1 NSSI Information Needs Assessment Robert Edson Altarum 26 January 2004.
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Transcript of 1 NSSI Information Needs Assessment Robert Edson Altarum 26 January 2004.
1
NSSI Information Needs Assessment
Robert Edson
Altarum
26 January 2004
North Slope Presentation
Presentation Outline• Background• Data Requirements• Remote Sensing• Animals/Plants• Traditional Knowledge• National Academy Cumulative Impacts Study• Assessment Support Tools
Map courtesy of North Slope Borough
North Slope Presentation
NSSI Information Needs Project• Goal
– To do a high level assessment of scientific information needs for the North Slope of Alaska.
– To establish infrastructure and communication pathways to support the continued exchange of information.
• Definition:– Need - assessed based on both
information availability as well as accessibility.
• Process– Interviews
– Literature surveys
– Limited site visits
Ice wedge polygons, image courtesy of USWFS
North Slope Presentation
Agencies/Organizations Active in the Region(representative list)
• Federal– Environmental Protection Agency– Department of Agriculture– Department of Energy– Department of the Interior– Bureau of Land Management– Fish and Wildlife Service– Minerals Management Service– National Science Foundation– Department of Defense– National Park Service– US Geological Survey– Army Corp of Engineers– National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency– National Aeronautics and Space Agency– National Marine Fisheries Service– National Geospatial Intelligence Agency– US Arctic Research Commission
• State– Department of Environmental Conservation– Department of Fish and Game– Department of Transportation– Department of Natural Resources
• Non-Governmental– Barrow Arctic Science Consortium– National Audubon Society– The Wilderness Society– The Nature Conservancy– Sierra Club– Ducks Unlimited– Resource Development Council– Alaska Center for the Environment – ARCUS
• Industry/Consultants– ConocoPhillips– BP Alaska– Tesoro Alaska Company– Unocal– ExxonMobil– Chevron/Texaco– Anadarko Petroleum Corporation– Alyeska Pipeline Services Company– Petro Star, Inc.– Alaska Oil and Gas Association– Total E&P USA– Pioneer Natural Resources– Braund and Associates– ABR, Inc.– AeroMap, Inc.– Alaska Research Associates, Inc.– Enxtrix– ENSR International– Encana
• Local – North Slope Borough– Arctic Slope Regional Corporation– Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope– Alaska Federation of Natives
• Academic– University of Alaska– University of Tennessee– University of Washington– Barrow Arctic Science Consortium– The Ecosystem Center, Marine Biological Laboratory– Many other Universities and Institutes
North Slope Presentation
Baseline Data with Desired Temporal and Spatial Scales (Draft)
Data Category
Data Type
Current Update
Frequency (Temporal
Scale)
Current Spatial scale
Desired Temporal
Scale
Desired Spatial Scale
Existing Data Status
PoliticalCensus
BoundariesDecadal
down to township level
Currentdown to
township levelAvailable
DemographicCensus
DemographicsDecadal
down to Census block
Currentdown to Census
blockAvailable
Native
AllotmentsAnnual
Updatesdown to about
300mHistoric Annual
down to about 300m
Available
Subsistence
Camps/Cabins
Historic Routes
Hunting Areas
Annual Variable
Ecological Wildlife events
some annual, some
observations over several
years
Highly variable Seasonaldown to specific
sitesVariable
Fauna Specific site observations
Variable by species
1km grid over region w/ 20m
sampling at local sites
Variable
Infrastructure Roads Decadal 1:100,000 1 year 10m pixel Incomplete
Pipelines1:100,000
1 year 10m pixel Incomplete
Oil Wells1:100,000
1 year 10m pixel Incomplete
LandmarksAirports, Runways
Annual Specific Sites 1 year specific sites Incomplete
North Slope Presentation
Data Category Data Type
Current Update
Frequency (Temporal
Scale)
Current Spatial Scale
Desire Temporal Scale
Desired Spatial Scale
Existing Data Status
ClimaticWeather Stations
Recorded in 60min
intervals, transmitted every ~ 3
hours
Specific SitesReal Time,
Seasonal, Annual
Synoptic North Slope Picture
with fine resolution as specific sites
Limited Stations (20)
Stream Gages
Recorded in 15-60min intervals,
transmitted every ~ 1 to 4
hours
Specific sitesReal Time,
Seasonal, Annual
Comprehensive North Slope
Picture with fine resolution as specific sites
Limited Stations (4)
PrecipitationInfrequent Updates
1:2M Historic/Annual 10km
General Met 4 hours 1 km
Air Quality 5 years Avail for Barrow
Snow Cover bi-weekly in winter 1kmMODIS product available
starting 2000.
