 0.69–0.75). Other topographic variables that explained a substantial amount of variation in composition were catchment area (R2: 0.43–0.45) and slope (R2: 0.23–0.61). Soil chemistry (R2: 0.09–0.75) was also associated with woody vegetation composition. While species composition differed substantially between cohorts, the environmental variables explaining composition did not. These results demonstrate the overriding importance of elevation and other topographic features in discriminating tree assemblage patterns irrespective of tree size. The importance of soil characteristics to tree assemblages was also influenced by topography, where ridge top sites were typically drier and had lower soil nutrient levels than riparian areas. PMID:25501866

The Significance of Forest Monitoring Programmes: the Finnish Perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merila, P.; Derome, J.; Lindgren, M.

2007-12-01

Finland has been participating in the ICP Forests programme (the International Co-operative Programme on the Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests) based on international agreements on the long- range transportation of air pollutants (LRTAP) and other associated monitoring programmes (e.g. Forest Focus, ICP Integrated Monitoring, ICP Vegetation) since 1985. The knowledge gained during the years has greatly increased our understanding of the overall condition of our forests and the factors affecting forest condition, the processes underlying forest ecosystem functioning, and the potential threats to our forests posed by human activities, both at home and abroad. The success of the monitoring activities in Finland is largely based on the experience gained during the early 1980's with our own national acidification project and, during the late 1980's and early 1990"s, in a number of regional monitoring projects. Finland's membership of the European Union (entry in 1996) has enabled us to further develop the infrastructure and coverage of both our extensive and intensive level networks. This broadening of our ecological understanding and development of international collaboration are now providing us with an invaluable basis for addressing the new monitoring challenges (biodiversity, climate change). The results gained in our monitoring activities clearly demonstrate the value of long-term monitoring programmes. The main results have been regularly reported both at the European (e.g. http://www.icp- forests.org/Reports.htm) and national level (e.g. http://www.metla.fi/julkaisut/workingpapers/2007/mwp045- en.htm). However, the datasets have not been intensively explored and exploited, and few of the important methodological and ecological findings have been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. This has, understandably, not been the first priority of the international monitoring programmes. A number of the intensive forest monitoring plots in Finland have recently been included in LTER platforms, thus potentially increasing scientific collaboration between researchers across different governmental institutes and education bodies.

Long-term (10 year) trends in the chemistry of urban streams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Groffman, P. M.; Band, L. E.; Belt, K. T.; Kaushal, S.; Fisher, G. T.

2010-12-01

Weekly sampling of eight streams in the Baltimore metropolitan area has been carried out since 1998 as part of the NSF funded Baltimore urban Long-Term Ecological Research (BES LTER) project. The BES watersheds include 100% forested and agricultural catchments and developed watersheds ranging from very low-density (<1% impervious surface) suburban watersheds serviced by septic systems to more dense (> 40% impervious surface) urban watersheds. Stream discharge is continuously monitored at these sites by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Stream samples are collected weekly regardless of flow conditions (no bias towards storm versus baseflow) and analyzed for nitrate, total nitrogen (N), phosphate, total phosphorus (P), chloride and sulfate. Ten-year analysis of the BES long-term study sites reveals several interesting spatial and temporal patterns. For N, the highest concentrations were found in the agricultural and suburban watersheds, followed by the urban sites, and finally by the forested site. Organic N was most important as a proportion of total N in the urban and forested sites. Spatial patterns in P were more complex, with urban, suburban and agricultural sites having the highest values. Over the ten year record, many sites showed significant changes in N concentrations, but few sites showed consistent patterns in P. The patterns in N were quite variable however, with some sites showing striking increases, while others showed striking decreases. Most (7 of 8) sites showed a decrease in the proportion of organic N, the trend was significant at 4 of the sites. There were few trends in the proportion of organic P. Discharge was a significant driver of variation in N and P export at some (mostly smaller watersheds) sites, for some solutes, but was not an overwhelmingly important driver of temporal variation. Key factors driving long-term patterns include climate variation and efforts to improve urban stream water quality by municipal authorities.

An integrated approach to manage coastal ecosystems and prevent marine pollution effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marcelli, Marco; Bonamano, Simone; Carli, Filippo Maria; Giovacchini, Monica; Madonia, Alice; Mancini, Emanuele; Molino, Chiara; Piermattei, Viviana; Manfredi Frattarelli, Francesco

2016-04-01

This work focuses an integrated approach based on Sea-Use-Map (SUM), backed by a permanent monitoring system (C-CEMS-Civitavecchia Coastal Environmental Monitoring System). This tool supports the management of the marine coastal area, contributing substantially to ecosystem benefits evaluation and to minimize pollution impacts. Within the Blue Growth strategy, the protection of marine ecosystems is considered a priority for the sustainable growth of marine and maritime sectors. To face this issue, the European MSP and MSFD directives (2014/89/EU; 2008/56/EC) strongly promote the adoption of an ecosystem-based approach, paying particular attention to the support of monitoring networks that use L-TER (long-term ecological research) observations and integrate multi-disciplinary data sets. Although not largely used in Europe yet, the Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI), developed in 1979 by NOAA (and promoted by IMO in 2010), can be considered an excellent example of ecosystem-based approach to reduce the environmental consequences of an oil spill event in a coastal area. SUM is an ecosystem oriented cartographic tool specifically designed to support the sustainable management of the coastal areas, such as the selection of the best sites for the introduction of new uses or the identification of the coastal areas subjected to potential impacts. It also enables a rapid evaluation of the benefits produced by marine areas as well as of their anthropogenic disturbance. SUM integrates C-CEMS dataset, geomorphological and ecological features and knowledge on the coastal and maritime space uses. The SUM appliance allowed to obtain relevant operational results in the Civitavecchia coastal area (Latium, Italy), characterized by high variability of marine and coastal environments, historical heritage and affected by the presence of a big harbour, relevant industrial infrastructures, and touristic features. In particular, the valuation of marine ecosystem services based on benthic biocenosis as relevant spatial unit, and the ESI calculation for Civitavecchia coastal areas, are reported.

5 CFR 470.205 - Initiation of research programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Initiation of research programs. 470.205... PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECTS Regulatory Requirements Pertaining to Research Programs § 470.205 Initiation of research programs. OPM will announce opportunities for research...

5 CFR 470.205 - Initiation of research programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 5 Administrative Personnel 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Initiation of research programs. 470.205... PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECTS Regulatory Requirements Pertaining to Research Programs § 470.205 Initiation of research programs. OPM will announce opportunities for research...

NASA Lewis Research Center/university graduate research program on engine structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, C. C.

1985-01-01

NASA Lewis Research Center established a graduate research program in support of the Engine Structures Research activities. This graduate research program focuses mainly on structural and dynamics analyses, computational mechanics, mechanics of composites and structural optimization. The broad objectives of the program, the specific program, the participating universities and the program status are briefly described.

NASA Lewis Research Center/University Graduate Research Program on Engine Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chamis, C. C.

1985-01-01

NASA Lewis Research Center established a graduate research program in support of the Engine Structures Research activities. This graduate research program focuses mainly on structural and dynamics analyses, computational mechanics, mechanics of composites and structural optimization. The broad objectives of the program, the specific program, the participating universities and the program status are briefly described.

LTRC Annual Research Program : Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-06-01

FHWA Part II SPR Research Program FAP Number SPR-0010(34) & FHWA Funded Research Program & FHWA LTAP Funded Program & FHWA STP Funded Program & Federal & Self-Generated Funded Research Program & Other DOTD Funded Projects

Trajectories of grassland ecosystem change in response to experimental manipulations of precipitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knapp, Alan; Smith, Melinda; Collins, Scott; Blair, John; Briggs, John

2010-05-01

Understanding and predicting the dynamics of ecological systems has always been central to Ecology. Today, ecologists recognize that in addition to natural and human-caused disturbances, a fundamentally different type of ecosystem change is being driven by the combined and cumulative effects of anthropogenic activities affecting earth's climate and biogeochemical cycles. This type of change is historically unprecedented in magnitude, and as a consequence, such alterations are leading to trajectories of change in ecological responses that differ radically from those observed in the past. Through both short- and long-term experiments, we have been trying to better understand the mechanisms and consequences of ecological change in grassland ecosystems likely to result from changes in precipitation regimes. We have manipulated a key resource for most grasslands (water) and modulators of water availability (temperature) in field experiments that vary from 1-17 years in duration, and used even longer-term monitoring data from the Konza Prairie LTER program to assess how grassland communities and ecosystems will respond to changes in water availability. Trajectories of change in aboveground net primary production (ANPP) in sites subjected to 17 years of soil water augmentation were strongly non-linear with a marked increase in the stimulation of ANPP after year 8 (from 25% to 65%). Lags in alterations in grassland community composition are posited to be responsible for the form of this trajectory of change. In contrast, responses in ANPP to chronic increases in soil moisture variability appear to have decreased over a 10-yr period of manipulation, although the net effects of more variable precipitation inputs were to reduce ANPP, alter the genetic structure of the dominant grass species, increase soil nitrogen availability and reduce soil respiration. The loss of sensitivity to increased resource variability was not reflected in adjacent plots where precipitation was manipulated for only a single year. And when similar short-term experimental manipulations of precipitation variability were conducted in more arid grasslands, responses in ANPP were opposite those in mesic grassland. This suggests that grassland responses to alterations in precipitation inputs may vary dramatically depending on the long-term hydrologic regime.

Developing Cyberinfrastructure Tools and Services for Metadata Quality Evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mecum, B.; Gordon, S.; Habermann, T.; Jones, M. B.; Leinfelder, B.; Powers, L. A.; Slaughter, P.

2016-12-01

Metadata and data quality are at the core of reusable and reproducible science. While great progress has been made over the years, much of the metadata collected only addresses data discovery, covering concepts such as titles and keywords. Improving metadata beyond the discoverability plateau means documenting detailed concepts within the data such as sampling protocols, instrumentation used, and variables measured. Given that metadata commonly do not describe their data at this level, how might we improve the state of things? Giving scientists and data managers easy to use tools to evaluate metadata quality that utilize community-driven recommendations is the key to producing high-quality metadata. To achieve this goal, we created a set of cyberinfrastructure tools and services that integrate with existing metadata and data curation workflows which can be used to improve metadata and data quality across the sciences. These tools work across metadata dialects (e.g., ISO19115, FGDC, EML, etc.) and can be used to assess aspects of quality beyond what is internal to the metadata such as the congruence between the metadata and the data it describes. The system makes use of a user-friendly mechanism for expressing a suite of checks as code in popular data science programming languages such as Python and R. This reduces the burden on scientists and data managers to learn yet another language. We demonstrated these services and tools in three ways. First, we evaluated a large corpus of datasets in the DataONE federation of data repositories against a metadata recommendation modeled after existing recommendations such as the LTER best practices and the Attribute Convention for Dataset Discovery (ACDD). Second, we showed how this service can be used to display metadata and data quality information to data producers during the data submission and metadata creation process, and to data consumers through data catalog search and access tools. Third, we showed how the centrally deployed DataONE quality service can achieve major efficiency gains by allowing member repositories to customize and use recommendations that fit their specific needs without having to create de novo infrastructure at their site.

LTRC Annual Research Program : Fiscal Year July 1, 2012-June 30, 2013

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-06-01

Contents: Budget Recap Sheets; Project Summary Sheets; FHWA Part II SPR Funded Research Program; FHWA IBRD Funded Research Program; FHWA LTAP Funded Program; FHWA STP Funded Technology Transfer & Education Program; State Funded Research Program; Fede...

LTRC annual research program : fiscal year July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2011-06-01

Contents: Budget Recaps Sheets; Project Summary Sheets; FHWA Part II SPR Funded Research Program; FHWA IBRD Funded Research Program; FHWA LTAP Funded Program; FHWA STP Funded Technology Transfer & Education Program; State Funded Research Program; Sel...

Resident research in internal medicine training programs.

PubMed

Alguire, P C; Anderson, W A; Albrecht, R R; Poland, G A

1996-02-01

To determine how well medical residency programs are prepared to meet the new Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation guidelines for resident scholarly activity. Cross-sectional study using a mailed survey. Program directors of all ACGME-accredited internal medicine residency programs. Program directors were asked to list the scholarly activities and products of their residents and their programs' minimal expectations for resident research; available academic, faculty, technical, and personnel support for resident research; perceived barriers to resident research; and the desired educational and skill outcomes of resident research. The responses of university-based training programs were compared with those of non-university-based programs. 271 program directors returned the survey, yielding a response rate of 65%. Ninety-seven percent of all programs have established scholarly guidelines consistent with accreditation requirements. Although only 37% of programs reported having an organized, comprehensive research curriculum, 70% taught skills important to research. Technical support and resources were generally available for resident research; the most frequently cited barrier to resident research was lack of resident time. University-based and non-university-based training programs differed in important ways. Generally, non-university-based programs had more research activity and structure, and they exceeded university-based programs in the number of oral and poster presentations given at local, state, and national professional meetings. Most programs have in place the basic elements conducive to resident research. Program directors have identified and teach educational outcomes and skills that are likely to have lifelong benefits for most of their graduates.

Resazurin as a Proxy for Estimating Stream Respiration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez Pinzon, R. A.; Haggerty, R.; Argerich, A.; Briggs, M.; Lautz, L. K.; Lemke, D.; Hare, D. K.

2010-12-01

Hydrologic retention in stream ecosystems favors the reactions of solutes and nutrients in metabolically active transient storage (MATS) zones. These zones are hot spots where metabolic activity is expected to contribute significantly to ecosystem respiration. We compare the results of a series of coinjections of resazurin (Raz) as a redox sensitive tracer, and NaCl as a conservative tracer to investigate the function of MATS zones. Raz is a dye that undergoes an irreversible reduction to resorufin (Rru) when exposed to aerobic respiration. To characterize the transformation of Raz we measured the BTC of the tracers at the boundary conditions, and during plateau concentrations we sampled the longitudinal profile of surface water. We also used the two-station diel technique to quantify gross primary production (GPP) and community respiration (CR) within the reaches. Injections have been performed in streams with different morphology, streambed composition, and riparian vegetation in Oregon-USA (WS 1 and WS 3 in the HJ Andrews Forest LTER, and Drift Creek), Spain (Riera de Santa Fe del Montseny, Catalonia) and Wyoming-USA (Cherry Creek). The results support the idea that under different ranges of community respiration, the transformation of Raz to Rru is a proxy for quantifying MATS, characterizing spatial heterogeneity in respiration rates, and ultimately, could be used to estimate ecosystem respiration in environments where direct measurement is challenging.

Spatial patterns of ecohydrologic properties on a hillslope-alluvial fan transect, central New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bedford, D.R.; Small, E.E.

2008-01-01

Spatial patterns of soil properties are linked to patchy vegetation in arid and semi-arid landscapes. The patterns of soil properties are generally assumed to be linked to the ecohydrological functioning of patchy dryland vegetation ecosystems. We studied the effects of vegetation canopy, its spatial pattern, and landforms on soil properties affecting overland flow and infiltration in shrublands at the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge/LTER in central New Mexico, USA. We studied the patterns of microtopography and saturated conductivity (Ksat), and generally found it to be affected by vegetation canopy and pattern, as well as landform type. On gently sloping alluvial fans, both microtopography and Ksat are high under vegetation canopy and decay with distance from plant center. On steeper hillslope landforms, only microtopography was significantly higher under vegetation canopy, while there was no significant difference in Ksat between vegetation and interspaces. Using geostatistics, we found that the spatial pattern of soil properties was determined by the spatial pattern of vegetation. Most importantly, the effects of vegetation were present in the unvegetated interspaces 2-4 times the extent of vegetation canopy, on the order of 2-3??m. Our results have implications for the understanding the ecohydrologic function of semi-arid ecosystems as well as the parameterization of hydrologic models. ?? 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Carbachol inhibits TNF-α-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction through alpha 7 nicotinic receptors.

PubMed

Li, Yu-zhen; Liu, Xiu-hua; Rong, Fei; Hu, Sen; Sheng, Zhi-yong

2010-10-01

To test whether carbachol can influence endothelial barrier dysfunction induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and whether the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor can mediate this process. Rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to carbachol followed by TNF-α treatment in the presence or the absence of α-bungarotoxin (an antagonist of the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor). Permeability of endothelial cells cultured on Transwell filters was assayed using FITC-albumin. F-actin was stained with FITC- phalloidin. Expression of vascular endothelial cadherin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), phosphor-ERK1/2 and phosphor-JNK was detected using Western blot. Carbachol (2 μmol/L-2 mmol/L) prevented increase in endothelial cell permeability induced by TNF-α (500 ng/mL) in a dose-dependent manner. Further, it attenuated the down-regulation of vascular endothelial cadherin and the up-regulation of ICAM-1 induced by TNF-α. In addition, treatment of endothelial cells with carbachol decreased phosphor-ERK1/2 and phosphor-JNK. These effects of carbachol were blocked by α-bungarotoxin 3 μg/mL. These data suggest that the inhibitory effect of carbachol on TNF-α-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction mediated by the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor.

Carbachol inhibits TNF-α-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction through alpha 7 nicotinic receptors

PubMed Central

Li, Yu-zhen; Liu, Xiu-hua; Rong, Fei; Hu, Sen; Sheng, Zhi-yong

2010-01-01

Aim: To test whether carbachol can influence endothelial barrier dysfunction induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and whether the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor can mediate this process. Methods: Rat cardiac microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to carbachol followed by TNF-α treatment in the presence or the absence of α-bungarotoxin (an antagonist of the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor). Permeability of endothelial cells cultured on Transwell filters was assayed using FITC-albumin. F-actin was stained with FITC- phalloidin. Expression of vascular endothelial cadherin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), phosphor-ERK1/2 and phosphor-JNK was detected using Western blot. Results: Carbachol (2 μmol/L-2 mmol/L) prevented increase in endothelial cell permeability induced by TNF-α (500 ng/mL) in a dose-dependent manner. Further, it attenuated the down-regulation of vascular endothelial cadherin and the up-regulation of ICAM-1 induced by TNF-α. In addition, treatment of endothelial cells with carbachol decreased phosphor-ERK1/2 and phosphor-JNK. These effects of carbachol were blocked by α-bungarotoxin 3 μg/mL. Conclusion: These data suggest that the inhibitory effect of carbachol on TNF-α-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction mediated by the alpha 7 nicotinic receptor. PMID:20871620

USAF Summer Research Program - 1993 Summer Research Extension Program Final Reports, Volume 2, Phillips Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-11-01

Research Extension Program Phillips Laboratory Kirtland Air Force Base Sponsored by: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Boiling Air Force Base...Program Phillips Laboratory Sponsored by: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. and Arkansas Tech University...Summer Research Extension Program (SREP) Phillips

The development of a TED-Ed online resident research training program.

PubMed

Moreau, Katherine A; Pound, Catherine M; Peddle, Beth; Tokarewicz, Jaclyn; Eady, Kaylee

2014-01-01

Pediatric health research is important for improving the health and well-being of children and their families. To foster the development of physicians' research competencies, it is vital to integrate practical and context-specific research training into residency programs. To describe the development of a resident research training program at one tertiary care pediatric academic health sciences center in Ontario, Canada. We surveyed residents and pediatricians/research staff to establish the need and content for a resident research training program. Residents and resident research supervisors agreed or strongly agreed that research training is important for residents. However, few residents and supervisors believed that their academic health sciences center provided adequate training and resources to support resident research. As such, an online resident research training program was established. Residents and supervisors agreed that the program should focus on the following topics: 1) critically evaluating research literature, 2) writing a research proposal, 3) submitting an application for research funding, and 4) writing a manuscript. This highly accessible, context-specific, and inexpensive online program model may be of interest and benefit to other residency programs as a means to enhance residents' scholarly roles. A formal evaluation of the research training program is now underway.

Status of anesthesiology resident research education in the United States: structured education programs increase resident research productivity.

PubMed

Ahmad, Shireen; De Oliveira, Gildasio S; McCarthy, Robert J

2013-01-01

The enhancement of resident research education has been proposed to increase the number of academic anesthesiologists with the skills and knowledge to conduct meaningful research. Program directors (PDs) of the U.S. anesthesiology residency programs were surveyed to evaluate the status of research education during residency training and to test the hypothesis that structured programs result in greater resident research productivity based on resident publications. Survey responses were solicited from 131 anesthesiology residency PDs. Seventy-four percent of PDs responded to the survey. Questions evaluated department demographic information, the extent of faculty research activity, research resources and research funding in the department, the characteristics of resident research education and resident research productivity, departmental support for resident research, and perceived barriers to resident research education. Thirty-two percent of programs had a structured resident research education program. Structured programs were more likely to be curriculum based, require resident participation in a research project, and provide specific training in presentation and writing skills. Productivity expectations were similar between structured and nonstructured programs. Forty percent of structured programs had > 20% of trainees with a publication in the last 2 years compared with 14% of departments with unstructured programs (difference, 26%; 99% confidence interval [CI], 8%-51%; P = 0.01). The percentage of programs that had research rotations for ≥2 months was not different between the structured and the nonstructured programs. A research rotation of >2 months did not increase the percentage of residents who had published an article within the last 2 months compared with a research rotation of <2 months (difference, 13%; 99% CI, 10%-37%; P = 0.14). There was no difference in the percentage of faculty involved in research in structured compared with unstructured research education. In programs with <20% of faculty involved in research, 15% reported >20% of residents with a publication in the last 2 years compared with 36% in programs with >20% of faculty involvement (difference, 21%; 99% CI, -4% to 46%; P = 0.03). Our findings suggest that structured residency research programs are associated with higher resident research productivity. The program duration and the fraction of faculty in resident research education did not significantly increase research productivity. Research training is an integral component of resident education, but the mandatory enhancement of resident research education will require a significant change in the culture of academic anesthesiology leadership and faculty.

LTRC annual research program : fiscal year July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-06-01

Contents: Budget Recap Sheets; Project Summary Sheets; FHWA Part II SPR Funded Research Program; FHWA LTAP Funded Program; FHWA STP Funded Technology Transfer & Education Program; State Funded Research Program; Self-Generated Funded Research; Other D...

History of the State Water Resources Research Institute Program

USGS Publications Warehouse

Burton, J.S.

1984-01-01

The State Water Resources Research Institute Program, established in 1964, consists of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes located at land-grant universities in each of the 50 states and Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. The program evolved from the Water Resources Research Act of 1964, as amended, the Water Research and Development Act of 1978, Public Law 94-457, and the Water Research and Development Act of 1984. These laws authorize the following components of the Institute Program: (1) the annual allotment and matching grants program for the institutes and (2) the additional and saline water research programs for organizations in addition to the State Water Resources Research Institutes. This report summarizes the legislative history, budget history, research program development, and program accomplishments. The State Water Resources Research Program has been administered to by the Office of Water Resources Research (OWRR) (1964-1974), the Office of Water Research and Technology (OWRT) (1974-1982), the Office of Water Policy (OWP) (1982-1983) , and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (1983-present). (USGS)

77 FR 10455 - National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Programs

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-22

... Repayment Program for Research with Respect to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (or AIDS Research LRP); Loan Repayment Program for General Research (or General Research LRP), which includes a program for the... Researchers from Disadvantaged Backgrounds (or Clinical Research LRP for Individuals from Disadvantaged...

Role of EPA in Asset Management Research – The Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program

EPA Science Inventory

This slide presentation provides an overview of the EPA Office of Research and Development’s Aging Water infrastructure Research Program (AWIRP). The research program origins, goals, products, and plans are described. The research program focuses on four areas: condition asses...

United States Air Force Summer Research Program -- 1992 High School Apprenticeship Program (HSAP) Reports. Volume 13. Phillips Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

Research Program Phillips Laboratory I4oJ A*6Iv4 Sponsored by: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Kirtland Air ...UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGki"A -- 1992 HIGH SCHOOL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (HSAP) REPORTS VOLUME 13 (t PHILLIPS LABORATORY . RESEARCH ...Arlington High School Final Report for: Summer Research Program Geophysics Directorate Phillips Laboratory

7 CFR 3406.17 - Program application materials-research.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 15 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Program application materials-research. 3406.17... FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 1890 INSTITUTION CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS PROGRAM Preparation of a Research Proposal § 3406.17 Program application materials—research. Program application materials in an application...

