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Global
Change Research in the Boreal Forest |
Investigators: John
S. Kimball, Steve W. Running
The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study
(BOREAS) and associated follow-on investigations constitute a multi-international
effort to understand the influence of the boreal forest biome on global processes.
A major goal of these investigations is to improve our understanding of the exchanges
of radiative energy, heat, water, CO2 and other trace gases between
the boreal forest biome and the lower atmosphere in order to clarify their role
in global change. Since 1993, field and remote sensing experiments at various
scales have been organized to provide input and validation data needed to improve
the accuracy of process models of these exchanges and to develop mechanisms for
efficient, long-term monitoring of regional to global scale climate change effects
within the boreal forest biome.
Research is being conducted at the
University of Montana to identify and understand the important processes that
determine the structure and function of boreal ecosystems. This work involves:
1) integrating remote sensing and field measurements across multiple spatial
and temporal scales 2) calculating processes that are impossible or too expensive
to measure and 3) developing more efficient and cost effective methods for long-term
monitoring and assessment of ecosystem processes in Northern Hemisphere boreal
and arctic regions using satellite remote sensing.
View
a map of the BOREAS study region...
Stand
level results summary...
Regional
results summary...
Developing
a space-borne freeze/thaw monitor for cold regions...
Additional
reading...
Visit
the BOREAS web site...
