Carbon Blog tag:carbonmodel.org,2009-04-29:/blog/1 2010-12-22T17:05:30Z modeling carbon budgets in large terrestrial ecosystems Movable Type 4.34-en Law and the GeoWeb tag:carbonmodel.org,2010:/blog//1.27 2010-12-22T17:01:39Z 2010-12-22T17:05:30Z Puneet Kishor http://punkish.org/geoweb/index.html
]]> Policy Issues in Accessibility and Interoperability of Scientific Data: Experiences from the Carbon Modeling Field tag:carbonmodel.org,2010:/blog//1.26 2010-12-22T16:25:42Z 2010-12-22T16:29:34Z Puneet Kishor
Abstract: Large-scale terrestrial ecosystem modeling is highly parameterized, and requires lots of historical data. Routine model runs can easily utlize hundreds of Gigabytes, even Terabytes of data on tens, perhaps hundreds of parameters. It is a given that no one modeler can or does collect all the required data. All modelers depend upon other scientists, and governmental and research agencies for their data needs. This is where data accessibility and interoperability become crucial for the success of the project. Having well-documented and quality data available in a timely fashion can greatly assist a project's progress, while the converse can bring the project to a standstill, leading to a large amount of wasted staff time and resources. Data accessibility is a complex issue -- at best, it is an unscientific composite of a variety of factors: technological, legal, cultural, semantic, and economic. In reality, it is a concept that most scientists only worry about when they need some data, and mostly never after their project is complete. The exigencies of the vetting, review and publishing processes overtake the long-term view of making one's own data available to others with the same ease and openness that was desired when seeking data from others. This presentation describes our experience with acquiring data for our carbon modeling efforts, dealing with federal, state and local agencies, variety of data formats, some published, some not so easy to find, and documentation that ranges from excellent to non-existent. A set of indicators are proposed to place and determine the accessibility of scientific data -- those we are seeking and those we are producing -- in order to bring some transparency and clarity that can make data acquisition and sharing easier. The paper concludes with a proposal to utilize a free, open and well-recognized data marks such as CC0 (CC-Zero), Public Domain Dedication License, and CC-BY created by Creative Commons that would advertise the openness of scientific data to everyone.

]]> Whole-system carbon balance for a regional temperate forest in Northern Wisconsin, USA tag:carbonmodel.org,2010:/blog//1.25 2010-12-22T16:02:11Z 2010-12-22T16:23:55Z Scott Peckham presented at AGU2010 in San Francisco, CA.Abstract: The whole-system (biological+industrial) carbon (C) balance was estimated for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF), a temperate forest covering 600,000 ha in Northern Wisconsin, USA. The biological system was modeled using a... Puneet Kishor Scott Peckham presented at AGU2010 in San Francisco, CA.

Abstract: The whole-system (biological+industrial) carbon (C) balance was estimated for the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF), a temperate forest covering 600,000 ha in Northern Wisconsin, USA. The biological system was modeled using a spatially-explicit version of the ecosystem process model Biome-BGC. The industrial system was modeled using life cycle inventory (LCI) models for wood and paper products. Biome-BGC was used to estimate net primary production, net ecosystem production (NEP), and timber harvest (H) over the entire CNNF. The industrial carbon budget (Ci) was estimated by applying LCI models of CO2 emissions resulting from timber harvest and production of specific wood and paper products in the CNNF region. In 2009, simulated NEP of the CNNF averaged 3.0 tC/ha and H averaged 0.1 tC/ha. Despite model uncertainty, the CNNF region is likely a carbon sink (NEP - Ci > 0), even when CO2 emissions from timber harvest and production of wood and paper products are included in the calculation of the entire forest system C budget.