7 CFR 3406.17 - Program application materials-research.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 15 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Program application materials-research. 3406.17... FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 1890 INSTITUTION CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS PROGRAM Preparation of a Research Proposal § 3406.17 Program application materials—research. Program application materials in an application...

7 CFR 3406.17 - Program application materials-research.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 1890 INSTITUTION CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS PROGRAM Preparation of a Research Proposal § 3406.17 Program application materials—research. Program application materials in an application... 7 Agriculture 15 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Program application materials-research. 3406.17...

77 FR 46805 - Small Business Innovation Research Program Policy Directive

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-06

... Small Business Innovation Research Program Policy Directive; Small Business Technology Transfer Program Policy Directive; Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program and Small Business Technology... ADMINISTRATION 13 CFR Chapter I RIN 3245-AF84 Small Business Innovation Research Program Policy Directive AGENCY...

The development of a TED-Ed online resident research training program

PubMed Central

Moreau, Katherine A.; Pound, Catherine M.; Peddle, Beth; Tokarewicz, Jaclyn; Eady, Kaylee

2014-01-01

Background Pediatric health research is important for improving the health and well-being of children and their families. To foster the development of physicians’ research competencies, it is vital to integrate practical and context-specific research training into residency programs. Purpose To describe the development of a resident research training program at one tertiary care pediatric academic health sciences center in Ontario, Canada. Methods We surveyed residents and pediatricians/research staff to establish the need and content for a resident research training program. Results Residents and resident research supervisors agreed or strongly agreed that research training is important for residents. However, few residents and supervisors believed that their academic health sciences center provided adequate training and resources to support resident research. As such, an online resident research training program was established. Residents and supervisors agreed that the program should focus on the following topics: 1) critically evaluating research literature, 2) writing a research proposal, 3) submitting an application for research funding, and 4) writing a manuscript. Discussion This highly accessible, context-specific, and inexpensive online program model may be of interest and benefit to other residency programs as a means to enhance residents’ scholarly roles. A formal evaluation of the research training program is now underway. PMID:25526717

The development of a TED-Ed online resident research training program.

PubMed

Moreau, Katherine A; Pound, Catherine M; Peddle, Beth; Tokarewicz, Jaclyn; Eady, Kaylee

2014-01-01

Background Pediatric health research is important for improving the health and well-being of children and their families. To foster the development of physicians' research competencies, it is vital to integrate practical and context-specific research training into residency programs. Purpose To describe the development of a resident research training program at one tertiary care pediatric academic health sciences center in Ontario, Canada. Methods We surveyed residents and pediatricians/research staff to establish the need and content for a resident research training program. Results Residents and resident research supervisors agreed or strongly agreed that research training is important for residents. However, few residents and supervisors believed that their academic health sciences center provided adequate training and resources to support resident research. As such, an online resident research training program was established. Residents and supervisors agreed that the program should focus on the following topics: 1) critically evaluating research literature, 2) writing a research proposal, 3) submitting an application for research funding, and 4) writing a manuscript. Discussion This highly accessible, context-specific, and inexpensive online program model may be of interest and benefit to other residency programs as a means to enhance residents' scholarly roles. A formal evaluation of the research training program is now underway.

United States Air Force Summer Research Program -- 1993. Volume 8. Phillips Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-12-01

Research Program Phillips Laboratory Kirtland Air Force Base Albuquerque. New Mexico Sponsored by...Best Available Copy UNITED STATES AIR FORCE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM -- 1993 SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM FINAL REPORTS VOLUME 8 PHILLIPS LABORATORY ...Alabama Box 870344 Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0344 Final Report for: Graduate Student Research Program Phillips Laboratory , Hanscom AFB Sponsored by: Air

10 CFR Appendix A to Part 605 - The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions A Appendix... RESEARCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Pt. 605, App. A Appendix A to Part 605—The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions 1. Basic Energy Sciences This program supports basic science research efforts in a...

10 CFR Appendix A to Part 605 - The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions A Appendix... RESEARCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Pt. 605, App. A Appendix A to Part 605—The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions 1. Basic Energy Sciences This program supports basic science research efforts in a...

10 CFR Appendix A to Part 605 - The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions A Appendix... RESEARCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Pt. 605, App. A Appendix A to Part 605—The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions 1. Basic Energy Sciences This program supports basic science research efforts in a...

10 CFR Appendix A to Part 605 - The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 4 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions A Appendix... RESEARCH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Pt. 605, App. A Appendix A to Part 605—The Energy Research Program Office Descriptions 1. Basic Energy Sciences This program supports basic science research efforts in a...

Reforming the community research program: from Community Clinical Oncology Program to the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program.

PubMed

Zon, Robin T

2014-01-01

Community research has been an integral and influential component of the National Research Program since the late 1970s. Institutionalization of community research in the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) has resulted in successful collaborations, meaningful accrual, achievement of quality standards, and translation of research into clinical practice. Although the national clinical trial system is undergoing modernization and improvement, the success of the CCOP and minority-based CCOP in cancer treatment, prevention, and control research is being extended to include cancer care delivery research in the newly created National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Oncology Research Program. This article briefly presents a historic perspective of community involvement in federally sponsored clinical trials and introduces the continued involvement in the newly created NCI program.

The Social Welfare Practice and Research Center at the Chinese University of Hong Kong

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shek, Daniel T. L.

2009-01-01

The organization and research programs of the Social Welfare Practice and Research Centre (SWPRC) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong are outlined. There are five regular research programs (Family and Group Practice Research Centre, Human Behavior and the Social Environment Research Program, Mutual Aid and Social Capital Research Program,…

7 CFR 3406.17 - Program application materials-research.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 15 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Program application materials-research. 3406.17... RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1890 INSTITUTION CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS PROGRAM Preparation of a Research Proposal § 3406.17 Program application materials—research...

Otolaryngology Residency Program Research Resources and Scholarly Productivity.

PubMed

Villwock, Jennifer A; Hamill, Chelsea S; Nicholas, Brian D; Ryan, Jesse T

2017-06-01

Objective To delineate research resources available to otolaryngology residents and their impact on scholarly productivity. Study Design Survey of current otolaryngology program directors. Setting Otolaryngology residency programs. Subjects and Methods An anonymous web-based survey was sent to 98 allopathic otolaryngology training program directors. Fisher exact tests and nonparametric correlations were used to determine statistically significant differences among various strata of programs. Results Thirty-nine percent (n = 38) of queried programs responded. Fourteen (37%) programs had 11 to 15 full-time, academic faculty associated with the residency program. Twenty (53%) programs have a dedicated research coordinator. Basic science lab space and financial resources for statistical work were present at 22 programs (58%). Funding is uniformly provided for presentation of research at conferences; a minority of programs (13%) only funded podium presentations. Twenty-four (63%) have resident research requirements beyond the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) mandate of preparing a "manuscript suitable for publication" prior to graduation. Twenty-five (67%) programs have residents with 2 to 3 active research projects at any given time. None of the investigated resources were significantly associated with increased scholarly output. There was no uniformity to research curricula. Conclusions Otolaryngology residency programs value research, evidenced by financial support provided and requirements beyond the ACGME minimum. Additional resources were not statistically related to an increase in resident research productivity, although they may contribute positively to the overall research experience during training. Potential future areas to examine include research curricula best practices, how to develop meaningful mentorship and resource allocation that inspires continued research interest, and intellectual stimulation.

A dedicated research program increases the quantity and quality of orthopaedic resident publications.

PubMed

Torres, Daniel; Gugala, Zbigniew; Lindsey, Ronald W

2015-04-01

Programs seek to expose trainees to research during residency. However, little is known in any formal sense regarding how to do this effectively, or whether these efforts result in more or better-quality research output. The objective of our study was to evaluate a dedicated resident research program in terms of the quantity and quality of resident research peer-reviewed publications. Specifically we asked: (1) Did residents mentored through a dedicated resident research program have more peer-reviewed publications in higher-impact journals with higher citation rates compared with residents who pursued research projects under a less structured approach? (2) Did this effect continue after graduation? In 2006, our department of orthopaedic surgery established a dedicated resident research program, which consisted of a new research policy and a research committee to monitor quality and compliance with this policy. Peer-reviewed publications (determined from PubMed) of residents who graduated 6 years before establishing the dedicated resident research program were compared with publications from an equal period of the research-program-directed residents. The data were assessed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Twenty-four residents graduated from 2001 to 2006 (before implementation of the dedicated resident research program); 27 graduated from 2007 to 2012 (after implementation of the dedicated resident research program). There were 74 eligible publications as defined by the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. Residents who trained after implementation of the dedicated resident research program published more papers during residency than did residents who trained before the program was implemented (1.15 versus 0.79 publications per resident; 95% CI [0.05,0.93]; p = 0.047) and the journal impact factor was greater in the group that had the research program (1.25 versus 0.55 per resident; 95% CI [0.2,1.18]; p = 0.005). There were no differences between postresidency publications by trainees who graduated with versus without the research program in the number of publications, citations, and average journal impact factor per resident. A regression analysis showed no difference in citation rates of the residents' published papers before and since implementation of the research program. Currently in the United States, there are no standard policies or requirements that dictate how research should be incorporated in orthopaedic surgery residency training programs. The results of our study suggest that implementation of a dedicated resident research program improves the quantity and to some extent quality of orthopaedic resident research publications, but this effect did not persist after graduation.

American Society for Engineering Education/NASA Summer Faculty Fellowship Program 1982

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spencer, J. H. (Compiler)

1983-01-01

A program of summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators is described. The program involves participation in cooperative research and study. Results of the program evaluation are summarized. The research fellows indicated satisfaction with the program. Benefits of the program cited include: (1) enhancement of professional abilities; (2) contact with professionals in a chosen area of research; (3) familiarity with research facilities; and (4) development of new research techniques and their adaptation to an academic setting. Abstracts of each of the research projects undertaken are presented.

15 CFR 256.2 - The Research Associate Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false The Research Associate Program. 256.2... INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FELLOWSHIPS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROGRAM § 256.2 The Research Associate Program. The Bureau provides its facilities, scientific...

15 CFR 256.2 - The Research Associate Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false The Research Associate Program. 256.2... INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FELLOWSHIPS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROGRAM § 256.2 The Research Associate Program. The Bureau provides its facilities, scientific...

15 CFR 256.2 - The Research Associate Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false The Research Associate Program. 256.2... INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FELLOWSHIPS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATES RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROGRAM § 256.2 The Research Associate Program. The Bureau provides its facilities, scientific...

Challenges in Measuring Benefit of Clinical Research Training Programs--the ASH Clinical Research Training Institute Example.

PubMed

Sung, Lillian; Crowther, Mark; Byrd, John; Gitlin, Scott D; Basso, Joe; Burns, Linda

2015-12-01

The American Society of Hematology developed the Clinical Research Training Institute (CRTI) to address the lack of training in patient-oriented research among hematologists. As the program continues, we need to consider metrics for measuring the benefits of such a training program. This article addresses the benefits of clinical research training programs. The fundamental and key components are education and mentorship. However, there are several other benefits including promotion of collaboration, job and advancement opportunities, and promotion of work-life balance. The benefits of clinical research training programs need to be measured so that funders and society can judge if they are worth the investment in time and resources. Identification of elements that are important to program benefit is essential to measuring the benefit of the program as well as program planning. Future work should focus on the constructs which contribute to benefits of clinical research training programs such as CRTI.

Processes and Procedures of the Higher Education Programs at Marshall Space Flight Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heard, Pamala D.

2002-01-01

The purpose of my research was to investigate the policies, processes, procedures and timelines for the higher education programs at Marshall Space Flight Center. The three higher education programs that comprised this research included: the Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP), the National Research Council/Resident Research Associateships Program (NRC/RRA) and the Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP). The GSRP award fellowships each year to promising U.S. graduate students whose research interest coincides with NASA's mission. Fellowships are awarded for one year and are renewable for up to three years to competitively selected students. Each year, the award provides students the opportunity to spend a period in residence at a NASA center using that installation's unique facilities. This program is renewable for three years, students must reapply. The National Research Council conducts the Resident Research Associateships Program (NRC/RRA), a national competition to identify outstanding recent postdoctoral scientists and engineers and experience senior scientists and engineers, for tenure as guest researchers at NASA centers. The Resident Research Associateship Program provides an opportunity for recipients of doctoral degrees to concentrate their research in association with NASA personnel, often as a culmination to formal career preparation. The program also affords established scientists and engineers an opportunity for research without any interruptions and distracting assignments generated from permanent career positions. All opportunities for research at NASA Centers are open to citizens of the U.S. and to legal permanent residents. The Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) is conducted each summer. NASA awards research fellowships to university faculty through the NASA/American Society for Engineering Education. The program is designed to promote an exchange of ideas between university faculties, NASA scientists and engineers. Selected participants in fields of science, engineering, math, and other disciplines spend approximately 10 weeks working with their professional peers on research projects at NASA facilities. Workshops and seminars further enrich the experience. This program is only for U.S. citizens.

48 CFR 227.7204 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovative Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Business Innovative Research Program. 227.7204 Section 227.7204 Federal Acquisition Regulations System... under the Small Business Innovative Research Program. When contracting under the Small Business Innovative Research Program, follow the procedures at 227-7104. ...

Research studies with the International Ultraviolet Explorer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

The IUE research studies comprises 118 separate research programs involving observations, data analysis, and research conducted of the IUE satellite and the NASA Astrophysics Data Program. Herein are presented 92 programs. For each program there is a title, program ID, name of the investigator, statement of work, summary of results, and list of publications.

Human Research Program Exploration Medical Capability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barsten, Kristina

2010-01-01

NASA s Human Research Program (HRP) conducts and coordinates research projects that provide human health and performance countermeasures, knowledge, technologies, and tools to enable safe, reliable, and productive human space exploration. The Program is divided into 6 major elements, which a) Provide the Program s knowledge and capabilities to conduct research, addressing the human health and performance risks. b) Advance the readiness levels of technology and countermeasures to the point of transfer to the customer programs and organizations. The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) is a partner with the HRP in developing a successful research program. 3

USAF Summer Research Program - 1994 Graduate Student Research Program Final Reports, Volume 8, Phillips Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-12-01

Research Group at the Phillips Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force Base...for Summer Graduate Student Research Program Phillips Laboratory Sponsored by: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Boiling Air Force Base, DC...2390 S. York Street Denver, CO 80208-0177 Final Report for: Summer Faculty Research Program Phillips Laboratory Sponsored by: Air Force

Effect of two Howard Hughes Medical Institute research training programs for medical students on the likelihood of pursuing research careers.

PubMed

Fang, Di; Meyer, Roger E

2003-12-01

To assess the effect of Howard Hughes Medical Institute's (HHMI) two one-year research training programs for medical students on the awardees' research careers. Awardees of the HHMI Cloister Program who graduated between 1987 and 1995 and awardees of the HHMI Medical Fellows Program who graduated between 1991 and 1995 were compared with unsuccessful applicants to the programs and MD-PhD students who graduated during the same periods. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess research career outcomes while controlling for academic and demographic variables that could affect selection to the programs. Participation in both HHMI programs increased the likelihood of receiving National Institutes of Health postdoctoral support. Participation in the Cloister Program also increased the likelihood of receiving a faculty appointment with research responsibility at a medical school. In addition, awardees of the Medical Fellows Program were not significantly less likely than Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) and non-MSTP MD-PhD program participants to receive a National Institutes of Health postdoctoral award, and awardees of the Cloister Program were not significantly less likely than non-MSTP MD-PhD students to receive a faculty appointment with research responsibility. Women and underrepresented minority students were proportionally represented among awardees of the two HHMI programs whereas they were relatively underrepresented in MD-PhD programs. The one-year intensive research training supported by the HHMI training programs appears to provide an effective imprinting experience on medical students' research careers and to be an attractive strategy for training physician-scientists.

NASA-OAI Collaborative Aerospace Research and Fellowship Program at NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyward, Ann O.; Montegani, Francis J.

2003-01-01

During the summer of 2002, a IO-week activity for university faculty entitled the NASA-OAI Collaborative Aerospace Research and Fellowship Program (CFP) was conducted at the NASA Glenn Research Center in collaboration with the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI). This is a companion program to the highly successful NASA Faculty Fellowship Program and its predecessor, the NASA- ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program, that operated for 38 years at Glenn. This year s program began officially on June 3, 2002 and continued through August 9, 2002. This report is intended primarily to summarize the research activities comprising the 2002 CFP Program at Glenn. Fifteen research summaries are included.

An Assessment of Research-Doctorate Programs in the United States: Humanities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jones, Lyle V., Ed.; And Others

U.S. research-doctorate programs in the humanities were assessed by a committee of the Conference Board of Associated Research Councils. Attention was focused on 522 programs in nine disciplines in the humanities that award research doctorates. The effectiveness of these programs in preparing students for research careers was assessed. Indices…

Creation of an American Holistic Nurses Association research consultation program.

PubMed

Robertson, Sue; Clingerman, Evelyn; Zahourek, Rothlyn P; Mariano, Carla; Lange, Bernadette

2012-12-01

A goal of the American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) Research Committee is to prepare holistic nurses to conduct holistic nursing research. This article describes the creation of a Research Consultation Program and how the knowledge gained from the program will contribute to the development of a formal research mentor program.

The NASA Space Radiation Research Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cucinotta, Francis A.

2006-01-01

We present a comprehensive overview of the NASA Space Radiation Research Program. This program combines basic research on the mechanisms of radiobiological action relevant for improving knowledge of the risks of cancer, central nervous system and other possible degenerative tissue effects, and acute radiation syndromes from space radiation. The keystones of the NASA Program are five NASA Specialized Center's of Research (NSCOR) investigating space radiation risks. Other research is carried out through peer-reviewed individual investigations and in collaboration with the US Department of Energies Low-Dose Research Program. The Space Radiation Research Program has established the Risk Assessment Project to integrate data from the NSCOR s and other peer-reviewed research into quantitative projection models with the goals of steering research into data and scientific breakthroughs that will reduce the uncertainties in current risk projections and developing the scientific knowledge needed for future individual risk assessment approaches and biological countermeasure assessments or design. The NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven National Laboratory was created by the Program to simulate space radiation on the ground in support of the above research programs. New results from NSRL will be described.

Exploratory Advanced Research Program : Research Associates Program 2014

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2014-12-31

Since 1954, the National Research Council (NRC) has conducted the Research Associateship Program (RAP) in cooperation with sponsoring Federal laboratories and other approved participating research organizations. RAP provides highly skilled and exceed...

Exploratory Advanced Research Program : Research Associates Program 2016

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-02-01

Since 1954, the National Research Council (NRC) has conducted the Research Associateship Program (RAP) in cooperation with sponsoring Federal laboratories and other approved participating research organizations. RAP provides highly skilled and exceed...

Bully Prevention, Peer Mediation and Conflict Resolution: Impact of Prevention Programs on Reducing School Suspensions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frost, Alice M.

2012-01-01

Previous research examined various factors of program design, specific program curriculum, and student and faculty attitudes, but repeated studies and methodology questions have been raised with some of the research. Much of the research in the field has examined specific program effectiveness where the researcher is the author of the program or…

Characteristics of research tracks in dermatology residency programs: a national survey.

PubMed

Narala, Saisindhu; Loh, Tiffany; Shinkai, Kanade; Paravar, Taraneh

2017-12-15

Pursuing research is encouraged in dermatology residency programs. Some programs offer specific research or investigative tracks. Currently, there is little data on the structure or scope of research tracks in dermatology residency programs. An anonymous online survey was distributed to the Association of Professors of Dermatology listserve in 2016. Program directors of dermatology residency programs in the United States were asked to participate and 38 of the 95 program directors responded. The survey results confirmed that a 2+2 research track, which is two years of clinical training followed by two years of research, was the most common investigator trackmodel and may promote an academic career at the resident's home institution. Further studies will help determine the most effective research track models to promote long-term outcomes.

Designing and implementing an authentic science research program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosvally, Harry Edward, Jr.

Science research programs have become a popular elective course in high schools around the country. As the popularity of these programs grows, school districts need a guide by which to implement science research in their own schools. This study sought to provide this information by answering the following questions: (1) What are the most important features in existing research program models? (2) How do schools that have an existing research program define "success"? (3) How do different factors (i.e., budget, professional development, scheduling, recruitment effort, curriculum, and mentors) affect the scope and implementation of a research program? (4) Which features and factors support inclusiveness as a goal for a research program? (5) What kinds of indicators are appropriate for assessing the progress toward an inclusive science research program? After reviewing the literature, six sites with existing research programs were selected for participation in the study. Interviews with teachers and students were conducted during site visits. Interviews with mentors were conducted by telephone. Although the six models in this study were different from one another, there were common characteristics. Students conducted their own review of the literature. Upon completion of the actual research, students published or otherwise communicated their findings to the larger scientific community through regional and national competitions and non-competitive science symposia. This study was also able to identify significant elements that contribute to successful programs. These included: teacher selection; budget requirements; mentor qualities; recruitment and retention practices; and overall structure. As a result of the findings during the research, this study makes recommendations for the successful implementation of a research program.

Collaboration and Community Building in Summer Undergraduate Research Programs in the School of Earth Sciences at Stanford University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nevle, R. J.; Watson Nelson, T.; Harris, J. M.; Klemperer, S. L.

2012-12-01

In 2012, the School of Earth Sciences (SES) at Stanford University sponsored two summer undergraduate research programs. Here we describe these programs and efforts to build a cohesive research cohort among the programs' diverse participants. The two programs, the Stanford School of Earth Sciences Undergraduate Research (SESUR) Program and Stanford School of Earth Sciences Summer Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering (SURGE) Program, serve different undergraduate populations and have somewhat different objectives, but both provide students with opportunities to work on strongly mentored yet individualized research projects. In addition to research, enrichment activities co-sponsored by both programs support the development of community within the combined SES summer undergraduate research cohort. Over the course of 6 to 9 months, the SESUR Program engages Stanford undergraduates, primarily rising sophomores and juniors, with opportunities to deeply explore Earth sciences research while learning about diverse areas of inquiry within SES. Now in its eleventh year, the SESUR experience incorporates the breadth of the scientific endeavor: finding an advisor, proposal writing, obtaining funding, conducting research, and presenting results. Goals of the SESUR program include (1) providing a challenging and rewarding research experience for undergraduates who wish to explore the Earth sciences; (2) fostering interdisciplinary study in the Earth sciences among the undergraduate population; and (3) encouraging students to major or minor in the Earth sciences and/or to complete advanced undergraduate research in one of the departments or programs within SES. The SURGE Program, now in its second year, draws high performing students, primarily rising juniors and seniors, from 14 colleges and universities nationwide, including Stanford. Seventy percent of SURGE students are from racial/ethnic backgrounds underrepresented in STEM fields, and approximately one-third are the first in their families to attend college. For eight weeks, SURGE scholars conduct independent research with the guidance of faculty, research group mentors, and program assistants. The primary objectives of the SURGE program are to (1) provide undergraduates with a research experience in SES; (2) prepare undergraduates for the process of applying to graduate school; (3) introduce undergraduates to career opportunities in the geosciences and engineering; and (4) increase diversity in SES graduate programs. Independent research, network building, and intense mentoring culminate in a final oral and poster symposium. SESUR and SURGE scholars jointly participate in enrichment activities including faculty research seminars; career, graduate school, and software training workshops; GRE preparation classes; and geoscience-oriented field trips. Interaction among our students takes place through both research and enrichment activities, creating a critical mass of undergraduate scholars and promoting community development. Pre- and post-program surveys indicate that the overall goals of both programs are being achieved.

Academic research opportunities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency(NGA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loomer, Scott A.

2006-05-01

The vision of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is to "Know the Earth...Show the Way." To achieve this vision, the NGA provides geospatial intelligence in all its forms and from whatever source-imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial data and information-to ensure the knowledge foundation for planning, decision, and action. Academia plays a key role in the NGA research and development program through the NGA Academic Research Program. This multi-disciplinary program of basic research in geospatial intelligence topics provides grants and fellowships to the leading investigators, research universities, and colleges of the nation. This research provides the fundamental science support to NGA's applied and advanced research programs. The major components of the NGA Academic Research Program are: *NGA University Research Initiatives (NURI): Three-year basic research grants awarded competitively to the best investigators across the US academic community. Topics are selected to provide the scientific basis for advanced and applied research in NGA core disciplines. *Historically Black College and University - Minority Institution Research Initiatives (HBCU-MI): Two-year basic research grants awarded competitively to the best investigators at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Minority Institutions across the US academic community. *Intelligence Community Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships: Fellowships providing access to advanced research in science and technology applicable to the intelligence community's mission. The program provides a pool of researchers to support future intelligence community needs and develops long-term relationships with researchers as they move into career positions. This paper provides information about the NGA Academic Research Program, the projects it supports and how researchers and institutions can apply for grants under the program. In addition, other opportunities for academia to engage with NGA through training programs and recruitment are discussed.

