Grassland and cropland net ecosystem production of the U.S. Great Plains: Regression tree model development and comparative analysis

Remote Sensing
By: , and 

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Abstract

This paper presents the methodology and results of two ecological-based net ecosystem production (NEP) regression tree models capable of up scaling measurements made at various flux tower sites throughout the U.S. Great Plains. Separate grassland and cropland NEP regression tree models were trained using various remote sensing data and other biogeophysical data, along with 15 flux towers contributing to the grassland model and 15 flux towers for the cropland model. The models yielded weekly mean daily grassland and cropland NEP maps of the U.S. Great Plains at 250 m resolution for 2000–2008. The grassland and cropland NEP maps were spatially summarized and statistically compared. The results of this study indicate that grassland and cropland ecosystems generally performed as weak net carbon (C) sinks, absorbing more C from the atmosphere than they released from 2000 to 2008. Grasslands demonstrated higher carbon sink potential (139 g C·m−2·year−1) than non-irrigated croplands. A closer look into the weekly time series reveals the C fluctuation through time and space for each land cover type.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Grassland and cropland net ecosystem production of the U.S. Great Plains: Regression tree model development and comparative analysis
Series title Remote Sensing
DOI 10.3390/rs8110944
Volume 8
Issue 11
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher MDPI
Contributing office(s) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center
Description Article 944; 28 p.
First page 1
Last page 28
Country United States
Other Geospatial Great Plains
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