]]> Long term temperature manipulations in Black Spruce tag:carbonmodel.org,2010:/blog//1.24 2010-06-25T20:55:17Z 2010-07-15T15:45:36Z Puneet Kishor climate change manipulation experiments." The workshop was hosted by CLIMMANI, and was  held in Umeå, Sweden, 21-24 June, 2010.
Download presentation ~ 3.6 MB PDF

]]> Data Considerations in Science tag:carbonmodel.org,2010:/blog//1.22 2010-05-24T22:26:47Z 2010-07-16T02:06:11Z Puneet Kishor "Archive '10," NSF Workshop on Repeatable Scientific Experiments, to be held at the Department of Computer Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Puneet's presentation, titled "Interoperability As A Guiding Principle For Long-Term Archives", focused on the questions that a scientist may want to ask with regards to data. Our work with very large amounts of data used in carbon modeling give us first hand experience on how ready data accessibility, or lack thereof, can slow down the process of science. The presentation focused on legal issues surrounding data accessibility.
]]> USFS Region 9 Planning, Appeals & Litigation Meeting tag:carbonmodel.org,2010:/blog//1.23 2010-05-20T13:48:27Z 2010-05-24T14:03:30Z Puneet Kishor Scott Peckham gave two presentations at the U.S. Forest Service Region 9 Planning, Appeals & Litigation Meeting, May 19 in Minocqua, WI. PDFs of the presentation can be downloaded below -


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]]> Biome-BGC Presentations at 2010 GLBRC Annual Retreat tag:carbonmodel.org,2010:/blog//1.21 2010-05-19T22:09:45Z 2010-05-24T14:05:55Z Tom Gower and Puneet Kishor gave two separate presentations at the 2010 GLBRC Annual Retreat in South Bend, Indiana, on May 18, 2010. Tom's presentation focused on the issues surrounding woody biomass as a biofuel feedstock. Tom discussed the pros... Puneet Kishor biofuel feedstock. Tom discussed the pros and cons of plantations vs. natural forests, and sustainability ramifications of biofuels. Puneet's presentation gave an introduction to Biome-BGC, focused on data needs for the model, and the future direction that the Carbonmodel team is considering with regards to using multiple climate data scenarios and making the data easily accessible to the greater scientific community.

Both presentations can be downloaded here.
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]]> Life Cycle Analysis of Biofuels in the Upper Midwest tag:carbonmodel.local,2010:/blog//1.20 2010-03-12T17:54:17Z 2010-04-05T19:55:42Z Natalie Hunt gave a presentation titled "Where does our energy come from? Life Cycle Analysis of Biofuels in the Upper Midwest" at the US EPA Women in Science and Engineering conference in Chicago Mar 11-12, 2010.Over the next 20 years,... Natalie Hunt http://forestecology.forest.wisc.edu/Hunt.html Natalie Hunt gave a presentation titled "Where does our energy come from? Life Cycle Analysis of Biofuels in the Upper Midwest" at the US EPA Women in Science and Engineering conference in Chicago Mar 11-12, 2010.
Over the next 20 years, biofuel production will take on an increasingly significant role in meeting this country's energy needs. This will require greater production intensity on existing cropland, or introducing production onto marginal land currently set aside in conservation programs. Major uncertainties in biofuel production include determining how much biomass can be produced, the environmental impacts of growing and transporting biomass, and finally converting it to liquid transportation fuel. With large overarching national policy pushing toward incorporating biofuels into an energy independence strategy, weighing these complex issues at multiple scales is a great yet significant challenge.
Natalie is exploring these questions by using a series of process models to simulate the life cycle of biofuels. Natalie is applying a "field to wheels" approach, by looking at all the processes involved in moving the corn plant from the field to the gas tank, and accounting for all of the energy inputs/outputs and greenhouse gas emissions of feedstock production, fuel processing and fuel distribution. This production system requires energy to power these processes so we also must account for these as well. One of the challenging aspects of life cycle analysis is that there is not one "catchall" model that can accurately simulate all of these processes and interactions, so Natalie's  research team is working to construct a framework for threading together a series of computer models to set up a protocol for life cycle assessment.
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]]> Posters presented at the GLBRC Thrust 4 retreat tag:carbonmodel.local,2010:/blog//1.19 2010-02-12T23:07:56Z 2010-07-13T23:04:58Z Natalie Hunt, Nelson Institute Ph.D. student and Carbon Model team member, and Prof. Tom Gower, Carbon Model team leader, presented posters on Biome-BGC at the GLBRC Thrust 4 retreat February 10-12, 2010 at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station.The Renewable Fuels... Natalie Hunt http://forestecology.forest.wisc.edu/Hunt.html Natalie Hunt, Nelson Institute Ph.D. student and Carbon Model team member, and Prof. Tom Gower, Carbon Model team leader, presented posters on Biome-BGC at the GLBRC Thrust 4 retreat February 10-12, 2010 at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station.
The Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS) set out in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act call for an increase in the production of renewable transportation fuels to 36 billion gallons per year by the year 2022, 16 billion of which must include cellulosic ethanol. The RFS will increase demand for corn grain and cellulosic ethanol, both of which will require additional biomass from crop residues such as corn cobs and corn stover. Such an increase in biomass demand will require greater production intensity on existing cropland, or introducing production onto marginal land currently set aside in conservation programs. Greater production intensity will include reducing the amount of crop residues typically left on the soil surface, which may decrease long term soil productivity.   
Major uncertainties in biofuel feedstock production include determining how much biomass can be produced, and how carbon and nutrient cycling in agricultural ecosystems will be impacted by increased residue removal.  The answers to these questions will determine if and how we can sustainably produce adequate biomass to meet our future energy demands. 