Topographic DEMs as needed 60m CurrentSubmeter
Height/20m pixels
30-60m horz. Available
Bathymetry as needed 2.5km Current 2.5km pixels
Baseline Data with Desired Temporal and Spatial Scales (Draft)
North Slope Presentation
Baseline Data with Desired Temporal and Spatial Scales (Draft)
Data Category
Data Type
Current Update
Frequency (Temporal
Scale)
Current Spatial Scale
Desire Temporal
Scale
Desired Spatial Scale
Existing Data Status
Geologic Oil Fields 1:250,000 Current 1:250,000
Soils 1:250,000 1 time 1km STATSGO - Not
validated
Permafrost 1:2,500,000 5 years 1km 1970
Thaw
depth/active layer
Limited Specific
Sites5 years 1km 27 - CALM
Hydrologic
Rivers and Lakes –
Extent/Depth (volume)
Decadal 1:100,000 YearlySurface
10m/Depth 1m
Coarse Scale, circa 1980 USGS 1:250,00
Maps. Not fully validated.
Watershed Boundaries
1:250,000 5 years 1km Available at 1:2M
Water Quality 5 years Unknown
Land Use / Land Cover
General 5 years 30m pixels50m available for region from 1978,
30m for limited area
Vegetation 1:4M Sloop
wide5 years 20m pixels
CAVM 1:4M; 30m in NPRA, 1002, ANWR
North Slope Presentation
GIS/Data Holdings (Representative Listing)
• Alaska Geospatial Data Clearinghouse• Barrow Area Info Database-IMS• Alaska DNR – Division of Oil and Gas• Alaska Geobotany Center• Toolik Field Stations GIS• Bureau of Land Management – Northern Field
Office and State Office• USGS Arctic Science Center• USGS - Alaska Digital Geologic Map Database• The Nature Conservancy - Ecoregion Study• Fish and Wildlife Service• US Geological Survey• Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA)• North Slope Borough – Planning and General
Slope information• UAA/CRREL – Sea Ice Atlas• ConocoPhillips • BP • LGL – Oil industry and Human activity in Beaufort
Sea • Numerous Research Specific Activities
Toolik Lake, image courtesy of Arctic LTER
Milepost 0 of Trans-Alaska Pipeline and gravel pad, Prudhoe Bay, image courtesy of NAS
North Slope Presentation
Representative Data SourcesSource URL Data Acquired
ADNR – Division of Oil and Gas http://www.dog.dnr.state.ak.us/oil/comprehensive access database of current
leasesX
AeroMap U.S. http://www.aeromap.com/ Detailed imagery
Exploratory oil well infrastructure
Puddle-jumper airfields
Alaska Aviation Weather Unit http://aawu.arh.noaa.gov/Real-time weather conditions at select points
(airports)http://aawu.arh.noaa.gov/pf/pf.php?areat
afs=PABR"Area Fax Sheet" possible link for automated
download of data
Alaska DOT http://www.dot.state.ak.us/ possible source of DOQQsdetailed pipeline corridor study?
Alaska Fish and Wildlife Servicehttp://alaska.fws.gov/Administration/IR
M/GIS/index.htmIMS under construction
Alaska Geobotany Center http://www.geobotany.uaf.edu/ Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map X
Other geologic data (not available for download yet)
Alaska Geo-spatial Data Clearinghouse http://agdc.usgs.gov/data/index.html Various links to other agencies X
Alaska Interim Land Cover Mapping Program (USGS)
http://agdc.usgs.gov/data/usgs/erosafo/ak_int_lcc/int.html
no coverage of North Slope
Alaska Satellite Facility http://www.asf.alaska.edu/ SAR DataAlaska Science Center – Mineral
Resources Team (USGS)http://alaskaminerals.wr.usgs.gov/
Alaska State Geo-spatial Data Clearinghouse
http://www.asgdc.state.ak.us/ X
Alaska’s Cooperatively Implemented Information Management System
http://info.dec.state.ak.us/ciimms/ IMS of real-time stream gages
North Slope Presentation
Representative Data Sources (cont.)Source URL Data Acquired
ANWR Data Sitehttp://agdc.usgs.gov/data/projects/anwr/
webhtml/Landsat MSS and TM mosaiced imagery X
ANWR vegetation rasters X
Arctic Transitions in the Land Atmosphere System (ATLAS)
http://www.joss.ucar.edu/atlas/ detailed weather data from selected sites X
http://www.joss.ucar.edu/atlas/master_data_table.html
data from the North Slope X
Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program
http://www.arm.gov/docs/sites/nsa/nsaaao.html
Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Website (Univ. of Cincinnati)
http://www.geography.uc.edu/~kenhinke/CALM/
annual thaw depth measurements for select sites
X
Creative Force Inc.http://www.creativeforceinc.com/Street_Map_templates/street_maps.asp?ID=85 political and infrastructure maps for sale
