Spectral Network (SpecNet): What is it and why do we need it?

Authors:

John A. Gamon

location: Show address on map

AF Rahman

JLO Dungan

N Schildhauer

KK Huemmrich


Type: ARTICLE

Journal: Remote Sensing of Environment

Month: August

Year: 2006

Volume: 103

Number: 3

Pages: 227-235

URI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2006.04.003

Abstract:

Effective integration of optical remote sensing with flux measurements across multiple scales is essential for understanding global patterns of surface–atmosphere fluxes of carbon and water vapor. SpecNet (Spectral Network) is an international network of cooperating investigators and sites linking optical measurements with flux sampling for the purpose of improving our understanding of the controls on these fluxes. An additional goal is to characterize disturbance impacts on surface–atmosphere fluxes. To reach these goals, key SpecNet objectives include the exploration of scaling issues, development of novel sampling tools, standardization and intercomparison of sampling methods, development of models and statistical methods that relate optical sampling to fluxes, exploration of component fluxes, validation of satellite products, and development of an informatics approach that integrates disparate data sources across scales. Examples of these themes are summarized in this review.