Hunt_glbrc.png

]]> Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest Workshop tag:localhost,2009:/carbonmodel/carbon_blog//1.8 2009-04-28T03:30:08Z 2010-04-03T17:20:48Z The Carbon Model Project sponsored a workshop at the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF). The entire Carbon Model team (Tom Gower, Scott Peckham, Puneet Kishor and Sam Batzli) drove up to CNNF office in Park Falls, WI, where approximately 18 USFS... Puneet Kishor Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest (CNNF). The entire Carbon Model team (Tom Gower, Scott Peckham, Puneet Kishor and Sam Batzli) drove up to CNNF office in Park Falls, WI, where approximately 18 USFS employees were in attendance. Gower provided an overview of the two modeling efforts to track the system (biological + industrial ecosystems) carbon balance for (i) biofuels and (ii) wood and paper products). Scott discussed the ongoing modeling efforts using Biome-BGC; Tom discussed the ongoing life cycle analysis modeling efforts, Puneet and Sam shared the vision for and the ongoing development and implementation of the web-based Carbon Management tool. Linda Parker, CNNF, updated the workshop participants on other carbon-related research efforts on the CNNF.
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]]> Collaboration with GLBRC tag:localhost,2009:/carbonmodel/carbon_blog//1.7 2009-04-21T20:39:02Z 2010-04-03T17:23:03Z Natalie Hunt, a Ph.D. candidate working with Tom Gower, is examining the effects of the emerging bioenergy industry in the upper Midwest on future environmental policy. In particular, Natalie is studying the increasing significance of biofuel production with the expansion... Puneet Kishor bioenergy industry in the upper Midwest on future environmental policy. In particular, Natalie is studying the increasing significance of biofuel production with the expansion of renewable fuel standards in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. This project is in collaboration with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) in which Tom Gower is a co-PI in the "Sustainability Thrust" area. The Sustainability Thrust examines the economic and environmental sustainability of transforming biomass to biofuels through conducting life cycle analysis (LCA) of the biofuel production system. We are using a suite of computer modeling programs to conduct a comprehensive accounting of energy inputs/outputs and greenhouse gas emissions of the processes involved from the "field to the wheels". The major thrusts of life LCA within GLBRC include:
  1. Biological cycle of agricultural and forest systems,
  2. Industrial system of feedstock production, processing, and fuel distribution, and
  3. The underlying energy system that provides energy to and receives energy from the entire biofuel production system.
The Biome-BGC team provides the biophysical modeling of both agricultural and forest feedstock systems.
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]]> Woody Biomass from Forests and Fields tag:localhost,2009:/carbonmodel/carbon_blog//1.6 2009-04-01T20:49:07Z 2010-04-03T17:25:09Z Tom Gower to present on the "use of an ecosystem process model for examining biofuel feedstock and potential environmental concerns" at a workshop organized by the University of Wisconsin Extension on Woody Biomass From Forests and Fields: Opportunities for Northern... Puneet Kishor biofuel feedstock and potential environmental concerns" at a workshop organized by the University of Wisconsin Extension on Woody Biomass From Forests and Fields: Opportunities for Northern Wisconsin on April 9th in Cable, WI.
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]]> Carbon Model team to present a poster at the NTSG workshop tag:localhost,2009:/carbonmodel/carbon_blog//1.5 2009-03-18T22:30:32Z 2010-04-03T17:27:00Z Scott Peckham will present a poster at the 4th Global Vegetation Workshop hosted by the Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group at the University of Montana in June, 2009.... Puneet Kishor 4th Global Vegetation Workshop hosted by the Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group at the University of Montana in June, 2009.
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]]> Lynx Xgrid is operational tag:localhost,2009:/carbonmodel/carbon_blog//1.4 2009-03-10T22:19:29Z 2010-04-03T17:28:23Z The Carbon Model group assembled a new Xgrid of 10 quad-core dual Xeon Xserves that will be dedicated to Biome-BGC computing. The cluster provides a combined CPU of 240 GHz with 30 TB of RAID and 320 GB of combined... Puneet Kishor Xgrid of 10 quad-core dual Xeon Xserves that will be dedicated to Biome-BGC computing. The cluster provides a combined CPU of 240 GHz with 30 TB of RAID and 320 GB of combined RAM connected at Gigabit speed. And, it does so at a total peak power consumption of 7,500 Watts. In other words, about 2.5 times the power of the previous cluster of 25 older Xserves at about 60% of power consumption.
computer_power_consumption.png