Fish Distribution Databasehttp://www.habitat.adfg.state.ak.us/geni
nfo/anadcat/awc_gisdata.shtmlanadromous waters (1998 and 2002)
downloadableX
Frozen Ground Data Center (NSIDC) http://nsidc.org/fgdc/index.htmlCircumpolar Active Permafrost Layer Data on
CDX
Inforain http://www.inforain.org/dataresources/ miscellaneous political and infrastructure files X
Intermap Technologies http://www.intermaptechnologies.com/ detailed terrain maps for purchaseInternational Arctic Research Center http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/
International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange
http://ioc.unesco.org/oceanteacher/resourcekit/M3/Formats/Geography/Oceans
Seas.htmshapefile of oceans and seas X
Minerals Management Service http://www.mms.gov/
National Science Foundationhttp://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/arctic/start.ht
m
North Slope Presentation
Representative Data Sources (cont.)Source URL Data Acquired
National Snow and Ice Data Center/Arctic System Science Data Coordination Center
http://nsidc.org/data/arcss017.html
large scale data available for select sites (Toolik Lake, Imnavait Creek, Kuparuk
River)National Weather Service http://www.arh.noaa.gov/obs.php real-time met stations X
North Slope Borough GIS http://www.co.north-slope.ak.us/gis/ no downloadable data
Northwest NPRA EIS Mapshttp://borealis.ak.blm.gov/npra/pdf/pdfm
aps.htmlpdfs of BLM produced maps X
Quaternary GIS Laboratory http://instaar.colorado.edu/QGISL/ Paleoglaciology dataAlaska North Slope Climate Impact
Assesment data and imagerySpatial Data Management System http://sdms.ak.blm.gov/sdms/index.jsp native allotments X
township grids X
The National Atlas http://nationalatlas.gov/atlasftp.html various nationwide data layers X
The Nature Conservancyhttp://nature.org/wherewework/northame
rica/states/alaska/Wildlife data?
http://gis.tnc.org/ pdfs of maps (data looks the same as BLM) X
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicehttp://www.fws.gov/data/statdata/akdata
.htmllinks to GIS data at other agencies X
USACE FUDS (Formerly Used Defense Site)
http://137.161.179.3/fuds/meta/akstatewide.html
various layers (political, roads) X
USGS Real-time Stream Flow Sitehttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/ak/nwis/curre
nt/?type=flowX
WERC – North Slope Hydrology Research Projects
http://www.uaf.edu/water/projects/NorthSlope/currentconditions.html
real-time conditions from selected sites X
North Slope Presentation
• Infrastructure– Metadata on the available infrastructure maps is incomplete, and it is likely that the digital maps of pipelines
and transmission lines are at a relatively coarse scale. We have good maps of roads, as of 2002, from the TIGER files. It is unknown if the roads layer has been adequately validated.
• Topography – Current DEMs are available from the USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED)
(http://gisdata.usgs.gov/NED/default.asp) based on USGS DLGS. The data is a low resolution source grided to a 2-arc-second resolution, which equals about 30 meters in northern Alaska. The precision of the source data determined the NED data precision. In northern Alaska, the data is not well resolved. Some areas of the North Slope have had some additional data collections. Also, some NSF projects have acquired airborne IFSARE data for specific areas.
• Hydrology– The current maps are from standard USGS mapping procedures. Much of the NS has been mapped at the
coarser 1:250,000 scale. Some areas are mapped at the 1:63,360 scale (inch to a mile). Map updates may not be recent. No validation.
• Land Cover– A comprehensive, slope-wide mapping of land cover has been done previously in the late 1970’s using Landsat
MSS. Updated in 1990’s but not readily accessible.• Lake depth/freezing
– Lake depth and freezing has not been done for the North Slope, aside from a few studies of individual lakes for algorithm development.
• Snow cover– Snow cover maps may be available from 2000 to the present from NASA (MODIS Land program). The status
and validity of the product is unknown. Historic snow cover (pre-2000) may be derived from passive microwave imagery (SSMI), but the accuracy would be less than MODIS-derived maps.