A Survey of Campus Coordinators of Undergraduate Research Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hensley, Merinda Kaye; Shreeves, Sarah L.; Davis-Kahl, Stephanie

2015-01-01

Interest in supporting undergraduate research programs continues to grow within academic librarianship. This article presents how undergraduate research program coordinators perceive and value library support of their programs. Undergraduate research coordinators from a variety of institutions were surveyed on which elements of libraries and…

Implementation of a volunteer university student research assistant program in an emergency department: the nuts and bolts for success.

PubMed

Steadman, Patrick E; Crudden, Johanna; Boutis, Kathy

2015-09-01

Prospective research studies often advance clinical practice in the emergency department (ED), but they can be costly and difficult to perform. In this report, we describe the implementation of a volunteer university student research assistant program that provides students exposure to medicine and clinical research while simultaneously increasing the capacity of an ED's research program. This type of program provides 15 hours per day of research assistant coverage for patient screening and enrolment for minimal risk research studies, and screening for higher risk studies. The latter is true without the added burden or costs of co-administering university course credit or pay for service, which are common features of most of these types of programs currently in operation. We have shown that our volunteer-based program is effective for an ED's research success as well as for its student participants. For other EDs interested in adopting similar programs, we provide the details on how to get such a program started and highlight the structure and non-monetary incentives that facilitate a program's ongoing success.

Summer Research Program (1992). Graduate Student Research Program (GSRP) Reports. Volume 8. Phillips Laboratory.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-28

Research Program Starfire Optical Range, Phillips Laboratory /LITE Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM 87117 Sponsored by: Air ... Phillips Laboratory Sponsored by: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico September, 1992 18-1 PROGRESS...Report for: Summer Research Program Phillips Laboratory Sponsored by: Air

1997 Graduate Student Researchers Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1996-01-01

In 1980, NASA initiated the Graduate Student Research Program (GSRP) to cultivate additional research ties to the academic community and to support a culturally diverse group of students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering. Eligibility requirements for this program are described, and program administrators are listed. Research areas are detailed for NASA Headquarters and all Research and Flight Centers.

The undergraduate research fellows program: a unique model to promote engagement in research.

PubMed

Vessey, Judith A; DeMarco, Rosanna F

2008-01-01

Well-educated nurses with research expertise are needed to advance evidence-based nursing practice. A primary goal of undergraduate nursing curricula is to create meaningful participatory experiences to help students develop a research skill set that articulates with rapid career advancement of gifted, young graduates interested in nursing research and faculty careers. Three research enrichment models-undergraduate honors programs, research assistant work-for-hire programs, and research work/mentorship programs-to be in conjunction with standard research content are reviewed. The development and implementation of one research work/mentorship program, the Boston College undergraduate research fellows program (UGRF), is explicated. This process included surveying previous UGRFs followed by creating a retreat and seminars to address specific research skill sets. The research skill sets included (a) how to develop a research team, (b) accurate data retrieval, (c) ethical considerations, (d) the research process, (e) data management, (f) successful writing of abstracts, and (g) creating effective poster presentations. Outcomes include evidence of involvement in research productivity and valuing of evidenced-based practice through the UGRF mentorship process with faculty partners.

42 CFR 68a.5 - Who is ineligible to participate?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

..., INTERNSHIPS, TRAINING NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH) CLINICAL RESEARCH LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM FOR...: Physicians Shortage Area Scholarship Program, National Research Service Award Program, Public Health Service...) Professions Scholarship Program, Indian Health Service Scholarship Program, and the NIH AIDS Research Loan...

LDRD 2013 Annual Report: Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program Activities

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bookless, W.

This LDRD project establishes a research program led by Jingguang Chen, who has started a new position as a Joint Appointee between BNL and Columbia University as of FY2013. Under this project, Dr. Chen will establish a new program in catalysis science at BNL and Columbia University. The LDRD program will provide initial research funding to start research at both BNL and Columbia. At BNL, Dr. Chen will initiate laboratory research, including hiring research staff, and will collaborate with the existing BNL catalysis and electrocatalysis research groups. At Columbia, a subcontract to Dr. Chen will provide startup funding for hismore » laboratory research, including initial graduate student costs. The research efforts will be linked under a common Catalysis Program in Sustainable Fuels. The overall impact of this project will be to strengthen the BNL catalysis science program through new linked research thrusts and the addition of an internationally distinguished catalysis scientist.« less

A Summer Research Training Program to Foster PharmD Students' Interest in Research

PubMed Central

Moore, Mariellen J.; Shin, Jaekyu; Frye, Reginald F.

2008-01-01

Objectives To establish and assess the effectiveness of a 10-week summer research program on increasing doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) students' interest in research, particularly as it related to future career choices. Design Survey instruments were sent to 25 participants who had completed the research program in the summer of 2004, 2005, or 2006 to assess their satisfaction with the program and its influence on their career choices after graduation. Assessment Respondents reported a high degree of satisfaction with the program, indicating that the program allowed them to determine their suitability for a career in research, and 55% reported their intention to pursue additional research training. Conclusion A brief introduction to the clinical research environment helped pharmacy students understand the clinical sciences and careers in research. The introduction increased the likelihood of students pursuing a research career path after obtaining their PharmD degree. PMID:18483591

Aeroacoustics Research Program in JIAFS

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Myers, Michael K.

2000-01-01

This paper presents a final report on Aeroacoustics Research Program in JIAFS (Joint Institute For Advancement of Flight Sciences). The objectives of the program were to conduct research at the NASA Langley Research Center and to provide a comprehensive education program at the Center leading to advanced degrees in aeroacoustics.

78 FR 20466 - National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment Programs

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-05

... (Extramural LRPs). The Intramural LRPs include the Loan Repayment Program for Research with Respect to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (or AIDS Research LRP); Loan Repayment Program for General Research (or General Research LRP), which includes a program for the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical...

30 CFR 402.6 - Water-Resources Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Water-Resources Research Program. 402.6 Section 402.6 Mineral Resources GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WATER-RESOURCES RESEARCH PROGRAM... Water-Resources Research Program. (a) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Water...

30 CFR 402.6 - Water-Resources Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Water-Resources Research Program. 402.6 Section 402.6 Mineral Resources GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WATER-RESOURCES RESEARCH PROGRAM... Water-Resources Research Program. (a) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Water...

30 CFR 402.6 - Water-Resources Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Water-Resources Research Program. 402.6 Section 402.6 Mineral Resources GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WATER-RESOURCES RESEARCH PROGRAM... Water-Resources Research Program. (a) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Water...

30 CFR 402.6 - Water-Resources Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Water-Resources Research Program. 402.6 Section 402.6 Mineral Resources GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WATER-RESOURCES RESEARCH PROGRAM... Water-Resources Research Program. (a) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Water...

30 CFR 402.6 - Water-Resources Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 30 Mineral Resources 2 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Water-Resources Research Program. 402.6 Section 402.6 Mineral Resources GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WATER-RESOURCES RESEARCH PROGRAM... Water-Resources Research Program. (a) Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Water...

Center for Prostate Disease Research

MedlinePlus

... 2017 Cancer Statistics programs Clinical Research Program Synopsis Leadership Multi-Disciplinary Clinic Staff Listing 2017 Cancer Statistics Basic Science Research Program Synopsis Leadership Gene Expression Data Research Achievements Staff Listing Lab ...

Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Resident Research Associateship Program

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-01

Award Number: W81XWH-12-2-0033 TITLE: Army Medical Research & Materiel Command Resident Research Associateship Program PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR...PREPARED FOR: U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5012 DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT: Approved for Public...SUBTITLE NRC/AMRMC Resident Research Associateship Program 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b. GRANT NUMBER W81XWH-12-2-0033 5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S

Improving Defense Health Program Medical Research Processes

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-08-08

needed for DHP medical research , such as the Army’s Clinical and Translational Research Program Office, 38 the Navy’s Research Methods Training Program... research stated, “key infrastructure for a learning health system will encompass three core elements: data networks, methods , and workforce.” 221 A 2012... Research Methods Training Program, 132 which will be further discussed in Appendix D.2. AIR FORCE Air Force Instruction 40-402, Protection of

The Precision Medicine Initiative's All of Us Research Program: an agenda for research on its ethical, legal, and social issues.

PubMed

Sankar, Pamela L; Parker, Lisa S

2017-07-01

The Precision Medicine Initiative (PMI) is an innovative approach to developing a new model of health care that takes into account individual differences in people's genes, environments, and lifestyles. A cornerstone of the initiative is the PMI All of Us Research Program (formerly known as PMI-Cohort Program) which will create a cohort of 1 million volunteers who will contribute their health data and biospecimens to a centralized national database to support precision medicine research. The PMI All of US Research Program is the largest longitudinal study in the history of the United States. The designers of the Program anticipated and addressed some of the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) associated with the initiative. To date, however, there is no plan to call for research regarding ELSI associated with the Program-PMI All of Us program. Based on analysis of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcements for the PMI All of Us program, we have identified three ELSI themes: cohort diversity and health disparities, participant engagement, and privacy and security. We review All of Us Research Program plans to address these issues and then identify additional ELSI within each domain that warrant ongoing investigation as the All of Us Research Program develops. We conclude that PMI's All of Us Research Program represents a significant opportunity and obligation to identify, analyze, and respond to ELSI, and we call on the PMI to initiate a research program capable of taking on these challenges.Genet Med advance online publication 01 December 2016.

[Development of advanced educational programs, including research programs, for undergraduate students in National Universities: the facts in 2010].

PubMed

Kurosaki, Yuji; Tomioka, Yoshihisa; Santa, Tomofumi; Kitamura, Yoshihisa

2012-01-01

This article summarizes detailed facts obtained from the questionnaire conducted in 2010 at about 14 National Universities on the topic of "Research programs and advanced educational programs for undergraduate students". The contents of the questionnaire included: (1) Research programs based on the coalition of university and hospital and/or community pharmacy, other Graduate Schools, such as School of Medicine etc., and the University Hospital, (2) Educational systems for the achievement of research programs and their research outcomes, (3) Research programs based on pharmacist practices, (4) Ongoing advanced educational programs for undergraduate students, taking advantage of the coalition with Graduate School, School of Medicine (and Dentistry), and University Hospital. Some of the advanced educational programs outlined in this questionnaire will be carried out by our group in the coming years and the educational benefits together with associated problems shall as well be clarified. This approach will be informative for the development of the leader-oriented pharmacist programs for the college of Pharmacy.

Photovoltaic Research in the Small Business Innovative Research Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bower, Ward I.; Bulawka, Alec

1997-02-01

The Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR) is currently authorized to be funded through September 30, 2000. The National Photovoltaics Program is a contributor to the Department of Energy (DOE) SBIR program. The small business photovoltaic industry has been benefiting from the SBIR program through awards that have funded basic research, new processes and products that have PV and other commercial applications. This paper provides information on SBIR opportunities, selected details of the SBIR program, statistics from the 1995 and 1996 DOE SBIR program, and methods for improving PV industry participation and success in the SBIR program.

Tidal pumping as a driver of groundwater discharge to a back barrier salt marsh ecosystem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, M. L.; Viso, R. F.; Peterson, R. N.; Hill, J. C.

2013-12-01

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) typically consists of both terrestrial groundwater and recirculated seawater and has been shown to be a significant pathway of dissolved substances to the coastal zone. The fresh and saline water mixture in the subsurface creates a salinity gradient that can impact biogeochemical processes. Located along the South Atlantic Bight, Georgia's coastline is an approximately 100-mile stretch of complex primary and secondary barrier islands resulting from geologic interactions driven by long-term sea level rise and retreat, accretion, seasonal tidal events, storm overwash, and wave driven erosion. Our study site is located in the Duplin River near Sapelo Island, GA and is part of the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecosystem Research (GCE-LTER) program. This area is considered mesotidal (2-4m) and tidal pumping may be a dominating process in controlling SGD rates. The Duplin River is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through Doboy Sound to the south. To the north, the river terminates in extensive salt marsh and therefore has no overland freshwater input. Previous studies show a salinity gradient within the Duplin River indicating that SGD must be present as a source of brackish water. To place constraints on SGD processes, we employ a combination of geochemical and geophysical techniques to determine the magnitude of SGD in the Duplin River. Together these techniques permit a more complete understanding of the groundwater system. Three time series stations at the upper, mid and lower reaches of the Duplin River were deployed in June of 2013 to measure groundwater influences during daily and fortnightly tidal cycles. At each station, continuous radon-222 measurements were conducted at 30 minute intervals along with measurements of water level, temperature and conductivity using standard hydrological data loggers. During this period, eight time series resistivity profiles using a 56 electrode (110m long) cable were recorded to provide detailed imagery of fluid interactions at the ground/surface water interface during a tidal cycle. The resistivity profiles are presented as color contoured tomograms representing the shallow aquifer system to depths exceeding 20 meters. Measurements took place during a series of large precipitation events, including immediately before and after a tropical storm, as well as during relatively dry conditions. Taking into account the metrological variability, our initial results indicate that the SGD process is most strongly influenced by tidal pumping. Radon analysis and resistivity measurements reveal strong inverse relationships with water level. Percent difference resistivity models indicate substantial tidally controlled pore fluid flushing and mixing within the shallow aquifer system. These measurements will be further used to construct a water budget within the Duplin River and to delineate the extent of variability in salinity of shallow marsh sediments. In addition, these measurements will provide accurate rates and flow geometries useful as constraints on ongoing reactive transport modeling efforts.

48 CFR 227.7204 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Business Innovation Research Program. 227.7204 Section 227.7204 Federal Acquisition Regulations System... under the Small Business Innovation Research Program. When contracting under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, follow the procedures at 227-7104. [56 FR 36389, July 31, 1991, as amended at 76...

48 CFR 227.7204 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Business Innovation Research Program. 227.7204 Section 227.7204 Federal Acquisition Regulations System... under the Small Business Innovation Research Program. When contracting under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, follow the procedures at 227-7104. [56 FR 36389, July 31, 1991, as amended at 76...

48 CFR 227.7104 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. 227.7104 Section 227.7104 Federal Acquisition Regulations... Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. (a) Use the clause at 252.227-7018, Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, when technical data or...

48 CFR 227.7204 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... Business Innovation Research Program. 227.7204 Section 227.7204 Federal Acquisition Regulations System... under the Small Business Innovation Research Program. When contracting under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, follow the procedures at 227-7104. [56 FR 36389, July 31, 1991, as amended at 76...

48 CFR 227.7204 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... Business Innovation Research Program. 227.7204 Section 227.7204 Federal Acquisition Regulations System... under the Small Business Innovation Research Program. When contracting under the Small Business Innovation Research Program, follow the procedures at 227-7104. [56 FR 36389, July 31, 1991, as amended at 76...

48 CFR 227.7104 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. 227.7104 Section 227.7104 Federal Acquisition Regulations... Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. (a) Use the clause at 252.227-7018, Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, when technical data or...

48 CFR 227.7104 - Contracts under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. 227.7104 Section 227.7104 Federal Acquisition Regulations... Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. (a) Use the clause at 252.227-7018, Rights in Noncommercial Technical Data and Computer Software—Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program, when technical data or...

34 CFR 662.1 - What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Research Abroad Fellowship Program? 662.1 Section 662.1 Education Regulations of the Offices of the... DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH ABROAD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM General § 662.1 What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program? (a) The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation...

34 CFR 662.1 - What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Research Abroad Fellowship Program? 662.1 Section 662.1 Education Regulations of the Offices of the... DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH ABROAD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM General § 662.1 What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program? (a) The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation...

34 CFR 662.1 - What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Research Abroad Fellowship Program? 662.1 Section 662.1 Education Regulations of the Offices of the... DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH ABROAD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM General § 662.1 What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program? (a) The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation...

34 CFR 662.1 - What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Research Abroad Fellowship Program? 662.1 Section 662.1 Education Regulations of the Offices of the... DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH ABROAD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM General § 662.1 What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program? (a) The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation...

34 CFR 662.1 - What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Research Abroad Fellowship Program? 662.1 Section 662.1 Education Regulations of the Offices of the... DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH ABROAD FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM General § 662.1 What is the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program? (a) The Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation...

Keeping Clinicians in Clinical Research: The Clinical Research/Reproductive Scientist Training Program

PubMed Central

Armstrong, Alicia Y.; DeCherney, Alan; Leppert, Phyllis; Rebar, Robert; Maddox, Yvonne T.

2009-01-01

In recent years the need for translational and clinical research has increased while the number of physicians involved in clinical research has diminished. There is clearly a need for formalized academic training in the quantitative and methodological principles of clinical research in reproductive medicine. The Clinical Research/Reproductive Scientist Training Program (CREST), a program supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the Clinical Research Training Program (CRTP) at Duke University, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine,(ASRM) meets this existing need. In addition, this program is specifically designed for physicians in private or academic clinical practice in reproductive medicine. Innovative programs such as CREST encourage the practicing physician to engage in clinical research while maintaining an active role in clinical practice. Participants in the program receive didactic on-line training from the CRTP, attend intensive weekend seminars at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CREST seminars at the annual meeting of ASRM. Successful participants in the program receive a Certificate in Clinical Research from the CRTP. The program’s goal is to provide practicing physicians with the tools and research credentials that will facilitate collaborations with investigators involved in large clinical trials. PMID:19144332

Summer Research Training for Medical Students: Impact on Research Self‐Efficacy

PubMed Central

Black, Michelle L.; Curran, Maureen C.; Golshan, Shahrokh; Daly, Rebecca; Depp, Colin; Kelly, Carolyn

2013-01-01

Abstract There is a well‐documented shortage of physician researchers, and numerous training programs have been launched to facilitate development of new physician scientists. Short‐term research training programs are the most practical form of research exposure for most medical students, and the summer between their first and second years of medical school is generally the longest period they can devote solely to research. The goal of short‐term training programs is to whet the students’ appetite for research and spark their interest in the field. Relatively little research has been done to test the effectiveness of short‐term research training programs. In an effort to examine short‐term effects of three different NIH‐funded summer research training programs for medical students, we assessed the trainees’ (N = 75) research self‐efficacy prior to and after the programs using an 11‐item scale. These hands‐on training programs combined experiential, didactic, and mentoring elements. The students demonstrated a significant increase in their self‐efficacy for research. Trainees’ gender, ranking of their school, type of research, and specific content of research project did not predict improvement. Effect sizes for different types of items on the scale varied, with the largest gain seen in research methodology and communication of study findings. PMID:24330695

Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program FY2016 Annual Summary of Completed Projects

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None, None

ORNL FY 2016 Annual Summary of Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program (LDRD) Completed Projects. The Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program at ORNL operates under the authority of DOE Order 413.2C, “Laboratory Directed Research and Development” (October 22, 2015), which establishes DOE’s requirements for the program while providing the Laboratory Director broad flexibility for program implementation. The LDRD program funds are obtained through a charge to all Laboratory programs. ORNL reports its status to DOE in March of each year.

NASA's new university engineering space research programs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sadin, Stanley R.

1988-01-01

The objective of a newly emerging element of NASA's university engineering programs is to provide a more autonomous element that will enhance and broaden the capabilities in academia, enabling them to participate more effectively in the U.S. civil space program. The programs utilize technical monitors at NASA centers to foster collaborative arrangements, exchange of personnel, and the sharing of facilities between NASA and the universities. The elements include: the university advanced space design program, which funds advanced systems study courses at the senior and graduate levels; the university space engineering research program that supports cross-disciplinary research centers; the outreach flight experiments program that offers engineering research opportunities to universities; and the planned university investigator's research program to provide grants to individuals with outstanding credentials.

NASA's Microgravity Research Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodard, Dan R. (Editor); Henderson, Robin N. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

The Fiscal Year 1999 Annual Report describes key elements of the NASA Microgravity Research Program. The Program's goals, approach taken to achieve those goals, and program resources are summarized. A review of the Program's status at the end of FY1999 and highlights of the ground-and-flight research are provided.

Research Programs Constituting U.S. Participation in the International Biological Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Academy of Sciences--National Research Council, Washington, DC. Div. of Biology and Agriculture.

The United States contribution to the International Biological Program, which aims to understand more clearly the interrelationships within ecosystems, is centered on multidisciplinary research programs investigating the biological basis of ecological productivity and human welfare. Integrated research programs have been established for the…

77 FR 68138 - Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-15

... Program Nos. 93.14, Intramural Research Training Award; 93.22, Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds; 93.232, Loan Repayment Program for Research Generally... Loan Repayment Program; 93.187, Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from Disadvantaged...

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Uhle, Maria

These funds were transferred from DOE to NSF as DOE's contribution to the U.S. Global Change Research Program in support of 4 internationalnactivities/programs as approved by the U.S. Global Change Research Program on 14 March 2014. The programs are the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, the DIVERSITAS programme, and the World Climate Research Program. All program awards ended as of 09-23-2015.

Implementation activities for the Wisconsin Highway Research Program (WHRP).

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-03-01

The Wisconsin Highway Research Program (WHRP) Steering Committee commissioned an implementation pilot : program in 2006 to facilitate the incorporation of research results into the programs, standards, and processes of : the Wisconsin Department of T...

Glaucoma Symptoms

MedlinePlus

... Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program Macular Degeneration Research Program National Glaucoma Research Program Molecular Neurodegeneration ... Foundation BrightFocus Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg, MD ...

77 FR 37022 - Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program; Rehabilitation Engineering...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-20

...; Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services... Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERC). SUMMARY... amended (Rehabilitation Act). Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Program (RERCs) The purpose of...

76 FR 37085 - Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-24

... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Applications for New Awards; Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers...)--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--Rehabilitation Engineering Research... (Rehabilitation Act). Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers Program (RERCs) The purpose of the RERC program...

Research Ethics Education in Post-Graduate Medical Curricula in I.R. Iran.

PubMed

Nikravanfard, Nazila; Khorasanizadeh, Faezeh; Zendehdel, Kazem

2017-08-01

Research ethics training during post-graduate education is necessary to improve ethical standards in the design and conduct of biomedical research. We studied quality and quantity of research ethics training in the curricula of post-graduate programs in the medical science in I.R. Iran. We evaluated curricula of 125 post-graduate programs in medical sciences in I.R. Iran. We qualitatively studied the curricula by education level, including the Master and PhD degrees and analyzed the contents and the amount of teaching allocated for ethics training in each curriculum. We found no research ethics training in 72 (58%) of the programs. Among the 53 (42%) programs that considered research ethics training, only 17 programs had specific courses for research ethics and eight of them had detailed topics on their courses. The research ethics training was optional in 25% and mandatory in 76% of the programs. Post-graduate studies that were approved in the more recent years had more attention to the research ethics training. Research ethics training was neglected in most of the medical post-graduate programs. We suggest including sufficient amount of mandatory research ethics training in Master and PhD programs in I.R. Iran. Further research about quality of research ethics training and implementation of curricula in the biomedical institutions is warranted. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The NCI Community Oncology Research Program: what every clinician needs to know.

PubMed

McCaskill-Stevens, Worta; Lyss, Alan P; Good, Marge; Marsland, Thomas; Lilenbaum, Rogerio

2013-01-01

Research in the community setting is essential for the translation of advances in cancer research into practice and improving cancer care for all populations. The National Cancer Institute is proposing a new community-based program, NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), which is the alignment of two existing programs, the Community Clinical Oncology Program, Minority-Based Community Clinical Oncology Program, and their Research Bases, and the National Cancer Institute's Community Cancer Centers Program. NCROP will support cancer control, prevention, treatment, and screening clinical trials and expand its research scope to include cancer care delivery research. Cancer disparities research will be integrated into studies across the continuum of NCORP research. Input from current NCI-funded community investigators provides critical insight into the challenges faced by oncology practices within various organizational structures. Furthermore, these investigators identify the resources, both administrative and clinical, that will be required in the community setting to support cancer care delivery research and to meet the requirements for a new generation of clinical research. The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has initiated a forum to focus on the conduct of clinical research in the community setting. Resources are being developed to help practices in managing cancer care in community settings.

