Tree Ring Analysis through Satellite Data
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration Tree Ring Analysis through Satellite Data www.nasa.gov Preston Lewis, SSAI/NASA Langley Research Center Earth to Sky Workshop, Harpers Ferry, WV, February 3, 2010
description
National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Tree Ring Analysis through Satellite Data. Preston Lewis, SSAI/NASA Langley Research Center Earth to Sky Workshop, Harpers Ferry, WV, February 3, 2010. www.nasa.gov. Mission Statements. The National Park Service : - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Tree Ring Analysis through Satellite Data
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Tree Ring Analysis throughSatellite Data
www.nasa.gov
Preston Lewis, SSAI/NASA Langley Research Center
Earth to Sky Workshop, Harpers Ferry, WV, February 3, 2010
The National Park Service :Preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
U.S Fish and Wildlife Service :Working with others, is to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration :To improve life here, To extend life to there, To find life beyond.
Mission Statements
What NASA Looks at on Earth
•Atmosphere•Biosphere•Cryosphere•Land Surfaces
•Oceans
The satellites of NASA’s Earth Observing System monitor daily events and long term changes. (NASA image by Jenny Mottar.)
How the Earth is Analyzed
MY NASA DATA
Site Selections
Data Access
DATA ACCESS
Live Access Server Choices
Live Access Server-Tutorials-Server Selection
Tree Rings and the Live Access Server
Live Access Server (LAS) Navigation
Live Access Server (LAS) Navigation
Live Access Server (LAS) Navigation
Tree Information
Virginia Pine: Pinaceae Pinus virginiana
Location: Kenbridge VALongitude: 81.2 WLatitude: 36.2N
Cut Down: 2009Age: 29 years
Items of Interest
1. Very thin dark ring?
2. Rather thick dark ring?
3. Consistent decrease in ring thickness
1988
1997
1. Very thin dark ring?
1. Very Thin Dark Ring?
-Lower amounts of rainfall in the summer cause the presence of a very thin summer growth ring.
1. Very Thin Dark Ring?
Summer Avg= 219.8 w/m2
•Low summer precipitation, coupled with a moderately high amount of summer short wave radiation, creates non-ideal growing conditions causing smaller summer growth rings.
2. Rather Thick Dark Ring?
2. Rather Thick Dark Ring?
-Increased rainfall during the summer months caused the dark growth ring to be larger than surrounding years.
2. Rather Thick Dark Ring?
Summer Avg= 215.475 w/m2
•Higher summer precipitation, coupled with a moderately high amount of summer short wave radiation, creates more ideal growing conditions allowing for larger summer growth rings.
3. Consistent Decrease in Ring Thickness
3. Consistent decrease in ring thickness
How can the Live Access Server be used to show long term trends?
Long Term Trends in the LAS
-In the LAS, a user option for output format is an ASCII text file.
-This text file can be imported into Excel allowing the user to manipulate the data as needed.
Rain
fall
in m
m/d
ay m
ean
Year
3. Consistent Decrease in Ring Thickness
-After importing the rainfall data into Excel, yearly rainfall averages were obtained and plotted.
-A line of best fit shows an average decrease in rainfall.
-Declining rainfall coupled with increase tree size accounts for the consistent decrease in ring thickness.
1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 20102
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
Average Rainfall for 1979-2006in Kenbridge VA
RainfallLinear (Rainfall)
Short Wave Radiation
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 3500
50
100
150
200
250
300 Monthly Surface All-sky SW Downward Flux (SRB)
W/m^2
Linear (W/m^2)
•The short wave radiation (1983-2006), show a gradual increase in the amount that reaches the Earth’s surface
•While there is a gradual increase in surface SW downward flux radiation (used in photosynthesis), the limiting factor in tree ring development at this location was the amount of available water.
•A decrease in average rainfall and an increase in average incoming short wave radiation might be leading to non-ideal growing conditions over a long period of time.
-Number refer to excel locations. Time shown from Jan 1983 through Jan 2006 (numbers on chart reflect data point numbers)
Earth’s Energy Budget
Short Wave Radiation
USGS Real-Time Water Dataas a Comparison
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/rt •Stream data agrees with LAS rainfall data (general decline in available water)
MY NASA DATA on Climate Change
-A section dedicated to Climate change lesson plans that utilize the Live Access Server.
Internet Resources:1. MY NASA DATA: http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/
2. MND LAS: http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/data.html
3. How the Earth is Analyzed video: http://www.youtube.com/user/nasascool#p/c/E02ACB77F997C188/4/P4dDF8-kcUI
4. USGS real-time water data: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?02051000
5. MY NASA DATA YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/MyNASAData
6. Analyzing Tree Rings to Determine Climate Change: http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/preview_lesson.php?&passid=95
