SS 13

DOE’s Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments: A Coupled Model-Experiment in Arctic and Tropical Ecosystems

The Terrestrial Ecosystem Science (TES) program within the US Department of Energy’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research supports basic science to improve representation of critical terrestrial ecosystem processes in Earth System Models.  TES currently supports two high profile Next Generation Ecosystem Experiments (NGEE) in Arctic and Tropical ecosystems.  Both ecosystems are critical components in global climate regulation and are vulnerable due to rapid shifts resulting from climate change.  However, the natural function of these complex systems and how those functions are likely to change in a changing climate are poorly understood or represented in Earth system models. Through a coupled model-experiment approach, modeling limitations/uncertainties will inform field research design, and vice versa, to improve our understanding ability to predict of ecosystem-climate feedbacks.  The Town Hall meeting will highlight the overall approach and engage the community in a discussion including opportunities to leverage current and future investments in the NGEE activities as well as other TES funding opportunities.