Research peer exchange, 2017 : final report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2017-04-01

State DOT research programs are applied research programs, historically focused on materials and structures. In the last several years, the pace and nature of FDOTs research program have evolved. Increased emphasis on implementation and performanc...

NASA Microgravity Research Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodard, Dan

1999-01-01

The Fiscal Year 1998 Annual Report describes key elements of the NASA Microgravity Research Program. The Program's goals, approach taken to achieve those goals, and program resources are summarized. A review of the Program's status at the end of FY1998 and highlights of the ground- and-flight-based research are provided.

Research Issues and Language Program Direction. Issues in Language Program Direction: A Series of Annual Volumes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heilenman, L. Kathy, Ed.

This collection of papers is divided into two parts. After "Introduction" (L. Kathy Heilenman), Part 1, "Research and Language Program Directors: The Relationship," includes "Research Domains and Language Program Direction" (Bill VanPatten); "Language Program Direction and the Modernist Agenda" (Celeste…

A Systematic Review of Extramural Presentations and Publications from Pharmacy Student Research Programs

PubMed Central

Martin, Jennifer; Worede, Leah; Islam, Sameer

2016-01-01

Objective. To conduct a systematic review of reports of pharmacy student research programs that describes the programs and resulting publications or presentations. Methods. To be eligible for the review, reports had to be in English and indicate that students were required to collect, analyze data, and report or present findings. The outcome variables were extramural posters/presentations and publications. Results. Database searches resulted in identification of 13 reports for 12 programs. Two-thirds were reports of projects required for a course or for graduation, and the remaining third were elective (participation was optional). Extramural posters resulted from 75% of the programs and publications from 67%. Conclusion. Although reporting on the outcomes of student research programs is limited, three-quarters of the programs indicated that extramural presentations, publications, or both resulted from student research. Additional research is needed to identify relevant outcomes of student research programs in pharmacy. PMID:27667837

A Systematic Review of Extramural Presentations and Publications from Pharmacy Student Research Programs.

PubMed

Slack, Marion K; Martin, Jennifer; Worede, Leah; Islam, Sameer

2016-08-25

Objective. To conduct a systematic review of reports of pharmacy student research programs that describes the programs and resulting publications or presentations. Methods. To be eligible for the review, reports had to be in English and indicate that students were required to collect, analyze data, and report or present findings. The outcome variables were extramural posters/presentations and publications. Results. Database searches resulted in identification of 13 reports for 12 programs. Two-thirds were reports of projects required for a course or for graduation, and the remaining third were elective (participation was optional). Extramural posters resulted from 75% of the programs and publications from 67%. Conclusion. Although reporting on the outcomes of student research programs is limited, three-quarters of the programs indicated that extramural presentations, publications, or both resulted from student research. Additional research is needed to identify relevant outcomes of student research programs in pharmacy.

Enhancing pediatric residents’ scholar role: the development of a Scholarly Activity Guidance and Evaluation program

PubMed Central

Pound, Catherine M.; Moreau, Katherine A.; Ward, Natalie; Eady, Kaylee; Writer, Hilary

2015-01-01

Background Research training is essential to the development of well-rounded physicians. Although many pediatric residency programs require residents to complete a research project, it is often challenging to integrate research training into educational programs. Objective We aimed to develop an innovative research program for pediatric residents, called the Scholarly Activity Guidance and Evaluation (SAGE) program. Methods We developed a competency-based program which establishes benchmarks for pediatric residents, while providing ongoing academic mentorship. Results Feedback from residents and their research supervisors about the SAGE program has been positive. Preliminary evaluation data have shown that all final-year residents have met or exceeded program expectations. Conclusions By providing residents with this supportive environment, we hope to influence their academic career paths, increase their research productivity, promote evidence-based practice, and ultimately, positively impact health outcomes. PMID:26059213

MINDFULNESS GOES TO SCHOOL: THINGS LEARNED (SO FAR) FROM RESEARCH AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES.

PubMed

Semple, Randye J; Droutman, Vita; Reid, Brittany Ann

2017-01-01

Mindfulness-based curricula are being implemented in K-12 schools across the nation. Many of these programs, although well-considered and implemented, have little or no research support for their effectiveness. Recognizing the paucity of published research in this area, a sampling of school-based programs currently being implemented in the schools is reviewed. The programs reviewed are Inner Explorer, Master Mind and Moment Program, Mindfulness and Mind-Body Skills for Children, Mindful Schools, Resilient Kids, Still Quiet Place, Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Curriculum and Mindful Moment , and Wellness and Resilience Program . We offer a summary of research support for each program and discussion of unpublished, mostly qualitative indicators of feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and effectiveness. Strengths and limitations of each program are described, along with suggestions for bolstering informative and useful research. We encourage researchers, educators, and mindfulness practitioners to work collaboratively to conduct rigorous program evaluations.

MINDFULNESS GOES TO SCHOOL: THINGS LEARNED (SO FAR) FROM RESEARCH AND REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES

PubMed Central

Semple, Randye J.; Droutman, Vita; Reid, Brittany Ann

2016-01-01

Mindfulness-based curricula are being implemented in K-12 schools across the nation. Many of these programs, although well-considered and implemented, have little or no research support for their effectiveness. Recognizing the paucity of published research in this area, a sampling of school-based programs currently being implemented in the schools is reviewed. The programs reviewed are Inner Explorer, Master Mind and Moment Program, Mindfulness and Mind-Body Skills for Children, Mindful Schools, Resilient Kids, Still Quiet Place, Stress Reduction and Mindfulness Curriculum and Mindful Moment, and Wellness and Resilience Program. We offer a summary of research support for each program and discussion of unpublished, mostly qualitative indicators of feasibility, acceptability, efficacy, and effectiveness. Strengths and limitations of each program are described, along with suggestions for bolstering informative and useful research. We encourage researchers, educators, and mindfulness practitioners to work collaboratively to conduct rigorous program evaluations. PMID:28458403

Summaries of FY 1993 Engineering Research

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1993-09-01

This report documents the BES Engineering Research Program for fiscal year 1993; it provides a summary for each of the program projects in addition to a brief program overview. The report is intended to provide staff of Congressional committees, other executive departments, and other DOE offices with substantive program information so as to facilitate governmental overview and coordination of Federal research programs. Of equal importance, its availability facilitates communication of program information to interested research engineers and scientists. The organizational chart for the DOE Office of Energy Research (OER) on the next page delineates the six Divisions within the OERmore » Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Each BES Division administers basic, mission oriented research programs in the area indicated by its title. The BES Engineering Research Program is one such program; it is administered by the Engineering and Geosciences Division of BES. In preparing this report we asked the principal investigators to submit summaries for their projects that were specifically applicable to fiscal year 1993. The summaries received have been edited if necessary.« less

Lewis' Educational and Research Collaborative Intership Program Grant Closeout Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

The Lewis' Educational and Research Collaborative Internship Program (LERCIP) is a collaborative undertaking by the Office of Educational Programs at NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field (formerly NASA Lewis Research Center) and the Ohio Aerospace Institute. This program provides 10-week internships and 10 or 12-week fellowships for undergraduate/graduate students and secondary school teachers. Approximately 130 interns are selected to participate in this program each year and begin arriving the second week in May. The internships provide students with introductory professional experiences to complement their academic programs. The interns are given assignments on research and development projects under the personal guidance of NASA professional staff members. Each intern is assigned a NASA mentor who facilitates a research assignment. In addition to the research assignment, the summer program includes a strong educational component that enhances the professional stature of the participants. The educational activities include a research symposium and a variety of workshops, lectures and short courses. An important aspect of the program is that it includes students with diverse social, cultural and economic backgrounds.

Integration of NASA Research into Undergraduate Education in Math, Science, Engineering and Technology at North Carolina A&T State University

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Monroe, Joseph; Kelkar, Ajit

2003-01-01

The NASA PAIR program incorporated the NASA-Sponsored research into the undergraduate environment at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. This program is designed to significantly improve undergraduate education in the areas of mathematics, science, engineering, and technology (MSET) by directly benefiting from the experiences of NASA field centers, affiliated industrial partners and academic institutions. The three basic goals of the program were enhancing core courses in MSET curriculum, upgrading core-engineering laboratories to compliment upgraded MSET curriculum, and conduct research training for undergraduates in MSET disciplines through a sophomore shadow program and through Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs. Since the inception of the program nine courses have been modified to include NASA related topics and research. These courses have impacted over 900 students in the first three years of the program. The Electrical Engineering circuit's lab is completely re-equipped to include Computer controlled and data acquisition equipment. The Physics lab is upgraded to implement better sensory data acquisition to enhance students understanding of course concepts. In addition a new instrumentation laboratory in the department of Mechanical Engineering is developed. Research training for A&T students was conducted through four different programs: Apprentice program, Developers program, Sophomore Shadow program and Independent Research program. These programs provided opportunities for an average of forty students per semester.

The DOE Program Guide for Universities and Other Research Groups. Part I - DOE Research and Development Programs. Part II - DOE Procurement and Assistance Policies/Procedures.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Department of Energy, Washington, DC. Procurement and Contracts Management Directorate.

This guide is intended to orient research organizations interested in establishing a program relationship with the United States Department of Energy (DOE). The publication is divided into two parts. Part I describes DOE research and development programs, summarizes budget data, and lists contact persons for DOE programs. In addition, this section…

78 FR 34901 - Final Priority; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Advanced...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-11

... Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Program... priority for the Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training (ARRT) program under the Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on Disability and...

Assessment team report on flight-critical systems research at NASA Langley Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siewiorek, Daniel P. (Compiler); Dunham, Janet R. (Compiler)

1989-01-01

The quality, coverage, and distribution of effort of the flight-critical systems research program at NASA Langley Research Center was assessed. Within the scope of the Assessment Team's review, the research program was found to be very sound. All tasks under the current research program were at least partially addressing the industry needs. General recommendations made were to expand the program resources to provide additional coverage of high priority industry needs, including operations and maintenance, and to focus the program on an actual hardware and software system that is under development.

Summer Research Program (1992). Summer Faculty Research Program (SFRP) Reports. Volume 5A. Wright Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-01

1992 6-~1 SOME RESULTS IN MACIIINE- LEARNING Mike Breen Assistant Professor Department of Mathematics Tennessee Technological Universitv Abstract The...Research Laboratory; Wilford Hall Medical Center 12 High School Apprenticeship Program Reports: Armstrong Laboratory 13 High School Apprenticeship ...Program Reports: Phillips Laboratory 14 High School Apprenticeship Program Reports: Rome Laboratory 15 High School Apprenticeship Program Reports

Estimating patterns in Spartina alterniflora belowground biomass within salt marshes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Connell, J. L.; Mishra, D. R.; Alber, M.; Byrd, K. B.

2017-12-01

Belowground biomass of marsh plants, such as Spartina alterniflora, help prevent marsh loss because they promote soil accretion, stabilize soils and add organic matter. However, site-wide estimates of belowground biomass are difficult to obtain because root:shoot ratios vary considerably both within species and across sites. We are working to develop a data fusion tool that can predict key characteristics of S. alterniflora, including belowground biomass and plant canopy N, based on satellite imagery. We used field observations from four salt marsh locations along the Georgia Coast, including one that is studied as part of the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project. From field and remote-sensing data, we developed a hybrid modeling approach to estimate % foliar N (a surrogate for plant assimilated nutrients). Partial Least squares (PLS) regression analysis of Landsat-8 spectral bands could predict variation in foliar N and belowground biomass, suggesting this public data source might be utilized for site-wide assessment of plant biophysical variables in salt marshes. Spectrally estimated foliar N and aboveground biomass were associated with belowground biomass and root:shoot ratio in S. alterniflora. This mirrors results from a previous study from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, on Scheonoplectus acutus, a marsh plant found in some tidal freshwater marshes. Therefore remote sensing may be a useful tool for measuring whole plant productivity among multiple coastal marsh species.

Primary and Secondary Controls on Measurements of Forest Height Using Large-Footprint Lidar at the Hubbard Brook LTER

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knox, Robert G.; Blair, J. Bryan; Schwarz, Paul A.; Hofton, Michelle A.; Dubayah, Ralph; Smith, David E. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

On September 26, 1999, we mapped canopy structure over 90% of the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in White Mountain National Forest, New Hampshire, using the Laser Vegetation Imaging Sensor (LVIS). This airborne instrument was configured to emulate data expected from the Vegetation Canopy Lidar (VCL) space mission. We compared above ground heights of the tallest surfaces detected by lidar with average forest canopy heights estimated from tree-based measurements in or near 346 0.05 ha plots (made in autumn of 1997 and 1998). Vegetation heights had by far the predominant influence on lidar top heights, but with this large data set we were able to measure two significant secondary effects: those of steepness or slope of the underlying terrain and of tree crown form. The size of the slope effect was intermediate between that expected from models of homogeneous canopy layers and for solitary tree crowns. The first detected surfaces were also proportionately taller for plots with more basal area in broad leaved northern hardwoods than for mostly coniferous plots. We expected this because of the contrast between the shapes of cumulative distributions of surface area for elliptical or hemi-elliptical tree crowns and those for conical crowns. Correcting for these secondary effects, when appropriate data are available for calibration, may improve vegetation structure estimates in regional studies using VCL or similar lidar data sources.

Evaluation of WYDOT's research center and research program.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2008-03-01

This study examined multiple aspects of the Wyoming Department of Transportations Research Program. It provides numerous observations of : the overall program and the research investment portfolio as well as guidance for developing a strategic res...

Clinician scientist training program: a proposal for training medical students in clinical research.

PubMed

Mark, A L; Kelch, R P

2001-11-01

There is national alarm about a decline in the number of clinician scientists. Most of the proposed solutions have focused on housestaff and junior faculty. We propose a new national program for training medical students in clinical research. This program, coined "Clinician Scientist Training Program" (CSTP), would consist of a combined degree program in medicine (MD) and clinical research (eg, masters in translational research or masters in clinical epidemiology). Students could enroll in the program at any stage during medical school. After 3 years of medical school, students would spend at least 2 years in a combined didactic and mentored clinical research training program and then complete medical school. Students could elect to pursue more prolonged clinical research training toward a combined PhD and MD. The CSTP is designed to meet six critical challenges: 1) engage students early in clinical research training; 2) provide a didactic clinical research curriculum; 3) expose students to several years of mentored clinical research training; 4) promote debt prevention by providing tuition payments during medical education and a stipend during clinical research training; 5) facilitate prolonged exposure to a community of peers and mentors in a program with national and institutional identity and respect; and 6) permit enrollment in the program as students enter medical school or at any stage during medical school. If the success of the Medical Scientist Training Program in training medical students in basic research is a guide, the CSTP could become a linchpin for training future generations of clinician scientists.

The Role of Research in Advanced Dental Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Profitt, William R.; Vig, Peter S.

1980-01-01

Even though research is an integral part of quality advanced dental programs, many dental departments with postdoctoral programs lack faculty and other resources for research productivity. Programs to produce clinical faculty with research training are called for through the development of clinical research centers. (JSR)

Dissemination research: the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

PubMed

Remington, Patrick L; Moberg, D Paul; Booske, Bridget C; Ceraso, Marion; Friedsam, Donna; Kindig, David A

2009-08-01

Despite significant accomplishments in basic, clinical, and population health research, a wide gap persists between research discoveries (ie, what we know) and actual practice (ie, what we do). The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (Institute) researchers study the process and outcomes of disseminating evidence-based public health programs and policies into practice. This paper briefly describes the approach and experience of the Institute's programs in population health assessment, health policy, program evaluation, and education and training. An essential component of this dissemination research program is the active engagement of the practitioners and policymakers. Each of the Institute's programs conducts data collection, analysis, education, and dialogue with practitioners that is closely tied to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies. Our approach involves a reciprocal exchange of knowledge with non-academic partners, such that research informs practice and practice informs research. Dissemination research serves an important role along the continuum of research and is increasingly recognized as an important way to improve population health by accelerating the translation of research into practice.

Overview of EPA Superfund human health research program.

PubMed

Kowalski, Lorelei; Denne, Jane; Dyer, Robert; Garrahan, Kevin; Wentsel, Randall S

2002-03-01

This paper presents major research needs for the Superfund program, and provides an overview of the EPA Office of Research and Development's (ORDs) current human health research program designed to fill some of those data gaps. Research is presented in terms of the risk paradigm and covers exposure, effects, and assessment activities directly funded by Superfund, as well as research not funded by Superfund but directly applicable to Superfund research needs. Research on risk management is not covered. Current research activities conducted by the Superfund program office are also included to provide a full picture of Superfund human health research activities being conducted by EPA.

View How Glaucoma May Affect Vision

MedlinePlus

... Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program Macular Degeneration Research Program National Glaucoma Research Program Molecular Neurodegeneration ... Foundation BrightFocus Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg, MD ...

Human Research Program Science Management: Overview of Research and Development Activities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Charles, John B.

2007-01-01

An overview of research and development activities of NASA's Human Research Science Management Program is presented. The topics include: 1) Human Research Program Goals; 2) Elements and Projects within HRP; 3) Development and Maintenance of Priorities; 4) Acquisition and Evaluation of Research and Technology Proposals; and 5) Annual Reviews

Development of a surgical educational research program-fundamental principles and challenges.

PubMed

Ahmed, Kamran; Ibrahim, Amel; Anderson, Oliver; Patel, Vanash M; Zacharakis, Emmanouil; Darzi, Ara; Paraskeva, Paraskevas; Athanasiou, Thanos

2011-05-15

Surgical educational research is the scientific investigation of any aspect of surgical learning, teaching, training, and assessment. The research into development and validation of educational tools is vital to optimize patient care. This can be accomplished by establishing high quality educational research programs within academic surgical departments. This article aims to identify the components involved in educational research and describes the challenges as well as solutions to establishing a high quality surgical educational research program. A variety of sources including journal articles, books, and online literature were reviewed in order to determine the pathways involved in conducting educational research and establishing a research program. It is vital to ensure that educational research is acceptable, innovative, robust in design, funded correctly, and disseminated successfully. Challenges faced by the current surgical research programs include structural organization, academic support, credibility, time, funding, relevance, and growth. The solutions to these challenges have been discussed. To ensure research in surgical education is of high quality and yields credible results, strong leadership in the organization of an educational research program is necessary. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Outcomes and Research in Out-of-School Time Program Design.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peter, Nancy

Out-of-school time (OST) programs have taken on a new importance in recent years because of changes in society. This paper examines OST programming and suggests reasons and mechanisms for integrating outcomes and research into program design. It explains and promotes the integration of outcomes and research into program development, provides…

Federal High Performance Computing and Communications Program. The Department of Energy Component.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Department of Energy, Washington, DC. Office of Energy Research.

This report, profusely illustrated with color photographs and other graphics, elaborates on the Department of Energy (DOE) research program in High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC). The DOE is one of seven agency programs within the Federal Research and Development Program working on HPCC. The DOE HPCC program emphasizes research in…

25-year analysis of a dental undergraduate research training program (BSc Dent) at the University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry.

PubMed

Scott, J E; de Vries, J; Iacopino, A M

2008-12-01

Research in the context of the dental school has traditionally been focused on institutional/faculty accomplishments and generating new knowledge to benefit the profession. Only recently have significant efforts been made to expand the overall research programming into the formal dental curriculum, to provide students with a baseline exposure to the research and critical thinking processes, encourage evidence-based decision-making, and stimulate interest in academic/research careers. Various approaches to curriculum reform and the establishment of multiple levels of student research opportunities are now part of the educational fabric of many dental schools worldwide. Many of the preliminary reports regarding the success and vitality of these programs have used outcomes measures and metrics that emphasize cultural changes within institutions, student research productivity, and student career preferences after graduation. However, there have not been any reports from long-standing programs (a minimum of 25 years of cumulative data) that describe dental school graduates who have had the benefit of research/training experiences during their dental education. The University of Manitoba Faculty of Dentistry initiated a BSc Dent program in 1980 that awarded a formal degree for significant research experiences taking place within the laboratories of the Faculty-based researchers and has continued to develop and expand this program. The success of the program has been demonstrated by the continued and increasing demands for entry, the academic achievements of the graduates, and the numbers of graduates who have completed advanced education/training programs or returned to the Faculty as instructors. Analysis of our long-term data validates many recent hypotheses and short-term observations regarding the benefits of dental student research programs. This information may be useful in the design and implementation of dental student research programs at other dental schools.

A Collaborative Translational Autism Research Program for the Military

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-02-26

AFRL-SA-WP-TR-2016-0001 A Collaborative Translational Autism Research Program for the Military Gail E. Herman, MD, PhD; Emily...DATES COVERED (From – To) September 2012 – December 2015 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE A Collaborative Translational Autism Research Program for the...proposed research is that a collaborative translational autism research program with the military will result in the improved diagnosis and care of those

The Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program: innovations in the federal funding of biomedical research.

PubMed

Young-McCaughan, Stacey; Rich, Irene M; Lindsay, Gaylord C; Bertram, Kenneth A

2002-04-01

In response to the lobbying efforts of the women's advocacy movement, in 1993 Congress authorized funds for a substantial increase in support of new and promising research aimed at the eradication of breast cancer. This appropriation resulted in a major expansion of the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. The Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs was established within the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command to facilitate the management of the expanded extramural research program. Since that time, the programs have grown to include not just breast cancer but also prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and neurofibromatosis. The unique appropriations to the Office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs has resulted in a number of programmatic innovations. These include development of unique mechanisms of grant support, inclusion of consumer advocates on peer and programmatic review panels, and the introduction of criteria-based evaluation and scoring in peer review. This article describes these novel scientific management strategies and outlines their success in meeting program visions and goals.

Summer faculty fellowship program, 1984

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spencer, J. H. (Compiler)

1984-01-01

Since 1964, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has supported a program of summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators. In a series of collaborations between NASA research and development centers and nearby universities, engineering faculty members spend 10 or 11 weeks working with professional peers on research. The Summer Faculty Program Committee of the American Society of Engineering Education supervises the programs. Objectives: (1) to further the professional knowledge of a qualified between participants and NASA; (3) to enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants institutions; and (4) to contribute to the research objectives of the NASA center. Program Description: College or university faculty members will be appointed as research fellows to spend 10 weeks in cooperative research and study at the NASA-Langley Research Center. The fellow will devote approximately 90 percent of the time to a research problem and the remaining time to a study program. The study program will consist of lectures and seminars on topics of general interest or that are directly relevant to the fellow's research project. The lecturers and seminar leaders will be distinguished scientists and engineers from NASA, education, or industry.

NASA/American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program 1987

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiwari, Surendra N. (Compiler)

1987-01-01

Since 1964, NASA has supported a program of summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators. In a series of collaborations between NASA research and development centers and nearby universities, engineering faculty members spend 10 or 11 weeks working with professional peers on research. The Summer Faculty Program Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education supervises the programs. Objectives: (1) to further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members; (2) to stimulate and exchange ideas between participants and NASA; (3) to enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants' institutions; (4) to contribute to the research objectives of the NASA center. Program Description: College or university faculty members were appointed as Research Fellows to spend 10 weeks in cooperative research and study at the NASA Langley Research Center. The Fellow devoted approximately 90 percent of the time to a research problem and the remaining time to a study program. The study program consisted of lectures and seminars on topics of interest or that are directly relevant to the Fellows' research topic.

The Future of Nearshore Processes Research: U.S. Integrated Coastal Research Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elko, N.; Feddersen, F.; Foster, D. L.; Hapke, C. J.; Holman, R. A.; McNinch, J.; Mulligan, R. P.; Ozkan-Haller, H. T.; Plant, N. G.; Raubenheimer, B.

2016-02-01

The authors, representing the acting Nearshore Advisory Council, have developed an implementation plan for a U.S. Nearshore Research Program based on the 2015 Future of Nearshore Processes report that was authored by the nearshore community. The objectives of the plan are to link research programs across federal agencies, NGOs, industry, and academia into an integrated national program and to increase academic and NGO participation in federal agency nearshore processes research. A primary recommendation is interagency collaboration to build a research program that will coordinate and fund U.S. nearshore processes research across three broad research themes: 1) long-term coastal evolution due to natural and anthropogenic processes; 2) extreme events; and 3) physical, biological and chemical processes impacting human and ecosystem health. The plan calls for a new program to be developed by an executive committee of federal agency leaders, NGOs, and an academic representative, created similarly to the existing NOPP program. This leadership will be established prior to the 2016 Ocean Sciences meeting and will have agreed on responsibilities and a schedule for development of the research program. To begin to understand the scope of today's U.S. coastal research investment, a survey was distributed to ten federal agency R&D program heads. Six of the ten agencies indicated that they fund coastal research, with a combined annual coastal research budget of nearly 100 million (NSF has not responded). The priority of the three research themes were ranked nearly equally and potential research support ranged from 15-19 million for each theme, with approximately 12 million as direct contribution to academic research. Beyond addressing our fundamental science questions, it is critical that the nearshore community stay organized to represent academic interests on the new executive committee. The program goal is the integration of academic, NGO, and federal agencies.