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]]> Effects of fire on regional evapotranspiration in the central Canadian boreal forest tag:carbonmodel.local,2009:/blog//1.10 2009-03-01T17:39:14Z 2010-04-02T00:35:47Z Changes in fire regimes are driving the carbon balance of much of the North American boreal forest, but few studies have examined fire-driven changes in evapotranspiration (ET) at a regional scale. This study used a version of the Biome-BGC process... Puneet Kishor North American boreal forest, but few studies have examined fire-driven changes in evapotranspiration (ET) at a regional scale. This study used a version of the Biome-BGC process model with dynamic and competing vegetation types, and explicit spatial representation of a large (106 km2) region, to simulate the effects of wildfire on ET and its components from 1948 to 2005 by comparing the fire dynamics of the 1948-1967 period with those of 1968-2005. Simulated ET averaged, over the entire temporal and spatial modeling domain, 323 mm yr-1; simulation results indicated that changes in fire in recent decades decreased regional ET by 1.4% over the entire simulation, and by 3.9% in the last 10 years (1996-2005). Conifers dominated the transpiration (EC) flux (120 mm yr-1) but decreased by 18% relative to deciduous broadleaf trees in the last part of the 20th century, when increased fire resulted in increased soil evaporation, lower canopy evaporation, lower EC, and a younger and more deciduous forest. Well- and poorly drained areas had similar rates of evaporation from the canopy and soil, but EC was twice as high in the well-drained areas. Mosses comprised a significant part of the evaporative flux to the atmosphere (22 mm yr-1). Modeled annual ET was correlated with net primary production, but not with temperature or precipitation; ET and its components were consistent with previous field and modeling studies. Wildfire is driving significant changes in hydrological processes by affecting mean stand age, forest species, and energy balance. These changes, particularly in poorly drained areas, may control the future carbon balance of the boreal forest.

Bond-Lamberty, Ben, Scott D. Peckham, Stith T. Gower and Brent E. Ewers. 2009. Effects of fire on regional evapotranspiration in the central Canadian boreal forest. Global Change Biology.
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