• Freeze/thaw– Freeze/thaw maps derived from SAR may be available from NASA JPL. The status and validity of the product
is unknown.• Vegetation/greenness (NDVI)
– 15-day composite NDVI products would be the desired product for April to September. Many years of composite data are avail, and a product is currently being made using MODIS. Approx 20 years of 8-km data are not difficult to obtain. 1 km resolution could be compiled, but with some missing years.
Major Slope Data Layers- Current Status
North Slope Presentation
North Slope Remote Sensing• Landsat –16-17 scenes required for full coverage of North Slope (see figure).
Landsat MSS from mid 1970’s to 1980 – limited available – mosaic is better Landsat TM from early 1980’s to 1990’s – limited coverage Landsat 7 (ETM+) 1999 to 2003 – very good coverage, but sensor problems beginning in 2003 continue at present. Landsat MSS Mosaic Circa 1978 – Covers entire North Slope, three spectral bands (green, red, near-ir); 50 m pixel spacing. 2 scenes from
1987. Landsat TM – 4-scene mosaic of Prudhoe Bay and east. 30 m resolution Landsat ETM+ images of portion of NPRA-northwest – 2 adjacent scenes from 2002
• AVHRR – one or two scenes required for full coverage. Composite data more useful than raw images. AVHRR composite images – bi-monthly composites of Alaska for summers 1990 to 1992. 1 km resolution. May be available for 1993/4. AVHRR imagery – available at least 2X per day from 1981 to present – difficult to use “raw” data (see composite images above)
• Synthetic Aperture Radar – many data collections from each sensor ERS-1/2 SAR – 300+ scenes needed for full NS coverage 1991 to present. JERS SAR – 300+ scenes needed for full NS coverage 1994 To 1998 Radarsat standard beam – 300+ scenes needed for full coverage Radarsat ScanSAR – 4 to 6 scenes needed to cover NS 1995 to present
• TERRA/AQUA sensors: MODIS – multi-spectral system – data collected on 2 satellites – at least one morning and one afternoon collection each day. 250m to 1km
resolution. Many data products being created (see below). MISR & ASTER – multi-spectral sensors with small coverage per scene (smaller than Landsat). Targeted collections can be requested as a
NASA investigator.• Specific Products
Vegetation index (NDVI/EVI) – MODIS-derived 16-day composite; 250 or 500 m resolution; global product for 2000 to present. Vegetation index (NDVI) – AVHRR-derived; 15-day composite; 8-km resolution; global product for 1982 to 2000 available. Snow cover – MODIS-derived; 8-day composite; 500 m resolution; global product, composite used to eliminate clouds. Algorithm is well
tested and robust. Combination of MODIS snow cover product with passive microwave (AMSR on AQUA) can yield snow-water equivalent. Active layer/thaw depth – Data from the CALM project – may not be RS-derived
North Slope Presentation
North Slope GIS/Data Efforts• Good Attributes
– Site specific data available– Highly detailed data available– Many data layers are constantly updated– Abundance of GIS related activities in the North Slope
• Problems– Incomplete coverage across slope– Slope-wide data is often at a small scale
• Major Deficiencies– Metadata missing, incomplete, or in a format not easily imported
in ArcCatalog– Many layers are over 10 years old with no plan to update
• The NSSI needs a comprehensive GIS for planning and research which is accessible and user friendly.– Targeted at archive and analysis.
North Slope Presentation
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Animal/Plant Studies
• Significant work has been done.– Studies predominately development region specific or very
local in nature.– Concentrated on individual species - snap shot in space
and time.
• Ecosystem/system perspective not obtained.• Few landscape scale studies.
North Slope Presentation
Traditional Knowledge• Traditional knowledge (from Patricia Cochran, AKNSC)
– Practical common sense passed on from generation to generation. – Knowledge of the environment and the relationships between things. – Holistic. It is a way of life.
• Several excellent projects to make traditional knowledge more available and to incorporate into decision making. Examples include:
– Alaska Native Knowledge Network– MMS Hearing Testimony Transcripts– Projects by Native Science Commission and Institute for Social and Economic
Research– Northern Contaminants Program
• Difficulties still exist in the application of Traditional Knowledge:– Eliciting and gathering the information– Long term commitment to the collection and collation of the information– Development of applications and methods for efficient information storage and
access – Development of tools for the western scientist and manager to use and understand
the information
North Slope Presentation
• Committee formed by the National Academies
• Reviewed information about oil and gas activities on the North Slope, and assessed the known and possible cumulative impacts of those activities.