Urologic Oncology Branch - Training - NCI/AFUD | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Postdoctoral Research Training Program This program is designed to train Ph.D. postdoctoral scientists in the growing field of urologic oncology. This program offers fellows the opportunity to participate in a diverse training experience that includes clinical and laboratory research on several urologic malignancies. The program provides an opportunity for selected individuals to complete a research project under the direction of a Senior Investigator in the Intramural Program of the National Cancer Institute.

Summer Research Program (1992). Summer Faculty Research Program (SFRP) Reports. Volume 3. Phillips Laboratory.

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-12-28

Phillips Laboratory Kirtland Air Force Base NM 87117-6008 Sponsored by: Air Force Office of Scientific Research Bolling Air Force Base...Zindel, D.: 1963, Z. Astrophys. 57, 82. 29-13 FINAL REPORT SUMMER FACULTY RESEARCH PROGRAM AT PHILLIPS LABORATORY KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE...Program Phillips Laboratory Sponsored by: Air Force Office of Scientific

Reading Programs for Students in the Lower Elementary Grades: What Does the Research Say?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Briggs, Kerri L.; Clark, Catherine

This report aims to disseminate research findings about reading programs for early elementary grades in a summary format useful for educators. The report features programs with clear descriptions and useful research, programs for non-English speaking children and research on basal reader series were not included. The four sections of the report…

WisDOT research program : 2014 annual report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2015-01-01

WisDOT managed a $4.2 million program for research, library and technology transfer services : during federal fiscal year 2014. Ninety percent ($3.76 million) of the program is funded by the state : planning and research part 2 (SPR2) federal program...

WisDOT research program : 2013 annual report.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2013-01-01

WisDOT managed a $4.2 million program for research, library : and technology transfer services during federal fiscal year 2013. : Ninety percent ($3.76 million) of the program is funded by the State Planning and Research Part 2 (SPR2) federal program...

ORD Water Quality Research Program Mid-Cycle Review - June 2009

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) completed a mid-cycle review of the Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) Water Quality Research Program (WQRP), focusing on Agency efforts to enhance the program following the 2006 BOSC program review.

7 CFR 1207.311 - Programs and projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... AGREEMENTS AND ORDERS; MISCELLANEOUS COMMODITIES), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE POTATO RESEARCH AND PROMOTION PLAN Potato Research and Promotion Plan Definitions § 1207.311 Programs and projects. Programs and projects mean those research, development, advertising or promotion programs or projects developed by the...

Programs for developing the pipeline of early-career geriatric mental health researchers: outcomes and implications for other fields.

PubMed

Bartels, Stephen J; Lebowitz, Barry D; Reynolds, Charles F; Bruce, Martha L; Halpain, Maureen; Faison, Warachal E; Kirwin, Paul D

2010-01-01

This report summarizes the findings and recommendations of an expert consensus workgroup that addressed the endangered pipeline of geriatric mental health (GMH) researchers. The workgroup was convened at the Summit on Challenges in Recruitment, Retention, and Career Development in Geriatric Mental Health Research in late 2007. Major identified challenges included attracting and developing early-career investigators into the field of GMH research; a shortfall of geriatric clinical providers and researchers; a disproportionate lack of minority researchers; inadequate mentoring and career development resources; and the loss of promising researchers during the vulnerable period of transition from research training to independent research funding. The field of GMH research has been at the forefront of developing successful programs that address these issues while spanning the spectrum of research career development. These programs serve as a model for other fields and disciplines. Core elements of these multicomponent programs include summer internships to foster early interest in GMH research (Summer Training on Aging Research Topics-Mental Health Program), research sponsorships aimed at recruitment into the field of geriatric psychiatry (Stepping Stones), research training institutes for early career development (Summer Research Institute in Geriatric Psychiatry), mentored intensive programs on developing and obtaining a first research grant (Advanced Research Institute in Geriatric Psychiatry), targeted development of minority researchers (Institute for Research Minority Training on Mental Health and Aging), and a Web-based clearinghouse of mentoring seminars and resources (MedEdMentoring.org). This report discusses implications of and principles for disseminating these programs, including examples of replications in fields besides GMH research.

Glenn Research Center Human Research Program: Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nall, Marsha M.; Myers, Jerry G.

2013-01-01

The NASA-Glenn Research Centers Human Research Program office supports a wide range of technology development efforts aimed at enabling extended human presence in space. This presentation provides a brief overview of the historical successes, current 2013 activities and future projects of NASA-GRCs Human Research Program.

Gas Research Institute research program summary: Goals and accomplishments

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1991-07-01

Gas Research Institute's research and development programs pursue technologies that maximize the value of gas energy services while minimizing the cost of supplying and delivering gaseous fuels. Four program areas, Supply Options, End Use, Gas Operations, and Crosscutting Research, are described in the report, together with related project titles and numbers. Also included are summaries of 1990 research results, research collaboration and supported work, and patents and licensing agreements. Glossaries of budget and program terms and of acronyms and abbreviations often used in the GRI literature are added.

Agricultural Research Service: biodefense research.

PubMed

Gay, C G

2013-01-01

The National Animal Health Program at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), includes research programs dedicated to the defense of animal agriculture against the treat of biological agents with the potential of significant economic harm and/or public health consequences. This article provides a summary of the program and identifies its relevance to national initiatives to protect livestock and poultry as well as global food security. An introduction to setting research priorities and a selection of research accomplishments that define the scope of the biodefense research program is provided.

Increasing chronic disease research capacity in Guatemala through a mentoring program.

PubMed

Barnoya, Joaquin; Monzon, Jose C; Colditz, Graham A

2013-09-12

The Chronic Disease Research Fellowship Program (RFP) aims to build the research capacity of recent medical graduates to support the development of chronic disease control strategies. Guatemala is undergoing an epidemiologic transition. However, given the way universities and the health care system are structured, it lacks an environment that fosters research careers and generates the required knowledge to implement sound public health policies and clinical strategies. The RFP was implemented at the Cardiovascular Unit of Guatemala. This 4-year Program recruited two one-year fellows and provided funding to define a research topic, write a protocol and implement the research. Strong emphasis is placed on developing skills in knowledge translation and exchange to bridge the "know-do" gap. Close mentoring relationships between the Principal Investigator and former and current fellows are fostered through the Program. The mentoring Program has generated strategic data to support the implementation of sound chronic disease control strategies, mainly related to tobacco control. Results have been presented nationally and internationally. Research training has included principles of biostatistics and epidemiology, and a journal club. The Program is increasingly generating interest among medical graduates to pursue further research training abroad and is building local research capacity. Fellows and research assistants have created a research network in Guatemala and abroad. The main obstacle the Program faces is ensuring long-term sustainability. A mentoring program can lead to an increase in research interest and capacity in a low-income country with little research infrastructure.

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Academic Research Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loomer, S. A.

2004-12-01

"Know the Earth.Show the Way." In fulfillment of its vision, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) provides geospatial intelligence in all its forms and from whatever source-imagery, imagery intelligence, and geospatial data and information-to ensure the knowledge foundation for planning, decision, and action. To achieve this, NGA conducts a multi-disciplinary program of basic research in geospatial intelligence topics through grants and fellowships to the leading investigators, research universities, and colleges of the nation. This research provides the fundamental science support to NGA's applied and advanced research programs. The major components of the NGA Academic Research Program (NARP) are: - NGA University Research Initiatives (NURI): Three-year basic research grants awarded competitively to the best investigators across the US academic community. Topics are selected to provide the scientific basis for advanced and applied research in NGA core disciplines. - Historically Black College and University - Minority Institution Research Initiatives (HBCU-MI): Two-year basic research grants awarded competitively to the best investigators at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Minority Institutions across the US academic community. - Director of Central Intelligence Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships: Fellowships providing access to advanced research in science and technology applicable to the intelligence community's mission. The program provides a pool of researchers to support future intelligence community needs and develops long-term relationships with researchers as they move into career positions. This paper provides information about the NGA Academic Research Program, the projects it supports and how other researchers and institutions can apply for grants under the program.

7 CFR 3403.4 - Three-phase program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... AGRICULTURE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM Program Description § 3403.4 Three-phase program. The Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program is carried out in three separate phases...

7 CFR 3403.4 - Three-phase program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... AGRICULTURE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM Program Description § 3403.4 Three-phase program. The Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program is carried out in three separate phases...

7 CFR 3403.4 - Three-phase program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... AGRICULTURE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH GRANTS PROGRAM Program Description § 3403.4 Three-phase program. The Small Business Innovation Research Grants Program is carried out in three separate phases...

1999 Research Reports: NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hosler, E. Ramon (Editor); Buckingham, Gregg (Editor)

2000-01-01

This document is a collection of technical reports on research conducted by the participants in the 1999 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This was the 15th year that a NASA/ASEE program has been conducted at KSC. The 1999 program was administered by the University of Central Florida in cooperation with KSC. The program was operated under the auspices of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE and the Education Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, and KSC. The KSC Program was one of nine such Aeronautics and Space Research Programs funded by NASA Headquarters in 1999. The NASA/ASEE Program is intended to be a two-year program to allow in-depth research by the university faculty member.

A potential role of anti-poverty programs in health promotion

PubMed Central

Silverman, Kenneth; Holtyn, August F.; Jarvis, Brantley

2016-01-01

Poverty is one of the most pervasive risk factors underlying poor health, but is rarely targeted to improve health. Research on the effects of anti-poverty interventions on health has been limited, at least in part because funding for that research has been limited. Anti-poverty programs have been applied on a large scale, frequently by governments, but without systematic development and cumulative programmatic experimental studies. Anti-poverty programs that produce lasting effects on poverty have not been developed. Before evaluating the effect of anti-poverty programs on health, programs must be developed that can reduce poverty consistently. Anti-poverty programs require systematic development and cumulative programmatic scientific evaluation. Research on the therapeutic workplace could provide a model for that research and an adaptation of the therapeutic workplace could serve as a foundation of a comprehensive anti-poverty program. Once effective anti-poverty programs are developed, future research could determine if those programs improve health in addition to increasing income. The potential personal, health and economic benefits of effective anti-poverty programs could be substantial, and could justify the major efforts and expenses that would be required to support systematic research to develop such programs. PMID:27235603

A potential role of anti-poverty programs in health promotion.

PubMed

Silverman, Kenneth; Holtyn, August F; Jarvis, Brantley P

2016-11-01

Poverty is one of the most pervasive risk factors underlying poor health, but is rarely targeted to improve health. Research on the effects of anti-poverty interventions on health has been limited, at least in part because funding for that research has been limited. Anti-poverty programs have been applied on a large scale, frequently by governments, but without systematic development and cumulative programmatic experimental studies. Anti-poverty programs that produce lasting effects on poverty have not been developed. Before evaluating the effect of anti-poverty programs on health, programs must be developed that can reduce poverty consistently. Anti-poverty programs require systematic development and cumulative programmatic scientific evaluation. Research on the therapeutic workplace could provide a model for that research and an adaptation of the therapeutic workplace could serve as a foundation of a comprehensive anti-poverty program. Once effective anti-poverty programs are developed, future research could determine if those programs improve health in addition to increasing income. The potential personal, health and economic benefits of effective anti-poverty programs could be substantial, and could justify the major efforts and expenses that would be required to support systematic research to develop such programs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

How does investment in research training affect the development of research networks and collaborations?

PubMed

Paina, Ligia; Ssengooba, Freddie; Waswa, Douglas; M'imunya, James M; Bennett, Sara

2013-05-20

Whether and how research training programs contribute to research network development is underexplored. The Fogarty International Center (FIC) has supported overseas research training programs for over two decades. FIC programs could provide an entry point in the development of research networks and collaborations. We examine whether FIC's investment in research training contributed to the development of networks and collaborations in two countries with longstanding FIC investments - Uganda and Kenya - and the factors which facilitated this process. As part of two case studies at Uganda's Makerere University and Kenya's University of Nairobi, we conducted 53 semi-structured in-depth interviews and nine focus group discussions. To expand on our case study findings, we conducted a focused bibliometric analysis on two purposively selected topic areas to examine scientific productivity and used online network illustration tools to examine the resulting network structures. FIC support made important contributions to network development. Respondents from both Uganda and Kenya confirmed that FIC programs consistently provided trainees with networking skills and exposure to research collaborations, primarily within the institutions implementing FIC programs. In both countries, networks struggled with inclusiveness, particularly in HIV/AIDS research. Ugandan respondents perceived their networks to be more cohesive than Kenyan respondents did. Network cohesiveness was positively correlated with the magnitude and longevity of FIC's programs. Support from FIC grants to local and regional research network development and networking opportunities, such as conferences, was rare. Synergies between FIC programs and research grants helped to solidify and maintain research collaborations. Networks developed where FIC's programs focused on a particular institution, there was a critical mass of trainees with similar interests, and investments for network development were available from early implementation. Networks were less likely to emerge where FIC efforts were thinly scattered across multiple institutions. The availability of complementary research grants created opportunities for researchers to collaborate in grant writing, research implementation, and publications. FIC experiences in Uganda and Kenya showcase the important role of research training programs in creating and sustaining research networks. FIC programs should consider including support to research networks more systematically in their capacity development agenda.

Global Scale Atmospheric Processes Research Program Review

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Worley, B. A. (Editor); Peslen, C. A. (Editor)

1984-01-01

Global modeling; satellite data assimilation and initialization; simulation of future observing systems; model and observed energetics; dynamics of planetary waves; First Global Atmospheric Research Program Global Experiment (FGGE) diagnosis studies; and National Research Council Research Associateship Program are discussed.

23 CFR 420.201 - What is the purpose of this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

....201 Highways FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND RESEARCH PLANNING AND RESEARCH PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION Research, Development and Technology Transfer Program... requirements for research, development, and technology transfer (RD&T) activities, programs, and studies...

Medical Research Volunteer Program (MRVP): innovative program promoting undergraduate research in the medical field.

PubMed

Dagher, Michael M; Atieh, Jessica A; Soubra, Marwa K; Khoury, Samia J; Tamim, Hani; Kaafarani, Bilal R

2016-06-06

Most educational institutions lack a structured system that provides undergraduate students with research exposure in the medical field. The objective of this paper is to describe the structure of the Medical Research Volunteer Program (MRVP) which was established at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon, as well as to assess the success of the program. The MRVP is a program that targets undergraduate students interested in becoming involved in the medical research field early on in their academic career. It provides students with an active experience and the opportunity to learn from and support physicians, clinical researchers, basic science researchers and other health professionals. Through this program, students are assigned to researchers and become part of a research team where they observe and aid on a volunteer basis. This paper presents the MRVP's four major pillars: the students, the faculty members, the MRVP committee, and the online portal. Moreover, details of the MRVP process are provided. The success of the program was assessed by carrying out analyses using information gathered from the MRVP participants (both students and faculty). Satisfaction with the program was assessed using a set of questions rated on a Likert scale, ranging from 1 (lowest satisfaction) to 5 (highest satisfaction). A total of 211 students applied to the program with a total of 164 matches being completed. Since the beginning of the program, three students have each co-authored a publication in peer-reviewed journals with their respective faculty members. The majority of the students rated the program positively. Of the total number of students who completed the program period, 35.1 % rated the effectiveness of the program with a 5, 54.8 % rated 4, and 8.6 % rated 3. A small number of students gave lower ratings of 2 and 1 (1.1 % and 0.4 %, respectively). The MRVP is a program that provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to learn about research firsthand as they volunteer and aid in different research projects. This program also provides faculty members with the help to conduct their research projects and opportunity to influence future generations. It was shown that so far the MRVP has been successful in reaching its goals, for both students and faculty.

Mentoring advanced practice nurses in research: recommendations from a pilot program.

PubMed

Leung, Doris; Widger, Kimberley; Howell, Doris; Nelson, Sioban; Molassiotis, Alex

2012-01-01

Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) need research skills to develop and advance their practice and, yet, many have limited access to research training and support following completion of their advanced degree. In this paper we report on the development, delivery, and evaluation of an innovative pilot program that combined research training and one-to-one mentorship for nine APNs in conducting research relevant to their practice. The program was organized within an academic institution and its affiliated hospitals in Toronto, Canada. Our experience with this program may assist those in other organizations to plan and deliver a similar program for APN research mentorship.

QUARTERLY TECHNICAL PROGRESS REPORT, JULY, AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 1966.

DTIC Science & Technology

Contents: Circuit research program; Hardware systems research; Software systems research program; Numerical methods, computer arithmetic and...artificial languages; Library automation; Illiac II service , use, and program development; IBM service , use, and program development; Problem specifications; Switching theory and logical design; General laboratory information.

Evolution of a Teacher Professional Development Program that Promotes Teacher and Student Research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pompea, S. M.; Croft, S. K.; Garmany, C. D.; Walker, C. E.

2005-12-01

The Research Based Science Education (RBSE) and Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science (TLRBSE) programs at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory have been evolving for nearly ten years. Our current program is actually a team of programs aiding teachers in doing research with small telescopes, large research-grade telescopes, astronomical data archives, and the Spitzer Space Telescope. Along the way, as these programs evolved, a number of basic questions were continuously discussed by the very talented program team. These questions included: 1) What is real research and why should we encourage it? 2) How can it be successfully brought to the classroom? 3) What is the relative importance of teacher content knowledge versus science process knowledge? 4) How frustrating should an authentic research experience be? 5) How do we measure the success of our professional development program? 6) How should be evaluate and publish student work? 7) How can teachers work together on a team to pursue research? 8) What is the model for interaction of teachers and researchers - equal partners versus the graduate student/apprentice model? 9) What is the ideal mix of skills for a professional development team at NOAO? 10) What role can distance learning play in professional preparation? 11) What tools are needed for data analysis? 12) How can we stay funded? Our evolving program has also been used as a test bed to examine new models of teacher's professional development that may aid our outreach efforts in the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope program, the Thirty-Meter Telescope program, and the National Virtual Observatory program. We will describe a variety of lessons learned (and relearned) and try to describe best practices in promoting teacher and student research. The TLRBSE Program is funded by the National Science Foundation under ESI 0101982, funded through the AURA/NSF Cooperative Agreement AST-9613615. NOAO is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

Institute for Scientific and Educational Technology (ISET)-Education, Research and Training Programs in Engineering and Sciences

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiwari, S. N. (Principal Investigator); Massenberg, Samuel E. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The 'Institute for Scientific and Educational Technology' has been established to provide a mechanism through which universities and other research organizations may cooperate with one another and with different government agencies and industrial organizations to further and promote research, education, and training programs in science, engineering, and related fields. This effort has been undertaken consistent with the national vision to 'promote excellence in America s educational system through enhancing and expanding scientific and technological competence.' The specific programs are directed in promoting and achieving excellence for individuals at all levels (elementary and secondary schools, undergraduate and graduate education, and postdoctoral and faculty research). The program is consistent with the existing activities of the Institute for Computational and Applied Mechanics (ICAM) and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) at NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC). The efforts will be directed to embark on other research, education, and training activities in various fields of engineering, scientific, and educational technologies. The specific objectives of the present program may be outlined briefly as follows: 1) Cooperate in the various research, education, and technology programs of the Office of Education at LaRC. 2) Develop procedures for interactions between precollege, college, and graduate students, and between faculty and students at all levels. 3) Direct efforts to increase the participation by women and minorities in educational programs at all levels. 4) Enhance existing activities of ICAM and ASEE in education, research, and training of graduate students and faculty. 5) Invite distinguished scholars as appropriate and consistent with ISET goals to spend their summers and/or sabbaticals at NASA Langley andor ODU and interact with different researchers and graduate students. Perform research and administrative activities as needed to carry out the above mentioned activities. 6) The implementation of various activities of the ISET programs is carried out through cooperative efforts between Old Dominion University (ODU) and the Office of Education at LaRC. At present, major efforts are directed on the following ISET Programs: ICAM Programs, Academic Programs, Educational Research, Outreach Programs, Educational Technology and Cooperative Programs. These programs are described in the following sections.

Guidelines for the Evaluation of Bilingual Education Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cardoza, Desdemona

Principles of program evaluation research are outlined so that bilingual education program coordinators can conduct methodologically acceptable program evaluations. The three basic principles of evaluation research are: identification of the program participants, definition of the program intervention, and assessment of program effectiveness.…

Overview of NASA's Pulsed Plasma Thruster Development Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pencil, Eric J.; Kamhawi, Hani; Arrington, Lynn A.

2004-01-01

NASA's Pulsed Plasma Thruster Program consists of flight demonstration experiments, base research, and development efforts being conducted through a combination of in-house work, contracts, and collaborative programs. The program receives sponsorship from Energetics Project, the New Millennium Program, and the Small Business Innovative Research Program. The Energetics Project sponsors basic and fundamental research to increase thruster life, improve thruster performance, and reduce system mass. The New Millennium Program sponsors the in-orbit operation of the Pulsed Plasma Thruster experiment on the Earth Observing 1 spacecraft. The Small Business Innovative Research Program sponsors the development of innovative diamond-film capacitors, piezoelectric ignitors, and advanced fuels. Programmatic background, recent technical accomplishments, and future activities for each programmatic element are provided.

Lessons Learned: The Evolution of an Undergraduate Research Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Gregory; Laker, Lauren; Tesch, Debbie

2013-01-01

Undergraduate research programs are commonplace at many universities. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate their ongoing and long-term effectiveness from the standpoint of the undergraduate student researcher. In an effort to gain perspective from the student researcher, including their thoughts on such a program, a survey was…

Broadening measures of success: results of a behavioral health translational research training program.

PubMed

Baldwin, Julie A; Williamson, Heather J; Eaves, Emery R; Levin, Bruce L; Burton, Donna L; Massey, Oliver T

2017-07-24

While some research training programs have considered the importance of mentoring in inspiring professionals to engage in translational research, most evaluations emphasize outcomes specific to academic productivity as primary measures of training program success. The impact of such training or mentoring programs on stakeholders and local community organizations engaged in translational research efforts has received little attention. The purpose of this evaluation is to explore outcomes other than traditional academic productivity in a translational research graduate certificate program designed to pair graduate students and behavioral health professionals in collaborative service-learning projects. Semi-structured qualitative interviews with scholars, community mentors, and academic mentors were conducted regarding a translational research program to identify programmatic impacts. Interviews were transcribed and coded by the research team to identify salient themes related to programmatic outcomes. Results are framed using the Translational Research Impact Scale which is organized into three overarching domains of potential impact: (1) research-related impacts, (2) translational impacts, and (3) societal impacts. This evaluation demonstrates the program's impact in all three domains of the TRIS evaluation framework. Graduate certificate participants (scholars) reported that gaining experience in applied behavioral health settings added useful skills and expertise to their present careers and increased their interest in pursuing translational research. Scholars also described benefits resulting from networks gained through participation in the program, including valuable ties between the university and community behavioral health organizations. This evaluation of the outcomes of a graduate certificate program providing training in translational research highlights the need for more community-oriented and practice-based measures of success. Encouraging practitioner involvement in translational research is vital to translate knowledge into practice and to enable practice-based needs to inform research and policy. A more flexible approach to measuring programmatic success in research training programs can help bridge the knowledge translation gap.

Human Research Program Requirements Document. Human Research Program Revision E

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vargas, Paul

2011-01-01

This document defines, documents, and allocates the Human Research Program (HRP) requirements to the HRP Program Elements. It also establishes the flow of requirements from the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) and the Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) down to the various HRP Program Elements to ensure that human research and technology countermeasure investments support the delivery of countermeasures and technologies that satisfy HEOMD's and OCHMO's exploration mission requirements.

Lewis' Educational and Research Collaborative Internship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Heyward, Ann; Gott, Susan (Technical Monitor)

2004-01-01

The Lewis Educational and Research Collaborative Internship Program (LERCIP) is a collaborative undertaking by the Office of Educational Programs at NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field (formerly NASA Lewis Research Center) and the Ohio Aerospace Institute. This program provides 10-week internships in addition to summer and winter extensions if funding is available and/or is requested by mentor (no less than 1 week no more than 4 weeks) for undergraduate/graduate students and secondary school teachers. Students who meet the travel reimbursement criteria receive up to $500 for travel expenses. Approximately 178 interns are selected to participate in this program each year and begin arriving the fourth week in May. The internships provide students with introductory professional experiences to complement their academic programs. The interns are given assignments on research and development projects under the personal guidance of NASA professional staff members. Each intern is assigned a NASA mentor who facilitates a research assignment. In addition to the research assignment, the summer program includes a strong educational component that enhances the professional stature of the participants. The educational activities include a research symposium and a variety of workshops, and lectures. An important aspect of the program is that it includes students with diverse social, cultural and economic backgrounds. The purpose of this report is to document the program accomplishments for 2004.

The New Mexico EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program: A Successful Summer Research Program for Community College and PUI College Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pullin, M. J.

2013-12-01

The statewide NSF New Mexico EPSCoR Program (Climate Change and Water in New Mexico) sponsored a summer undergraduate research program from 2009 to 2013. This program was open to undergraduates attending the state's community colleges and primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs). Participants who are chosen for the program attend a week of workshops on climate change, hydrology, water quality and professional development. Following that, they spend eight weeks working with an EPSCoR-funded scientist at a research intensive university or related field site. Participants are paired during their research project. This strategy has been shown to be a key factor in the success and comfort level of the participants. The program concludes with a research conference and many of the participants later present their work at national and regional conferences. The program has shown to be effective at introducing students from non-research institutions to authentic research in the Earth and Environmental Sciences and improving their confidence in future success at higher degree levels. The program is also successful at recruiting underrepresented minority students, mainly from Hispanic and Native American populations. We will also present data on participant degree completions, transfers to four year colleges, STEM career attainment, and graduate school admissions.

Research-Practice Linkages in Extension Leadership Development Programs: Focus on Community Leadership Development Programs. A Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vandenberg, Lela; And Others

The Research-Practice Linkages Project sought to identify the knowledge base supporting community leadership development (CLD) programs of the Cooperative Extension Service and to determine linkages between Extension programs and CLD research. A mail questionnaire was completed by 492 Extension staff involved in CLD programs in 18 states and 42…

Advancing Research in the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wingate, Lori A.

2017-01-01

Advanced Technological Education is distinct from typical National Science Foundation programs in that it is essentially a training--not research--program, and most grantees are located at technical and two-year colleges. This article presents empirical data on the status of research in the program, discusses the program's role in supporting NSF's…

78 FR 55084 - Proposed Collection; 60-day Comment Request; Data Collection To Understand How NIH Programs Apply...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-09

..., network leadership, program administrators, and research site staff. Survey 2500 1 30/60 1250 Interview... Research Programs (MIRP) SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the... to Understand How NIH Programs Apply Methodologies to Improve Their Research Programs (MIRP), 0925New...

Environmental Sciences Division annual progress report for period ending September 30, 1981

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Auerbach, S.I.; Reichle, D.E.

1982-04-01

Research programs from the following sections and programs are summarized: aquatic ecology, environmental resources, earth sciences, terrestrial ecology, advanced fossil energy program, toxic substances program, environmental impacts program, biomass, low-level waste research and development program, US DOE low-level waste management program, and waste isolation program.

Partitioning of sublimation and evaporation from Lake Bonney using water vapor isotope and latent heat fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellagamba, A. W.; Berkelhammer, M. B.; Winslow, L.; Peter, D.; Myers, K. F.

2017-12-01

The landscapes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are characterized by a series of frozen lakes. Although the conditions in this region are severe, the lakes share common characteristics with lakes at glacial termini elsewhere. Geochemical and geomorphological evidence suggest these lakes have experienced large historical changes indicative of changes water balances. While part of these shifts in lake volume arise from changes in glacial inflow, they likely also reflect changes in the latent heat flux from the lake surfaces. Here we present a joint analysis of the stable isotopic ratio of surface ice/water and the water vapor flux over Dry Valley frozen lakes to ascertain the processes controlling water losses from the lake surfaces. We compare the isotopic ratio of the latent heat flux with the surface water isotopes to derive a fractionation factor associated with latent flux. This data is then used to provide insight into how much of the water vapor flux is sublimated versus evaporated, as well as how the sublimation and evaporative components of the flux change with synoptic weather. We used a Picarro L2130-I isotopic water analyzer to measure humidity and the isotopic ratio of water vapor at three heights over Lake Bonney in Taylor Valley, Antarctica and used the flux-gradient approach to convert the isotopic ratio of the vapor to an "isoflux". An on-site meteorological station recorded temperature, relative humidity and wind direction/intensity at two different heights above the lake and an infrared radiometer recorded lake skin temperature. These data were used to calculate the sensible and latent heat fluxes. The fractionation factor was close to 0, which indicates that sublimation was the primary component of the flux although evaporation became increasingly prominent following a katabatic wind event. The results suggest this technique could be an effective tool to study the sensitivity of latent heat fluxes to weather here and in other similar environments. The trial run performed at Lake Bonney in November-December 2016 was performed as part of the ongoing LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) project at the McMurdo Dry Valleys and a second experiment will be performed in January 2018.

Nitrogen Fertilization of Corn: Plant Biochemistry Effects and Carbon Cycle Implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, M. E.; Hockaday, W. C.; Masiello, C. A.; McSwiney, C. P.; Robertson, G. P.; Baldock, J. A.

2008-05-01

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations are rising due to anthropogenic CO2 emissions (Alley et al. 2007; Prentice et al. 2001). About half of the anthropogenic CO2 emitted during the 1990s was absorbed by the terrestrial biosphere and ocean (Prentice et al. 2001). It is possible to estimate the size of terrestrial and oceanic carbon sinks individually using atmospheric CO2 and O2 measurements (Keeling et al. 1996). To best estimate the sizes of these carbon sinks, we need to accurately know the oxidative ratio (OR) of the terrestrial biosphere (Randerson et al. 2006). OR is the ratio of the moles of O2 released per moles of CO2 consumed in gas fluxes between the terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere. Though it is likely that the net OR of the biosphere varies with ecosystem type and nutrient status, OR is assumed constant in carbon sink apportionment calculations (e.g. Prentice et al. 2001). Small shifts in OR can lead to large variations in the calculated sizes of the terrestrial biosphere and ocean carbon sinks (Randerson et al. 2006). OR likely shifts with changes in climate, nutrient status, and land use. These shifts are due, in part, to shifts in plant biochemistry. We are measuring ecosystem OR in corn agricultural ecosystems under a range of nitrogen fertilization treatments at the Kellogg Biological Station-Long Term Ecological Research Site (KBS-LTER) in Michigan. We measure OR indirectly, through its relationship with organic carbon oxidation state (Cox) (Masiello et al. in press 2008). Cox can be measured through elemental analysis and, with basic knowledge of plant nitrogen use patterns, Cox values can be converted to OR values. Cox can also be measured through 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), which can be combined with a molecular mixing model to determine Cox, OR, and plant biochemical composition (i.e. percentage carbohydrates, lignin, lipids, and proteins) (Baldock et al. 2004). Here we present data showing the effects of varying corn ecosystem nitrogen fertilization rates (from 0 to 292 kg N/ha) on ecosystem OR and plant biochemistry.

The Effects of Decomposition on the Oxidative Ratio and Carbon Oxidation State of Organic Matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallagher, M. E.; Masiello, C. A.; Clark, N.; Randerson, J. T.; Robertson, G. P.

2006-12-01

Ecosystem oxidative ratio (OR) and the related parameter carbon oxidation state (Cox) are critical in the apportionment of anthropogenic CO2 between the terrestrial biosphere and ocean reservoirs. OR is the ratio of O2 to CO2 in gas exchange fluxes between the biosphere and the atmosphere (Fba and Fab). Accurate measurements of OR have been challenging (Seibt et al. 2004); instead we approach the problem by measuring Cox and calculating OR from biomass reservoirs. Cox can range from -4 to +4 (CH4 to CO2) and is driven by photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition. The net OR of the biosphere varies with ecosystem type, and this can affect the apportionment of anthropogenic CO2 between the terrestrial biosphere and ocean reservoirs (Randerson et al. 2006). This makes it essential to constrain ecosystem Cox and OR values. Although small variations in global ecosystem OR have the potential to cause shifts in atmospheric O2 concentrations, no whole ecosystem measurements of Cox yet exist. To constrain ORba and ORab, and improve our understanding of how decomposition affects Cox, we performed a litter bag experiment at the Kellogg Biological Station-Long Term Ecological Research (KBS-LTER) in Michigan at the end of the 2005 agricultural season. We placed 15 corn biomass litter bags in an agricultural field and collected 3 bags at 2, 4, 7, 26, and 29 weeks. These samples were analyzed for %C, %H, %N, and %O via elemental analysis, and these data were used to calculate Cox. Aboveground Cox was measured similarly. We anticipated that the Cox of the corn litter would become more reduced with decomposition, as the percentage of carbohydrates would decrease with time, while that of protein, lignin, and lipids would increase (Baldock et al. 2004). We report differences between the Cox of biomass fixation and biomass degradation from our experiments. Using simple assumptions about ecosystem nitrogen cycling, we convert Cox to OR and report the existence or absence of a temporal offset between ORab and ORba within an agricultural ecosystem.

Methodology for calculation of carbon balances for biofuel crops production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerlfand, I.; Hamilton, S. K.; Snapp, S. S.; Robertson, G. P.

2012-04-01

Understanding the carbon balance implications for different biofuel crop production systems is important for the development of decision making tools and policies. We present here a detailed methodology for assessing carbon balances in agricultural and natural ecosystems. We use 20 years of data from Long-term Ecological Research (LTER) experiments at the Kellogg Biological Station (KBS), combined with models to produce farm level CO2 balances for different management practices. We compared four grain and one forage systems in the U.S. Midwest: corn (Zea mays) - soybean (Glycine max) - wheat (Triticum aestivum) rotations managed with (1) conventional tillage, (2) no till, (3) low chemical input, and (4) biologically-based (organic) practices; and (5) continuous alfalfa (Medicago sativa). In addition we use an abandoned agricultural field (successionnal ecosystem) as reference system. Measurements include fluxes of N2O and CH4, soil organic carbon change, agricultural yields, and agricultural inputs (e.g. fertilization and farm fuel use). In addition to measurements, we model carbon offsets associated with the use of bioenergy from agriculturally produced crops. Our analysis shows the importance of establishing appropriate system boundaries for carbon balance calculations. We explore how different assumptions regarding production methods and emission factors affect overall conclusions on carbon balances of different agricultural systems. Our results show management practices that have major the most important effects on carbon balances. Overall, agricultural management with conventional tillage was found to be a net CO2 source to the atmosphere, while agricultural management under reduced tillage, low input, or organic management sequestered carbon at rates of 93, -23, -51, and -14 g CO2e m-2 yr-1, respectively for conventionally tilled, no-till, low-input, and organically managed ecosystems. Perennial systems (alfalfa and the successionnal fields) showed net carbon sequestration of -44 and -382 g CO2e m-2 yr-1, respectively. When studied systems were assumed to be used for bioenergy production, all system exhibited carbon sequestration -- between -149 and -841 g CO2e m-2 yr-1, for conventionally tilled and successionnal ecosystems, respectively.

Episodic Salinization of Urban Rivers: Potential Impacts on Carbon, Cation, and Nutrient Fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haq, S.; Kaushal, S.

2017-12-01

Human dominated watersheds are subjected to an array of salt inputs (e.g. road salts), and in urban areas, infrastructure and impervious surfaces quickly drain applied road salts into the river channel. As a result, many streams experience episodic salinization over the course of hours to days following a snow event (e.g. road salt pulse), and long-term salinization over the course of seasons to decades. Salinization of streams can release contaminants (e.g. heavy metals), reduce biodiversity, and degrade drinking water quality. We investigated the water quality effects of episodic salinization in urban streams. Sediment and streamwater were incubated from twelve sites in the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area under a range of sodium chloride treatments in a lab environment to mimic a vertical stream column with a sediment-water interface undergoing episodic salinization, and to characterize relationships between experimental salinization and nutrient/cation fluxes. Eight sites (Baltimore) exhibit a land use gradient and are routinely monitored within the Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER project, and four sites (Washington DC) are suburban and offer a contrasting lithology and physiographic province. Our research suggests that salinization can mobilize total dissolved nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorous, and base cations; potentially due to coupled biotic-abiotic processes, such as ion exchange, rapid nitrification, pH changes, and chloride-organic matter dispersal. The impact of salinization on dissolved inorganic and organic carbon varied between sites, potentially due to sediment composition, organic matter content, and ambient water quality. We contrasted the experimental results with measurements of salinization (specific conductance) and nutrients (nitrate) from real-time sensors operated by the US Geological Survey that encompass the same watersheds as our experimental sites. Sensor data was analyzed to provide insight on the timescales of salinity-nutrient interactions, and on underlying mechanisms and controls. The magnitude/frequency of salt pulses may increase in the future due to the interactive effect of climate change and urbanization. An improved understanding of the salinization-nutrients interactions is necessary to better manage aquatic resources.

CI-Miner: A Semantic Methodology to Integrate Scientists, Data and Documents through the Use of Cyber-Infrastructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinheiro da Silva, P.; CyberShARE Center of Excellence

2011-12-01

Scientists today face the challenge of rethinking the manner in which they document and make available their processes and data in an international cyber-infrastructure of shared resources. Some relevant examples of new scientific practices in the realm of computational and data extraction sciences include: large scale data discovery; data integration; data sharing across distinct scientific domains, systematic management of trust and uncertainty; and comprehensive support for explaining processes and results. This talk introduces CI-Miner - an innovative hands-on, open-source, community-driven methodology to integrate these new scientific practices. It has been developed in collaboration with scientists, with the purpose of capturing, storing and retrieving knowledge about scientific processes and their products, thereby further supporting a new generation of science techniques based on data exploration. CI-Miner uses semantic annotations in the form of W3C Ontology Web Language-based ontologies and Proof Markup Language (PML)-based provenance to represent knowledge. This methodology specializes in general-purpose ontologies, projected into workflow-driven ontologies(WDOs) and into semantic abstract workflows (SAWs). Provenance in PML is CI-Miner's integrative component, which allows scientists to retrieve and reason with the knowledge represented in these new semantic documents. It serves additionally as a platform to share such collected knowledge with the scientific community participating in the international cyber-infrastructure. The integrated semantic documents that are tailored for the use of human epistemic agents may also be utilized by machine epistemic agents, since the documents are based on W3C Resource Description Framework (RDF) notation. This talk is grounded upon interdisciplinary lessons learned through the use of CI-Miner in support of government-funded national and international cyber-infrastructure initiatives in the areas of geo-sciences (NSF-GEON and NSF-EarthScope), environmental sciences (CEON, NSF NEON, NSF-LTER and DOE-Ameri-Flux), and solar physics (VSTO and NSF-SPCDIS). The discussion on provenance is based on the use of PML in support of projects in collaboration with government organizations (DARPA, ARDA, NSF, DHS and DOE), research organizations (NCAR and PNNL), and industries (IBM and SRI International).

On thin ice/in hot water: Rapid drawdown of Wordie Ice Shelf glaciers in the decades after collapse in response to a changing ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walker, C. C.; Gardner, A. S.

2016-12-01

Over the past 50 years, several Antarctic Peninsula ice shelves have retreated or collapsed completely. One such collapse was the Wordie Ice Shelf (WIS), located in Marguerite Bay, which began to disintegrate around 1989. We use several observational datasets to show that the glaciers that used to maintain WIS have experienced a surprising acceleration in flow ( 500m/yr) that began 2008, nearly 20 years after the onset of WIS collapse. During the same period, airborne altimetry from NASA Operation IceBridge shows the glaciers experienced a drawdown at their calving fronts between 4 and 9 m/yr, a near-doubling in rate of elevation change from the 1990's and early-2000's. The time lag between WIS collapse and rapid glacier drawdown suggests that these recent changes are unrelated to loss of buttressing. We identify possible links to changes in ocean conditions using in-situ Palmer Station Long-Term Ecological Research (PAL LTER) ocean CTD-gridded observations (Martinson et al., 2008) taken along the continental shelf on the west Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) since 1993. We use ECCO2 simulations and atmospheric reanalysis data to characterize changes in atmospheric forcing. We also measure changes in ice shelf area using historic archives and Landsat imagery for 50 glacier systems along the WAP from 1945 to present. Surface structural changes in the WIS system, e.g., melt ponds, sea/fast ice presence, and crevasse density/orientation, are also examined. We conclude that recent changes in WIS tributaries likely resulted from a significant increase in upwelling of warm, salty Upper Circumpolar Deep Water (UCDW) due to enhanced wind forcing following coincident global atmospheric oscillation events, namely a positive Southern Annular Mode and a moderate La Nina event. This enabled enhanced incursions of UCDW into Marguerite Bay between 2008-2014, in part due to the deep Marguerite Trough that connects the bay to the continental shelf break, along which the southern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current flows.

The Pacific Northwest Hydrological Observatory (PNW HO): Hypothesis and model testing power through diversity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McDonnell, J. J.; Grant, G.; Hulse, D.

2004-12-01

The Pacific Northwest Hydrological Observatory (PNW HO) is a proposed national facility for the examination of the linkages between hydrologic and biogeochemical cycles, sustainability of water resources in the face of increasing human demands and climate change, hydrologic and ecosystem interactions, and hydrologic extremes. The PNW HO infrastructure will support research that examines forcings, feedbacks and couplings across hydro-eco-climatic interfaces, process scaling, and development of new predictive schemes and methods to reduce predictive uncertainty. Much of the data collection infrastructure is already in place, in the form of USGS gauging, local and State data recording. The PNW HO includes a novel experimental design that twins two neighboring watersheds-the humid Willamette and arid Deschutes River Basins-that represent a full range of landscape gradients and societal problems relating to water quantity and quality. Workers at the PNW HO will be able to build upon existing synthesis documents in the form of the Willamette River Basin Planning Atlas and recent AGU Monograph on the Deschutes River Basin. The PNW HO design builds upon the HJ Andrews LTER site in the headwaters and recent listing of the Willamette River Basin as a UNESCO HELP international observatory. The PNW HO has access to one of the richest SNOTEL datasets in North America along the divide between the Willamette and Deschutes Basins. The Willamette is a USGS NAWQA basin and the Deschutes has been the focus of a major USGS groundwater investigation, and is one of five sites nationally in the Fire Learning Network. Finally, and perhaps most importantly for technology transfer of HO science to policy and practice, the PNW HO enjoys a rather unique combination of Oregon's state-based land use planning and doctrine of prior appropriations water law (land use planning and water rights). While there are certainly areas in the West where human populations are growing as fast or faster, none of these places have the institutional constructs of powerful state-level ability to steer growth the way Oregon does. This will enable the PNW HO to have direct feedback into State and regional planning in the lower Columbia River Basin.

Ice melt influence on summertime net community production along the Western Antarctic Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eveleth, R.; Cassar, N.; Sherrell, R. M.; Ducklow, H.; Meredith, M. P.; Venables, H. J.; Lin, Y.; Li, Z.

2017-05-01

The Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is a highly productive marine environment that is undergoing rapid change, with consequences for productivity and total ecosystem carbon cycling. We present continuous underway O2/Ar estimates of net community production (NCPO2Ar) in austral summer 2012, 2013 and 2014 at sub-kilometer horizontal resolution within the Palmer Long-Term Ecological Research (Pal-LTER) grid region of the WAP. Substantial spatial variability is observed with NCPO2Ar ranging from 0 to 790 mmol O2 m-2 d-1 and considerable interannual variability with mean values in the grid region of 54.4±48.5, 44.6±40.5, and 85.6±75.9 mmol O2 m-2 d-1 in 2012, 2013 and 2014 respectively. Based on a strong correlation (r2=0.83) between residence time integrated NCPO2Ar and NCPDIC derived from seasonal DIC drawdown, we find the observed NCPO2Ar spatial and interannual variability to be consistent with the December-January NCPDIC magnitude. Seeking to explain the mechanistic drivers of NCP in the WAP, we observe a linear relationship between NCPO2Ar and meteoric water content derived from δ18O and salinity. This correlation may be due to Fe supply from glacial melt and/or strengthening of stratification and relief of light limitation. Elevated surface Fe availability, as indicated by Fv/Fm and measurements of surface water dissolved Fe and Mn (a rough proxy for recent potential Fe availability), and shallower, more stable mixed layers are present where meteoric water and/or sea ice melt is high near the coast. Light limitation is evident in the WAP when mixed layer depths are greater than 40 m. Additionally we document hotspots of NCP associated with submarine canyons along the WAP. While it is difficult to predict how the physical-biological system might evolve under changing climatic conditions, it is evident that NCP, and potentially carbon flux out of the mixed layer, along the WAP will be sensitive to shifts in meltwater input and timing.

Sharing meanings: developing interoperable semantic technologies to enhance reproducibility in earth and environmental science research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schildhauer, M.

2015-12-01

Earth and environmental scientists are familiar with the entities, processes, and theories germane to their field of study, and comfortable collecting and analyzing data in their area of interest. Yet, while there appears to be consistency and agreement as to the scientific "terms" used to describe features in their data and analyses, aside from a few fundamental physical characteristics—such as mass or velocity-- there can be broad tolerances, if not considerable ambiguity, in how many earth science "terms" map to the underlying "concepts" that they actually represent. This ambiguity in meanings, or "semantics", creates major problems for scientific reproducibility. It greatly impedes the ability to replicate results—by making it difficult to determine the specifics of the intended meanings of terms such as deforestation or carbon flux -- as to scope, composition, magnitude, etc. In addition, semantic ambiguity complicates assemblage of comparable data for reproducing results, due to ambiguous or idiosyncratic labels for measurements, such as percent cover of forest, where the term "forest" is undefined; or where a reported output of "total carbon-emissions" might just include CO2 emissions, but not methane emissions. In this talk, we describe how the NSF-funded DataONE repository for earth and environmental science data (http://dataone.org), is using W3C-standard languages (RDF/OWL) to build an ontology for clarifying concepts embodied in heterogeneous data and model outputs. With an initial focus on carbon cycling concepts using terrestrial biospheric model outputs and LTER productivity data, we describe how we are achieving interoperability with "semantic vocabularies" (or ontologies) from aligned earth and life science domains, including OBO-foundry ontologies such as ENVO and BCO; the ISO/OGC O&M; and the NSF Earthcube GeoLink project. Our talk will also discuss best practices that may be helpful for other groups interested in constructing their own ontologies. Interoperability of community vocabularies will facilitate reproducibility in the earth and environmental sciences, by clarifying when data and results are comparable, as opposed to when we might be using the same term to mean different things, or using different terms to mean the same thing.

Fire affects root decomposition, soil food web structure, and carbon flow in tallgrass prairie

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, E. Ashley; Denef, Karolien; Milano de Tomasel, Cecilia; Cotrufo, M. Francesca; Wall, Diana H.

2016-05-01

Root litter decomposition is a major component of carbon (C) cycling in grasslands, where it provides energy and nutrients for soil microbes and fauna. This is especially important in grasslands where fire is common and removes aboveground litter accumulation. In this study, we investigated whether fire affects root decomposition and C flow through the belowground food web. In a greenhouse experiment, we applied 13C-enriched big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) root litter to intact tallgrass prairie soil cores collected from annually burned (AB) and infrequently burned (IB) treatments at the Konza Prairie Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) site. Incorporation of 13C into microbial phospholipid fatty acids and nematode trophic groups was measured on six occasions during a 180-day decomposition study to determine how C was translocated through the soil food web. Results showed significantly different soil communities between treatments and higher microbial abundance for IB. Root decomposition occurred rapidly and was significantly greater for AB. Microbes and their nematode consumers immediately assimilated root litter C in both treatments. Root litter C was preferentially incorporated in a few groups of microbes and nematodes, but depended on burn treatment: fungi, Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungivore nematodes for AB and only omnivore nematodes for IB. The overall microbial pool of root-litter-derived C significantly increased over time but was not significantly different between burn treatments. The nematode pool of root-litter-derived C also significantly increased over time, and was significantly higher for the AB treatment at 35 and 90 days after litter addition. In conclusion, the C flow from root litter to microbes to nematodes is not only measurable but also significant, indicating that higher nematode trophic levels are critical components of C flow during root decomposition, which, in turn, is significantly affected by fire. Not only does fire affect the soil community and root decomposition, but the lower microbial abundance, greater root turnover, and the increased incorporation of root litter C by microbes and nematodes for AB suggests that annual burning increases root-litter-derived C flow through the soil food web of the tallgrass prairie.