• Looked at impacts on the physical, biotic, human and marine environments. Evaluated a variety of possible scenarios for the future.
National Academy of ScienceCumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities
Aerial view of Prudhoe Bay, image courtesy of Alaska DNR
Prudhoe Bay drill rig, image courtesy of Alaska DNR
North Slope Presentation
NAS Study Key Findings• Climate Change
– Interaction of climate change and oil development.– Source of change in the region is not well understood.
• Need for Comprehensive Planning– Currently decisions on industrial activities without a comprehensive plan to guide
the process.• Ecosystem Research
– Lack of ecosystem-level research in the North Slope. • Offshore Oil Spills
– Additional research needed especially in broken ice.• Zones of Influence
– Research is required to understand the true zone of influence from industrial activities.
• Human Communities– Research is needed that looks at the benefits and threats from industrial activities
to the way of life of North Slope communities.• Human-Health Effects
– Lack of data on the exact impact of industrial activities on human health in the North Slope.
North Slope Presentation
NAS Study Key Findings (cont.)• Air Contamination and its Effects
– Limited historical data for air quality trend analysis. • Off-Road Traffic and the Tundra
– Effects of off-road traffic are not completely understood. • Caribou and Bowhead Whales
– Need to understand impact of development on caribou on the North Slope, especially in regards to their habitats and reproductive activities.
– Effects of noise from offshore activities on the behavior of bowhead whales.• Consequences of Water Withdrawals
– Effects of an increase in the use of water from deeper lakes.– Effects of the removal of water from lakes that may not contain fish, but are used
by other biota.• Dealing with Uncertainty
– Impossible to collect enough data – Difficult to study certain animal species. – Uncertainties in research need to be provided to decision makers to improve the
decision making process.
North Slope Presentation
SEARCH Implementation
• Arctic System Reanalysis• Detecting and Quantifying Unaami• Social and Economic Interactions• Large Scale Atmospheric Observatories• Distributed Marine Obersvatories• Distributed Terrestrial Observatories• Linkages and Global Couplings• Social Response
North Slope Presentation
Assessment and Planning Tools
• NSSI Composite Planning GIS• NSSI Portal
– Online Citation Database– Online Project Database
Trans-Alaska Pipeline, image courtesy of BLM
Trucks spraying water in the construction of an ice road, image courtesy of Alaska Oil and Gas Reporter
North Slope Presentation
NSSI Composite Planning GIS
GIS Data
Political/Admin.
Demographic
Infrastructure
Cadastral
Landmarks
Env./Pub. Health
Imagery
Climatic
Topographic
Geologic
Hydrologic
Landuse/Landcover
Ecologic
• Landsat MSS (50m and 100m)• Landsat TM (50m)
• USGS DEMs• Elevation Contours
• Exploratory Oil Wells• Oil and Gas fields
• Surficial Geology• Coal Fields
• Real-Time Stream Gages• Detailed lakes
• STATSGO Soils• Ecoregions
• Wildlife Data
• Annual Average Precipitation (1961 – 1990)• Real-Time Weather Stations
• State Lines• County Lines
• Census Tracts, Block Groups, Blocks• 2000 Census Data
• MIRIS (transportation & utilities)• TIGER Line Files
• Available for a fee
• TIGER Line Files (schools, hospitals, religious centers, etc.)
• National Cancer Atlas
• Municipality Boundaries• City Boundaries
• Coastline Bathymetry
• Airports/Airstrips• Pipelines
• Native Allotments
• Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map• NPRA land cover raster
• TIGER Hydrology • USGS Hydrology
• SeaWiFS phytolankton chlorophyl concentrations
• Pump stations
North Slope Presentation
NSSI Portal (www.northslope.org)A unified front end/entry point for all aspects of the initiative…
• Website with collected links and information on the North Slope.
• “One-Stop Shop” for the casual or serious user.
• Brings together large numbers of disparate data.
• Invaluable for communication, education, and outreach.
• Provides enhanced research and collaboration environment.
•Online Project Database– Emphasis on Industry and Agency
Projects
•Online Citation Database– Emphasis on gray and non-traditional
literature
North Slope Presentation
Summary
• The extent and cause of change in the North Slope region is not well understood.
• Baseline data for the region, from species population and dynamics to ecosystem assessments, is incomplete from a spatial and temporal standpoint.
• Data management is not sufficiently organized or coordinated to maximize and leverage data use.
• Coordination and exchange between researchers is difficult or lacking because there is no user friendly process in place.
• Sufficient support infrastructure is not available to fully address these issues.