Airborne Lidar Measurements of Below-canopy Surface Water Height , Slope and Optical Properties in the Florida Everglades Shark River Slough

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dabney, P.; Harding, D. J.; Valett, S. R.; Yu, A. W.; Feliciano, E. A.; Neuenschwander, A. L.; Pitts, K.

2015-12-01

Determining the presence, persistence, optical properties and variation in height and slope of surface water beneath the dense canopies of flooded forests and mangrove stands could contribute to studies of the acquisition of water and nutrients by plant roots. NASA's airborne Slope Imaging Multi-polarization Photon-counting Lidar (SIMPL) provides unique capabilities that can identify below-canopy surface water, measure its height with respect to vegetation constituents with sub-decimeter precision and quantify its slope. It also provides information on canopy structure and closure, the water column extinction profile as a proxy for turbidity and water depth, with the penetration depth constrained by turbidity. It achieves this by using four laser beams operating at two wavelengths with measurements of water surface elevation at 1064 nm (near infrared) and water column properties at 532 nm (green), analogous to a bathymetric lidar. Importantly the instrument adds a polarimetry function, like some atmospheric lidars, which measures the amount of depolarization determined by the degree to which the plane-parallel transmitted laser pulse energy is converted to the perpendicular state. The degree of depolarization is sensitive to the number of photon multiple-scattering events. For the water surface, which is specular consisting only of single-scattering events, the near-infrared received signal retains the parallel polarization state. Absence of the perpendicular signal uniquely identifies surface water. Penetration of green light and the depth profile of photons converted to the perpendicular state compared to those in the parallel state is a measure of water-column multiple scattering, providing a relative measure of turbidity. The amount of photons reflected from the canopy versus the water provides a wavelength-dependent measure of canopy closure. By rapidly firing laser pulses (11,400 pulses per second) with a narrow width (1 nsec) and detecting single photons with 8 cm ranging precision, the surface altimetry data is acquired with very high spatial and vertical resolution. Examples of these capabilities will be shown using data collected in 2011 along and across the flow axis of the Florida Everglades Shark River Slough, targeting the slough's Long Term Ecology Research (LTER) field sites.

Long-term records reveal decoupling of nitrogen and phosphorus cycles in a large, urban lake in response to an extreme rainfall event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corman, J. R.; Loken, L. C.; Oliver, S. K.; Collins, S.; Butitta, V.; Stanley, E. H.

2017-12-01

Extreme events can play powerful roles in shifting ecosystem processes. In lakes, heavy rainfall can transport large amounts of particulates and dissolved nutrients into the water column and, potentially, alter biogeochemical cycling. However, the impacts of extreme rainfall events are often difficult to study due to a lack of long-term records. In this paper, we combine daily discharge records with long-term lake water quality information collected by the North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research (NTL LTER) site to investigate the impacts of extreme events on nutrient cycling in lakes. We focus on Lake Mendota, an urban lake within the Yahara River Watershed in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, where nutrient data are available at least seasonally from 1995 - present. In June 2008, precipitation amounts in the Yahara watershed were 400% above normal values, triggering the largest discharge event on record for the 40 years of monitoring at the streamgage station; hence, we are able to compare water quality records before and after this event as a case study of how extreme rain events couple or decouple lake nutrient cycling. Following the extreme event, the lake-wide mass of nitrogen and phosphorus increased in the summer of 2008 by 35% and 21%, respectively, shifting lake stoichiometry by increasing N:P ratios (Figure 1). Nitrogen concentrations remained elevated longer than phosphorus, suggesting (1) that nitrogen inputs into the lake were sustained longer than phosphorus (i.e., a "smear" versus "pulse" loading of nitrogen versus phosphorus, respectively, in response to the extreme event) and/or (2) that in-lake biogeochemical processing was more efficient at removing phosphorus compared to nitrogen. While groundwater loading data are currently unavailable to test the former hypothesis, preliminary data from surficial nitrogen and phosphorus loading to Lake Mendota (available for 2011 - 2013) suggest that nitrogen removal efficiency is less than phosphorus, supporting the latter hypothesis. As climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme events, continued monitoring of lakes is needed to understand biogeochemical responses and when and how water quality threats may occur.

Foliar Temperature Gradients as Drivers of Budburst in Douglas-fir: New Applications of Thermal Infrared Imagery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, R.; Lintz, H. E.; Thomas, C. K.; Salino-Hugg, M. J.; Niemeier, J. J.; Kruger, A.

2014-12-01

Budburst, the initiation of annual growth in plants, is sensitive to climate and is used to monitor physiological responses to climate change. Accurately forecasting budburst response to these changes demands an understanding of the drivers of budburst. Current research and predictive models focus on population or landscape-level drivers, yet fundamental questions regarding drivers of budburst diversity within an individual tree remain unanswered. We hypothesize that foliar temperature, an important physiological property, may be a dominant driver of differences in the timing of budburst within a single tree. Studying these differences facilitates development of high throughput phenotyping technology used to improve predictive budburst models. We present spatial and temporal variation in foliar temperature as a function of physical drivers culminating in a single-tree budburst model based on foliar temperature. We use a novel remote sensing approach, combined with on-site meteorological measurements, to demonstrate important intra-canopy differences between air and foliar temperature. We mounted a thermal infrared camera within an old-growth canopy at the H.J. Andrews LTER forest and imaged an 8m by 10.6m section of a Douglas-fir crown. Sampling one image per minute, approximately 30,000 thermal infrared images were collected over a one-month period to approximate foliar temperature before, during and after budburst. Using time-lapse photography in the visible spectrum, we documented budburst at fifteen-minute intervals with eight cameras stratified across the thermal infrared camera's field of view. Within the imaged tree's crown, we installed a pyranometer, 2D sonic anemometer and fan-aspirated thermohygrometer and collected 3,000 measurements of net shortwave radiation, wind speed, air temperature and relative humidity. We documented a difference of several days in the timing of budburst across both vertical and horizontal gradients. We also observed clear spatial and temporal foliar temperature gradients. In addition to exploring physical drivers of budburst, this remote sensing approach provides insight into intra-canopy structural complexity and opportunities to advance our understanding of vegetation-­atmospheric interactions.

A multi-scale analysis of streamflow response to changes in evapotranspiration and soil hydrology in the Blue Ridge Mountains (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Price, K.; Jackson, C. R.

2013-12-01

A large amount of research exploring the relationship between watershed forest cover and streamflow quantity has been conducted in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, particularly in association with the USFS Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory and the Coweeta LTER. However, a clear answer to the question ';How does changing tree cover influence runoff?' has not yet emerged for guidance of policy and management. The southern Blue Ridge is the source of water reaching much of the drought-sensitive Southeastern US, and a firmer understanding of the complexities of this issue is critical for water resources management for millions of people and diverse aquatic habitats. When this question has been explored in mesoscale systems (10s to 100s km2), results indicate that watersheds with greater forest cover have greater baseflow. Associated work has shown that hydraulic conductivities in forest soils are nearly an order of magnitude greater than lawn and pasture soils in this region. Our interpretation has been that in these mesoscale systems, the compaction of soil associated with forest conversion to other land uses has played a bigger role than related changes in evapotranspiration (ET) in shaping watershed dynamics and the overall water budget. Particular influence has been seen in baseflows, we posit, due to reduced infiltration and recharge. However, nearly a century of research in small experimental watersheds at Coweeta has shown that forest ET substantially reduces streamflows, including baseflows, when soils are not substantially altered. At this smaller scale of observations, details of forest composition and species water use variability have been thoroughly considered, while in the mesoscale studies 'forest cover' is treated as regionally uniform. Current small-scale work at Coweeta has shown that hemlock decline and subsequent replacement with other species has changed the magnitude and seasonality of ET, which is detectible in streamflow quantity and timing. Here, we attempt to resolve the seemingly conflicting results from experimental watershed and mesoscale studies, and consider the implications for even larger systems more directly linked to policy and management. A singular focus on streamflow quantities ignores broader water quality considerations related to forest management and conversion. We explore the idea that the pronounced control of precipitation variability on streamflow variability in this region confounds the inference of the relative importance of other influences, such as ET and soil hydraulics, particularly at moderate levels of disturbance. We also consider the complexities of heterogeneous land use and geomorphology, which are inevitably encountered in larger watersheds. Finally, we suggest preliminary guidance and future research approaches to provide information to policy and management on the sensitivity of various systems to forest removal or species conversion, across a range of spatial scales.

STC Synthesis of Best Practices for Determining Value of Research Results : Research Project Capsule

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-09-01

The RAC Region II has initiated a collaborative research program consortium : through the Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) Program. The research program : is called the Southeast Transportation Consortium (STC) and is intended to : encourage coordina...

STC synthesis of research results for water quality management at construction sites : research project capsule.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-07-01

The RAC Region II has initiated a collaborative research program consortium through the : Transportation Pooled Fund (TPF) Program. The research program is called the Southeast : Transportation Consortium (STC) and is intended to encourage coordinati...

Evaluating department of transportation's research program : a methodology and case study.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2012-06-01

An effective research program within a transportation organization can be a valuable asset to accomplish the goals of the overall : mission. Determining whether a research program is pursuing relevant research projects and obtaining results for the s...

7 CFR 1206.50 - Programs, plans, and projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order Definitions Promotion, Research, and Information § 1206.50 Programs, plans, and projects. (a) The Board shall receive and evaluate... establishment, issuance, effectuation, and administration of appropriate programs for promotion, research, and...

7 CFR 1221.121 - Programs, plans, and projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ORDER Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order Promotion, Research, and Information § 1221.121 Programs, plans, and projects. (a) The Board shall receive and... establishment, issuance, effectuation, and administration of appropriate programs for promotion, research, and...

7 CFR 1206.50 - Programs, plans, and projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order Definitions Promotion... establishment, issuance, effectuation, and administration of appropriate programs for promotion, research, and... the Board to ensure that it contributes to an effective program of promotion, research, or information...

Developing a Research Program Using Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beck, Cheryl Tatano

1997-01-01

A research program on postpartum depression is used to illustrate the use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The direction of a research program is thus not limited by the type of methods in which a researcher has expertise. (SK)

Aeronautics Research and Technology Program and specific objectives, fiscal year 1982

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Olstad, W. B.

1981-01-01

The Aeronautics Research and Technology program is broken down into two program areas (research and technology base, and systems technology programs) which are further broken down into succeedingly more detailed activities to form a work breakdown structure for the aeronautics program: program area, program/discipline objective, specific objective, and research and technology objective and plan (RTOP). A detailed view of this work breakdown structure down to the specific objective level is provided, and goals or objectives at each of these levels are set forth. What is to be accomplished and why are addressed, but not how. The letter falls within the domain of the RTOP.

Program of Research in Flight Dynamics in The George Washington University at NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klein, Vladislav

2002-01-01

The program objectives were defined in the original proposal entitled 'Program of Research in Flight Dynamics in the JIAFS at NASA Langley Research Center' which was originated March 20, 1975, and yearly renewals of the research program dated December 1, 1998 to December 31, 2002. The program included three major topics: 1) Improvement of existing methods and development of new methods for flight and wind tunnel data analysis based on system identification methodology; 2) Application of these methods to flight and wind tunnel data obtained from advanced aircraft; 3) Modeling and control of aircraft. The principal investigator of the program was Dr. Vladislav Klein, Professor Emeritus at The George Washington University, DC. Seven Graduate Research Scholar Assistants (GRSA) participated in the program. The results of the research conducted during four years of the total co-operative period were published in 2 NASA Technical Reports, 3 thesis and 3 papers. The list of these publications is included.

1997 NASA-ODU American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiwari, Surendra N. (Compiler); Young, Deborah B. (Compiler)

1998-01-01

Since 1964, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has supported a program of summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators. In a series of collaborations between NASA research and development centers and nearby universities, engineering faculty members spend 10 weeks working with professional peers on research. The Summer Faculty Program Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education supervises the programs. Objectives of the program are as follows: (1) To further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members, (2) To stimulate and exchange ideas between participants and NASA; (3) To enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants' institutions; and (4) To contribute to the research objectives of the NASA center. Program description is as follows: College or university faculty members will be appointed as Research Fellows to spend 10 weeks in cooperative research and study at the NASA Langley Research Center. The Fellow will devote approximately 90 percent of the time to a research problem and the remaining time to a study program. The study program will consist of lectures and seminars on topics of interest or that are directly relevant to the Fellows' research topics. The lectures and seminar leaders will be distinguished scientists and engineers from NASA, education, and industry.

Developing a Successful High School Science Research Program via Teacher Training, Student Internships, and Community Support

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Danch, J. M.; Darytichen, F.

2004-12-01

The purpose of the Science Research Program is to allow students to perform authentic scientific research in disciplines of their choosing over a period of 3 years. The success of the program has allowed for expansion including community involvement, student mentorship, and a series of professional development programs. Through state and national competition and community symposia, student research is evaluated, showcased, and subsequently supported both idealistically and financially by local government and industrial partnerships. Student internships and university/industrial mentorship programs allow students to pursue research topics and utilize equipment exceeding the scope of the secondary science classroom. Involved teachers have developed and delivered professional development workshops to foster the successful implementation of scientific research programs at additional high schools throughout the state.

NASA's Microgravity Research Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woodard, Dan

1998-01-01

This fiscal year (FY) 1997 annual report describes key elements of the NASA Microgravity Research Program (MRP) as conducted by the Microgravity Research Division (MRD) within NASA's Office of Life and Microgravity, Sciences and Applications. The program's goals, approach taken to achieve those goals, and program resources are summarized. All snapshots of the program's status at the end of FY 1997 and a review of highlights and progress in grounds and flights based research are provided. Also described are major space missions that flew during FY 1997, plans for utilization of the research potential of the International Space Station, the Advanced Technology Development (ATD) Program, and various educational/outreach activities. The MRP supports investigators from academia, industry, and government research communities needing a space environment to study phenomena directly or indirectly affected by gravity.

2002 Research Reports: NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kotnour, Tim (Editor); Black, Cassandra (Editor)

2002-01-01

This document is a collection of technical reports on research conducted by the participants in the 2002 NASA/ASEE Faculty Fellowship Program at the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This was the 18th year that a NASA/ASEE program has been conducted at KSC. The 2002 program was administered by the University of Central Florida (UCF) in cooperation with KSC. The program was operated under the auspices of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Education Division, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The KSC Program was one of nine such Aeronautics and Space Research Programs funded by NASA Headquarters in 2002. The KSC Faculty Fellows spent ten weeks working with NASA scientists and engineers on research of mutual interest to the university faculty member and the NASA colleague. The editors of this document were responsible for selecting appropriately qualified faculty to address some of the many research areas of current interest to NASA/KSC. The NASA/ASEE program is intended to be a two-year program to allow in-depth research by the university faculty member.

An Analysis of Research Quality and Productivity at Six Academic Orthopaedic Residencies.

PubMed

Osborn, Patrick M; Ames, S Elizabeth; Turner, Norman S; Caird, Michelle S; Karam, Matthew D; Mormino, Matthew A; Krueger, Chad A

2018-06-06

It remains largely unknown what factors impact the research productivity of residency programs. We hypothesized that dedicated resident research time would not affect the quantity and quality of a program's peer-reviewed publication within orthopedic residencies. These findings may help programs improve structure their residency programs to maximize core competencies. Three hundred fifty-nine residents and 240 staff from six different US orthopedic residency programs were analyzed. All publications published by residents and faculty at each program from January 2007 to December 2015 were recorded. SCImago Journal Rankings (SJR) were found for each journal. There were no significant differences in publications by residents at each program (p > 0.05). Faculty with 10+ years of on staff, had significantly more publications than those with less than 10years (p < 0.01). Programs with increased resident research time did not consistently produce publications with higher SJR than those without dedicated research time. Increased dedicated resident research time did not increase resident publication rates or lead to publications with higher SJR. Copyright © 2018 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

How the Build Up of Aqueous Humor Can Damage the Optic Nerve

MedlinePlus

... Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program Macular Degeneration Research Program National Glaucoma Research Program Molecular Neurodegeneration ... Foundation BrightFocus Foundation 22512 Gateway Center Drive Clarksburg, MD ...

76 FR 12717 - Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program; Field Initiated (FI...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-08

... DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program; Field...; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--Field Initiated (FI) Projects AGENCY: Office of Special Education...

7 CFR 1221.121 - Programs, plans, and projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ORDER Sorghum Promotion, Research, and Information Order Promotion... establishment, issuance, effectuation, and administration of appropriate programs for promotion, research, and... contributes to an effective program of promotion, research, or information. If it is found by the Board that...

7 CFR 1218.54 - Programs, plans, and projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... PROMOTION, RESEARCH, AND INFORMATION ORDER Blueberry Promotion, Research, and Information Order Expenses and..., effectuation, and administration of appropriate programs for promotion, research, and information, including... ensure that it contributes to an effective program of promotion, research, or information. If it is found...

A distributed model: redefining a robust research subject advocacy program at the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center.

PubMed

Winkler, Sabune J; Cagliero, Enrico; Witte, Elizabeth; Bierer, Barbara E

2014-08-01

The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center ("Harvard Catalyst") Research Subject Advocacy (RSA) Program has reengineered subject advocacy, distributing the delivery of advocacy functions through a multi-institutional, central platform rather than vesting these roles and responsibilities in a single individual functioning as a subject advocate. The program is process-oriented and output-driven, drawing on the strengths of participating institutions to engage local stakeholders both in the protection of research subjects and in advocacy for subjects' rights. The program engages stakeholder communities in the collaborative development and distributed delivery of accessible and applicable educational programming and resources. The Harvard Catalyst RSA Program identifies, develops, and supports the sharing and distribution of expertise, education, and resources for the benefit of all institutions, with a particular focus on the frontline: research subjects, researchers, research coordinators, and research nurses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The 1995 Research Reports: NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hosler, E. Ramon (Editor); Buckingham, Gregg (Editor)

1995-01-01

This document is a collection of technical reports on research conducted by the participants in the 1995 NASA/ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Program at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). This was the eleventh year that a NASA/ASEE program has been conducted at KSC. The 1995 program was administered by the University of Central Florida in cooperation with KSC. The program was operated under the auspices of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) with sponsorship and funding from the Office of Educational Affairs, NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. The KSC Program was one of nine such Aeronautics and Space Research Programs funded by NASA Headquarters in 1995. The NASA/ASEE Program is intended to be a two-year program to allow in-depth research by the University faculty member.

7 CFR 1150.153 - Qualified dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... nutrition education programs. 1150.153 Section 1150.153 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of... Qualified dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education programs. (a) Any producer organization that conducts a State or regional dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education program...

7 CFR 1150.153 - Qualified dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... nutrition education programs. 1150.153 Section 1150.153 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of... Qualified dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education programs. (a) Any producer organization that conducts a State or regional dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education program...

7 CFR 1150.153 - Qualified dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education programs.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... nutrition education programs. 1150.153 Section 1150.153 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of... Qualified dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education programs. (a) Any producer organization that conducts a State or regional dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education program...

77 FR 28887 - Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-16

... Assistance Program Nos. 93.14, Intramural Research Training Award; 93.22, Clinical Research Loan Repayment... Research Loan Repayment Program; 93.187, Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from.../Outreach Program Specialist, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the Director, National...

75 FR 63493 - Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-10-15

... Assistance Program Nos. 93.14, Intramural Research Training Award; 93.22, Clinical Research Loan Repayment... Research Loan Repayment Program; 93.187, Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from..., Executive Secretary/Outreach Program Specialist, Office of Communications and Public Liaison, Office of the...

Teaching Global Change in Local Places: The HERO Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yarnal, Brent; Neff, Rob

2007-01-01

The Human-Environment Research Observatory (HERO) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program aimed to develop the next generation of researchers working on place-based human-environment problems. The program followed a cooperative learning model to foster an integrated approach to geographic research and to build collaborative research…

Forest productivity: an integrated research and development program

Treesearch

Daniel C. Dey; Thomas R. Crow; Don E. Riemenschneider

2003-01-01

In 2000, the North Central Research Station initiated the Forest Productivity Integrated Research Program (North Central Research Station 2001). This program combines the efforts of scientists from across the Station's 13 research work units to examine the current condition of the forests in the North Central Region and their prospects for producing wood and fiber...

Pediatric Oncology Branch - Psychosocial Support and Research Program-Science | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Psychosocial Support & Research Program Research is another critical component of the psychosocial program. Our research studies are designed to learn how to best help patients and their families prepare for, adjust to, and cope with the effects of cancer and other related medical conditions while enrolled on research protocols in several NCI Branches and NIH Institutes.  

NASULGC Council on Extension, Committee on Program Innovation and Action Oriented Research; 1968 Report. Part 1. Program Innovations. Part 2. Action Oriented Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, Washington, DC.

This report on extension activities of member institutions of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges describes 91 program innovations and action oriented research activities. Objectives, sponsorship, program evaluations, and other data are cited for program innovations in such areas as continuing medical education,…

Social multiplier effects: academics' and practitioners' perspective on the benefits of a tuberculosis operational research capacity-building program in Indonesia.

PubMed

Probandari, Ari; Mahendradhata, Yodi; Widjanarko, Bagoes; Alisjahbana, Bachti

2017-01-01

The Tuberculosis Operational Research Group (TORG) implemented a capacity-building model involving academics and practitioners (i.e. clinicians or program staff) in an operational research (OR) team in Indonesia. This study explored academics' and practitioners' perspectives regarding the benefits of participating in a tuberculosis (TB) OR capacity-building program in Indonesia. We conducted a qualitative study involving in-depth interviews with 36 academics and 23 practitioners undertaking the TORG capacity-building program. We asked open-ended questions about their experience of the program. Data were analyzed via content analysis. The findings demonstrated the social multiplier effects of the OR capacity-building program. Both academics and practitioners reported perceived improvements in research knowledge, skills, and experience, and described additional individual- and institutional-level benefits. The individual-level benefits level included improvements in understanding of the TB program, motivation for research and self-satisfaction, the development/enhancement of individual networking, receipt of recognition, and new opportunities. The additional benefits reported at an institutional level included improvement in research curricula, in-house training, and program management and the development/enhancement of institutional partnerships. The program improved not only individuals' capacity for conducting OR but also the quality of the TB program management and public health education. OR should be included in research methodology curricula for postgraduate public health/disease control programs. The capacity-building model, in which academics and program staff collaborated within an OR team, should be promoted.

NASA gear research and its probable effect on rotorcraft transmission design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zaretsky, E. V.; Townsend, D. P.; Coy, J. J.

1979-01-01

The NASA Lewis Research Center devised a comprehensive gear technology research program beginning in 1969, the results of which are being integrated into the NASA civilian Helicopter Transmission System Technology Program. Attention is given to the results of this gear research and those programs which are presently being undertaken. In addition, research programs studying pitting fatigue, gear steels and processing, life prediction methods, gear design and dynamics, elastohydrodynamic lubrication, lubrication methods and gear noise are presented. Finally, the impact of advanced gear research technology on rotorcraft transmission design is discussed.

1998 NASA-HU American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marable, William P. (Compiler); Murray, Deborah B. (Compiler)

1998-01-01

Since 1964, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has supported a program of summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators. In a series of collaborations between NASA research and development centers and nearby universities, engineering faculty members spend 10 weeks working with professional peers on research. The Summer Faculty Program Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education supervises the programs. The program objectives include: (1) To further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members; (2) To stimulate and exchange ideas between participants and NASA; (3) To enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants' institutions; (4) To contribute to the research objectives of the NASA center. College or university faculty members will be appointed as Research Fellows to spend 10 weeks in cooperative research and study at the NASA Langley Research Center. The Fellow will devote approximately 90 percent of the time to a research problem and the remaining time to a study program. The study program will consist of lectures and seminars on topics of interest or that are directly relevant to the Fellows' research topics. The lecture and seminar leaders will be distinguished scientists and engineers from NASA, education, and industry.

2001 NASA-ODU American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiwari, Surendra N. (Compiler); Murray, Deborah B. (Compiler); Hathaway, Roger A. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Since 1964, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has supported a program of summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators. In a series of collaborations between NASA research and development centers and nearby universities, engineering faculty members spend 10 weeks working with professional peers on research. The Summer Faculty Program Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education supervises these programs. Objectives: (1) To further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members; (2) To stimulate and exchange ideas between participants and NASA; (3) To enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants' institutions; (4 To contribute to the research objectives of the NASA center. Program Description: College or university faculty members will be appointed as Research Fellows to spend 10 weeks in cooperative research and study at the NASA Langley Research Center. The Fellow will devote approximately 90 percent of the time to a research problem and the remaining time to a study program. The study program will consist of lectures and seminars on topics of interest or that are directly relevant to the Fellow's research topics. The lecture and seminar leaders wil be distinguished scientists and engineers from NASA, education and industry.

1996 NASA-Hampton University American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spencer, John H. (Compiler); Young, Deborah B. (Compiler)

1996-01-01

NASA has supported a program of summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators. In a series of collaborations between NASA research and development centers and nearby universities, engineering faculty members spend 10 weeks working with professional peers on research. The Summer Faculty Program Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education supervises the programs. The objectives were: (1) To further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members; (2) To stimulate and exchange ideas between participants and NASA; (3) To enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants institutions; (4) To contribute to the research objectives of the NASA Center. Program Description: College or university faculty members will be appointed as Research Fellows to spend 10 weeks in cooperative research and study at the NASA Langley Research Center. The Fellow will devote approximately 90 percent of the time to a research problem and the remaining time to a study program. The study program will consist of lectures and seminars on topics of interest or that are directly relevant to the Fellows' research topics. The lectures and seminar leaders will be distinguished scientists and engineers from NASA, education, or industry.

1999 NASA - ODU American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Summer Faculty Fellowship Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiwari, Surendra N. (Compiler); Murray, Deborah B. (Compiler)

2000-01-01

Since 1964, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has supported a program or summer faculty fellowships for engineering and science educators. In a series of collaborations between NASA research and development centers and nearby universities, engineering faculty members spend 10 weeks working with professional peers on research. The Summer Faculty Program Committee of the American Society for Engineering Education supervises the programs. Objectives: (1) To further the professional knowledge of qualified engineering and science faculty members; (2) To stimulate and exchange ideas between participants and NASA; (3) To enrich and refresh the research and teaching activities of participants' institutions; (4) To contribute to the research objectives of the NASA center. Program Description: College or university faculty members will be appointed as Research Fellows to spend 10 weeks in cooperative research and study at the NASA Langley Research Center. The Fellow will devote approximately 90 percent of the time to a research problem and the remaining time to a study program. The study program will consist of lectures and seminars on topics of interest or that are directly relevant to the Fellows' research topics. The lecture and seminar leaders will be distinguished scientists and engineers from NASA, education, and industry.

Space and nuclear research and technology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1975-01-01

A fact sheet is presented on the space and nuclear research and technology program consisting of a research and technology base, system studies, system technology programs, entry systems technology, and experimental programs.

A Program of Research and Education in Astronautics at the NASA Langley Research Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tolson, Robert H.

2000-01-01

The objectives of the Program were to conduct research at the NASA Langley Research Center in the area of astronautics and to provide a comprehensive education program at the Center leading to advanced degrees in Astronautics. We believe that the program has successfully met the objectives and has been of significant benefit to NASA LaRC, the GWU and the nation.

Federal Early Childhood Programs: A Description and Analysis of Research, Child Care, State Grant and Teacher Training Programs Pertaining to Young Children. Interim Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Searcy, Ellen Ouhl

The main objectives of this report about the Federal effort in early learning research are to assist the National Program on Early Childhood Education (NPECE) in planning its research and development program, to identify predicted "popular" areas of research for the future, and to identify possible NPECE funding sources. The report…

United States Air Force Summer Faculty Research Program (1986). Program Management Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-12-01

become better acquainted with experimental techniques. Obtained new insights into aerodynamic research programs of interest to the Air Force. Broadened his...Provided in-depth analysis and new insights into aerodynamic data. He looked at some new radiations that we are considering for use with printed circuit...1979-1983 period through an AFOSR Minigrant Program. On 1 September 1983, AFOSR replaced the Minigrant Program with a new Research Initiation Program

Interventions to support and develop clinician-researcher leadership in one health district.

PubMed

Fry, Margaret; Dombkins, Anthony

2017-07-10

Purpose Clinical leadership, researcher capacity and a culture of clinical inquiry are needed in the clinical workforce. The purpose of this paper is to report on a program which was used to develop and support clinicians to explore practice, implement innovation, translate evidence and build researcher capacity. Design/methodology/approach This pragmatic paper presents a case study of a nursing and midwifery clinician-researcher development program. The multi-site, multi-modal program focused on education, mentoring and support, communication networks, and clinician-university partnerships strategies to build workforce capacity and leadership. Findings Over 2,000 staff have been involved in the program representing a range of health disciplines. The study day program has been delivered to 500 participants with master classes having over 1,500 attendees. The research mentor program has demonstrated that participants increased their confidence for research leadership roles and are pursuing research and quality assurance projects. Communication strategies improved the visibility of nursing and midwifery. Research limitations/implications This case study was conducted in one health district, which may not have relevance to other geographical areas. The small numbers involved in the research mentor program need to be considered when reviewing the findings. Practical implications The program has been a catalyst for developing a research culture, clinical leadership and research networks that strengthen workforce capacity. Building researcher skills in the workforce will better support quality healthcare and the examination of everyday practice. Social implications Building a culture of healthcare that is based on inquiry and evidence-based practice will lead to more appropriate and consistent healthcare delivery. Consumers have the right to expect health clinicians will challenge everyday practice and have the skills and capability to translate or generate best evidence to underpin professional and service delivery. Originality/value This paper provides strategies for building workforce researcher capacity and capability. The program provides opportunity for building research networks and role modeling the value and importance of research to practice and quality improvement.

Liver Biopsy

MedlinePlus

... Funding Current Funding Opportunities Research Programs & Contacts Human Subjects Research Funding Process Research Training & Career Development Funded ... Funding Current Funding Opportunities Research Programs & Contacts Human Subjects Research Funding Process Research Training & Career Development Funded ...

Perceived Value of Required Research in Orthodontic Postgraduate Programs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lancaster, Diana M.; And Others

Graduates' perceptions concerning the value of required research experience in orthodontic postdoctoral programs were determined. Factors in the postdoctoral research program that provided positive/negative experiences were also identified. Fifteen attitude statements concerning the merits of required research projects and demographic items on the…

78 FR 15022 - Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health; Notice of Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-08

... Nos. 93.14, Intramural Research Training Award; 93.22, Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program for... Program; 93.187, Undergraduate Scholarship Program for Individuals from Disadvantaged Backgrounds..., Director of Scientific and Program Operations, Office of Aids Research, Office of the Director, NIH, 5635...

34 CFR 660.1 - What is the International Research and Studies Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... outcomes and effectiveness of supported programs; (f) Comparative studies of the effectiveness of... 34 Education 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false What is the International Research and Studies Program...) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES PROGRAM...

34 CFR 660.1 - What is the International Research and Studies Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... outcomes and effectiveness of supported programs; (f) Comparative studies of the effectiveness of... 34 Education 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false What is the International Research and Studies Program...) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES PROGRAM...

34 CFR 660.1 - What is the International Research and Studies Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... outcomes and effectiveness of supported programs; (f) Comparative studies of the effectiveness of... 34 Education 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false What is the International Research and Studies Program...) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES PROGRAM...

34 CFR 660.1 - What is the International Research and Studies Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... outcomes and effectiveness of supported programs; (f) Comparative studies of the effectiveness of... 34 Education 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What is the International Research and Studies Program...) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES PROGRAM...

34 CFR 660.1 - What is the International Research and Studies Program?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... outcomes and effectiveness of supported programs; (f) Comparative studies of the effectiveness of... 34 Education 3 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false What is the International Research and Studies Program...) OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND STUDIES PROGRAM...

Western Mountain Initiative - Research Links

Science.gov Websites

Parks programS Forest Service Climate Change Resource Center (CCRC) North American Nitrogen Center to be told." US Global Change Research Program (GlobalChange.gov) USGS Climate and Land Use Rocky Mountain Science Center Global Change Research Program -- A Focus on Mountain Ecosystems Western

7 CFR 1150.109 - Qualified program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... AGREEMENTS AND ORDERS; MILK), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DAIRY PROMOTION PROGRAM Dairy Promotion and Research Order Definitions § 1150.109 Qualified program. Qualified program means any dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education program which is certified as a qualified program pursuant to § 1150.153...

7 CFR 1150.109 - Qualified program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Agreements and Orders; Milk), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DAIRY PROMOTION PROGRAM Dairy Promotion and Research Order Definitions § 1150.109 Qualified program. Qualified program means any dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education program which is certified as a qualified program pursuant to § 1150.153...

7 CFR 1150.109 - Qualified program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... AGREEMENTS AND ORDERS; MILK), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE DAIRY PROMOTION PROGRAM Dairy Promotion and Research Order Definitions § 1150.109 Qualified program. Qualified program means any dairy product promotion, research or nutrition education program which is certified as a qualified program pursuant to § 1150.153...

Creating a Research-Rich Curriculum at Miami University

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rauckhorst, William H.

2007-10-01

Miami University has attempted in recent years to build upon a collection of individual student research participation opportunities at the University, and develop a comprehensive ``research-rich'' undergraduate curriculum. A major step in this direction was the creation of the Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) program. This program provides 10-week summer research experiences with faculty mentors for 100 juniors or seniors each year. The USS Program is not limited to science and engineering areas, as approximately 30 academic departments participate annually. Development of the USS program at Miami was motivated by the University's prior experience with student research appointments funded by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and other sponsoring agencies. The University's evaluation of these earlier student research experiences provided evidence that such experiences were at least as significant in a student's education as formal course work. A second important step in Miami's effort was obtaining a grant from the National Science Foundation's Comprehensive Reform of Undergraduate Education program. This funding enabled the University to enhance the Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) Program and evaluate student intellectual growth within the program. Two outcomes of this NSF-funded project are noteworthy: first, the USS program now is firmly established within the University's offerings; second, the evaluation ndicated profound student intellectual growth as a result of mentored research experiences. We will describe the development of the Undergraduate Summer Scholars Program, our evaluation of the Program, and ongoing efforts to extend the benefits of research experience to more students by incorporating research components within traditional coursework.

Health economics and outcomes research fellowship practices reviewed.

PubMed

Suh, Kangho; Gabriel, Susan; Adams, Michelle A; Arcona, Steve

2015-01-01

The guidelines for health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) fellowship training programs devised by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) and the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) suggest that continuous improvements are made to ensure that postgraduate training through didactic and professional experiences prepare fellows for HEOR research careers. The HEOR Fellowship Program at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation was standardized to enhance the fellows' HEOR research understanding and align professional skill sets with the ACCP-ISPOR Fellowship Program Guidelines. Based on feedback from an internal task force comprised of HEOR employees and current and former fellows, the HEOR Fellowship Program was normatively and qualitatively assessed to evaluate the current curricular program. Fellowship program activities were instituted to ensure that the suggested minimum level requirements established by the guidelines were being met. Research opportunities enabling fellows to work hand-in-hand with other fellows and HEOR professionals were emphasized. Curricular enhancements in research methodology and professional training and development, and materials for a structured journal club focusing on specific methodological and HEOR research topics were developed. A seminar series (e.g., creating SMART Goals, StrengthsFinder 2.0) and professional courses (e.g., ISPOR short courses, statistics.com) were included to enhance the fellows' short- and long-term professional experience. Additional program attributes include an online reference library developed to enrich the current research facilities and a Statistical Analysis Software training program. Continuously assessing and updating HEOR fellowship programs keeps programs up-to-date in the latest HEOR concepts and approaches used to evaluate health care, both professionally and educationally. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cleveland Clinic's summer research program in reproductive medicine: an inside look at the class of 2014

PubMed Central

Durairajanayagam, Damayanthi; Kashou, Anthony H; Tatagari, Sindhuja; Vitale, Joseph; Cirenza, Caroline; Agarwal, Ashok

2015-01-01

Background The American Center for Reproductive Medicine's summer internship course in reproductive medicine and research at Cleveland Clinic is a rigorous, results-oriented annual program that began in 2008 to train both local and international students in the fundamentals of scientific research and writing. The foremost goal of the program is to encourage premedical and medical students to aspire toward a career as a physician–scientist. The internship provides participants with an opportunity to engage in original bench research and scientific writing while developing theoretical knowledge and soft skills. This study describes selected survey responses from interns who participated in the 2014 internship program. The objective of these surveys was to elicit the interns' perspective on the internship program, its strengths and weaknesses, and to obtain insight into potential areas for improvement. Methods Questionnaires were structured around the five fundamental aspects of the program: 1) theoretical knowledge, 2) bench research, 3) scientific writing, 4) mentorship, and 5) soft skills. In addition, an exit survey gathered information on factors that attracted the interns to the program, communication with mentors, and overall impression of the research program. Results The opportunity to experience hands-on bench research and scientific writing, personalized mentorship, and the reputation of the institution were appreciated and ranked highly among the interns. Nearly 90% of the interns responded that the program was beneficial and well worth the time and effort invested by both interns and faculty. Conclusion The outcomes portrayed in this study will be useful in the implementation of new programs or refinement of existing medical research training programs. PMID:26563960

Fifteen years of occupational and environmental health projects support in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico: a report from Mount Sinai School of Medicine ITREOH program, 1995-2010.

PubMed

Peres, Frederico; Claudio, Luz

2013-01-01

The Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health created the International Training and Research Program in Occupational and Environmental Health (ITREOH program) in 1995 with the aim to train environmental and occupational health scientists in developing countries. Mount Sinai School of Medicine was a grantee of this program since its inception, partnering with research institutions in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. This article evaluates Mount Sinai's program in order to determine whether it has contributed to the specific research capacity needs of the international partners. Information was obtained from: (a) international and regional scientific literature databases; (b) databases from the three participating countries; and (c) MSSM ITREOH Program Database. Most of the research projects supported by the program were consistent with the themes found to be top priorities for the partner countries based on mortality/morbidity and research themes in the literature. Indirect effects of the training and the subsequent research projects completed by the trained fellows in the program included health policy changes and development of collaborative international projects. International research training programs, such as the MSSM ITREOH, that strengthen scientific research capacity in occupational and environmental health in Latin America can make a significant impact on the most pressing health issues in the partner countries. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

7 CFR 1210.311 - Programs and projects.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... PROMOTION PLAN Watermelon Research and Promotion Plan Definitions § 1210.311 Programs and projects. Programs and projects mean those research, development, advertising, or promotion programs or projects...

Path to a Research Plan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiaramonte, Fran

2003-01-01

This viewgraph presentation discusses the status and goals for the NASA OBPR Physical Science Research Program. The following text was used to summarize the presentation. The OBPR Physical Sciences Research program has been comprehensively reviewed and endorsed by National Research Council. The value and need for the research have been re-affirmed. The research program has been prioritized and resource re-allocations have been carried out through an OBPR-wide process. An increasing emphasis on strategic, mission-oriented research is planned. The program will strive to maintain a balance between strategic and fundamental research. A feasible ISS flight research program fitting within the budgetary and ISS resource envelopes has been formulated for the near term (2003-2007). The current ISS research program will be significantly strengthened starting 2005 by using discipline dedicated research facility racks. A research re-planning effort has been initiated and will include active participation from the research community in the next few months. The research re-planning effort will poise PSR to increase ISS research utilization for a potential enhancement beyond ISS IP Core Complete. The Physical Sciences research program readily integrates the cross-disciplinary requirements of the NASA and OBPR strategic objectives. Each fundamental research thrust will develop a roadmap through technical workshops and Discipline Working Groups (DWGs). Most fundamental research thrusts will involve cross-disciplinary efforts. A Technology Roadmap will guide the Strategic Research for Exploration thrust. The Research Plan will integrate and coordinate fundamental Research Thrusts Roadmaps with the Technology Roadmap. The Technology Roadmap will be developed in coordination with other OBPR programs as well as other Enterprise (R,S,M,N). International Partners will contribute to the roadmaps and through research coordination. The research plan will be vetted with the discipline working groups, the BPRAC subcommittees, and with the BPRAC. Recommendations from NRC past and current committees will be implemented whenever appropriate.Proposed theme element content will be "missionized" around planned content and potential new projects (facilities, modules, initiatives) on approximately a five-year horizon, with the approval of PSRD management. Center/science working group teams will develop descriptions of "mission" objectives, value, and requirements. Purpose is to create a competitive environment for concept development and to stimulate community ownership/advocacy. Proposed theme elements reviewed and approved by PSRD management. Strawman roadmaps for themes developed. Program budget and technology requirements verified. Theme elements are prioritized with the input of advisory groups. Integration into program themes (questions) and required technology investments are defined by science and technology roadmaps. Review and assessment by OBPR management.

Emergency Medicine Resources within the Clinical Translational Science Institutes: A Cross-Sectional Study

PubMed Central

Meurer, William J.; Quinn, James; Lindsell, Christopher; Schneider, Sandra; Newgard, Craig D.

2016-01-01

Background The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program aims to strengthen and support translational research by accelerating the process of translating laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients, training a new generation of clinical and translational researchers, and engaging communities in clinical research efforts. Yet, little is known about how emergency care researchers have interacted with and utilized the resources of academic institutions with CTSAs. Objective The purpose of this survey was to describe how emergency care researchers use local CTSA resources, to ascertain what proportion of CTSA consortium members have active emergency care research programs, and to solicit participation in a national CTSA-associated emergency care translational research network. Methods Survey of all emergency departments affiliated with a CTSA. Results Of the 65 CTSA consortium members, three had no emergency care research program and we obtained responses from 46 of the remaining 62 (74% response rate). The interactions with and resources used by emergency care researchers varied widely. Methodology and biostatistics support was most frequently accessed (77%), followed closely by education and training programs (60%). Several emergency care research programs (76%) had submitted for funding through CTSAs, with 71% receiving awards. Most CTSA consortium members had an active emergency care research infrastructure: 21 (46%) had 24/7 availability to recruit and screen for research, 21 (46%) had less than 24/7 research recruitment. A number of emergency care research programs participated in NIH research networks with the Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials network most highly represented with 23 (59%) sites. Most emergency care research programs (96%) were interested in participating in a CTSA-based emergency care translational research network. Conclusions Despite little initial involvement in development of the CTSA program, there has been moderate interaction between CTSAs and emergency care. There is considerable interest in participating in a CTSA consortium based emergency care translational research network. PMID:26826059

NASA Early Career Fellowship Program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, H. D.

2012-12-01

The Early Career Fellowship program was established in 2005 to facilitate the integration of outstanding early career planetary science researchers into established research funding programs by providing tools and experience useful to maintain a successful research program. Executing a successful research program requires a few key elements such as: successful proposal writing; adequate (paid) research time; management of a laboratory; collaboration and networking; frequent and high-quality publications; and adequate start-up equipment funds. These elements may be particularly critical for early career researchers searching for a tenure- track or equivalent position. The Early Career Fellowship program recognizes the importance of these skills and provides extra funding and resources to begin a successful research program. For consideration into The Early Career Fellowship program, the candidate needs to be the P. I. or Science P.I. of a funded research proposal from one of the participating R&A program areas, be within 7 years of earning a PhD, hold a non-tenure track position, and indicate the early career candidacy when submitting the research proposal. If the research proposal is funded and the discipline scientist nominates the candidate as an early career fellow, the candidate is then considered a Fellow and eligible to propose for Step 2. Upon obtaining a tenure-track equivalent position the Fellow submits a Step 2 proposal for up to one hundred thousand dollars in start-up funds. Start-up funds may be used for salary; undergraduate and/or graduate research assistants; supplies and instrument upgrades; travel to conferences, meetings, and advisory groups; time and travel for learning new skills; publication page charges; books and journal subscriptions; computer time and/or specialized software; and other justified research-specific needs. The early career fellowship program provides resources that a more established scientist would have acquired allowing the Fellow to be a better job applicant. NASA opportunities from the undergraduate to postdoctoral level are also discussed.

Building Innovation and Sustainability in Programs of Research.

PubMed

Villarruel, Antonia M

2018-01-01

Innovation and sustainability are two important concepts of impactful programs of research. While at first glance these concepts and approaches may seem at odds, they are synergistic. We examine the social, political, and policy context as it relates to innovation and sustainability. We present an exemplar of a program of research and discuss factors to consider in developing innovative and sustainable programs of research. Innovation is an important component of sustainable programs of research. Understanding the social and political context and addressing relevant policy issues are factors to be considered in both innovation and sustainability. Innovation and sustainability, important components of research, are also central to clinical practice. Open communication between researchers and clinicians can support the acceleration of innovations and the integration of evidence-based findings in practice. © 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Educating nurses about research ethics and practices with a self-directed practice-based learning program.

PubMed

Cibulka, Nancy J

2011-11-01

Learner-driven and practice-based education programs are recommended for integration of learning. A continuing education program on research ethics was introduced to five nurses in an ambulatory care setting at a Magnet® hospital, using a commercially available web-based course followed by a research practicum. The seasoned nurses reported little previous education in this area. Working with a nurse researcher, three nurses participated in a research project for improving clinic care delivery. The success of the continuing education program was determined by knowledge acquisition, satisfaction with learning activities, and perceived confidence in research participation. This continuing education program was effective in providing for knowledge and skill development in research ethics. The integrative learning format was well received. Copyright 2011, SLACK Incorporated.

USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Sudden Oak Death Research Program: 2001-2005

Treesearch

Patrick J. Shea

2006-01-01

The Pacific Southwest Research Station (PSW), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service initiated the Sudden Oak Death Research (SOD) Program in late 2000. The program was prompted by late fiscal year funding dedicated directly to begin research on this newly discovered disease. The history of discovery of Phytophthora ramorum, the...

Motivations of Educators for Participating in an Authentic Astronomy Research Experience Professional Development Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rebull, L. M.; Roberts, T.; Laurence, W.; Fitzgerald, M. T.; French, D. A.; Gorjian, V.; Squires, G. K.

2018-01-01

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Astronomy Education Research.] The NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP) partners small groups of educators with a research astronomer for a year-long authentic research project. This program aligns well with the characteristics of high-quality professional development (PD) programs…

The Costs of Commonality: Examination of the JLTV as a Case Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-15

Acquisition Research Program Graduate School of Business & Public Policy Naval Postgraduate School NPS-16-AM-151 ACQUISITION RESEARCH ... Research Program Graduate School of Business & Public Policy Naval Postgraduate School The research ...presented in this report was supported by the Acquisition Research Program of the Graduate School of Business & Public Policy at the Naval

The Center for Aerospace Research: A NASA Center of Excellence at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lai, Steven H.-Y.

1992-01-01

This report documents the efforts and outcomes of our research and educational programs at NASA-CORE in NCA&TSU. The goal of the center was to establish a quality aerospace research base and to develop an educational program to increase the participation of minority faculty and students in the areas of aerospace engineering. The major accomplishments of this center in the first year are summarized in terms of three different areas, namely, the center's research programs area, the center's educational programs area, and the center's management area. In the center's research programs area, we focus on developing capabilities needed to support the development of the aerospace plane and high speed civil transportation system technologies. In the educational programs area, we developed an aerospace engineering option program ready for university approval.

Funding and Strategic Alignment Guidance for Infusing Small Business Innovation Research Technology into NASA Programs Associated with the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nguyen, Hung D.; Steele, Gynelle C.

2015-01-01

This report is intended to help NASA program and project managers incorporate Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) technologies that have gone through Phase II of the SBIR program into NASA Aeronautics and Mission Directorate (ARMD) programs. Other Government and commercial program managers can also find this information useful.

76 FR 15964 - Funding Priorities: Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-22

... past five years, the DBTACs have published numerous journal articles, held a series of research... and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program AGENCY: Office of Special Education and... Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program administered by the National Institute on...

NASA LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER AND THE TIDEWATER INTERAGENCY POLLUTION PREVENTION PROGRAM

EPA Science Inventory

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Langley Research Center (LaRC) is an 807-acre research center devoted to aeronautics and space research. aRC has initiated a broad-based pollution prevention program guided by a Pollution Prevention Program Plan and implement...