Abstract: Large-scale terrestrial ecosystem modeling is highly parameterized, and requires lots of historical data. Routine model runs can easily utlize hundreds of Gigabytes, even Terabytes of data on tens, perhaps hundreds of parameters. It is a given that no one modeler can or does collect all the required data. All modelers depend upon other scientists, and governmental and research agencies for their data needs. This is where data accessibility and interoperability become crucial for the success of the project. Having well-documented and quality data available in a timely fashion can greatly assist a project's progress, while the converse can bring the project to a standstill, leading to a large amount of wasted staff time and resources. Data accessibility is a complex issue -- at best, it is an unscientific composite of a variety of factors: technological, legal, cultural, semantic, and economic. In reality, it is a concept that most scientists only worry about when they need some data, and mostly never after their project is complete. The exigencies of the vetting, review and publishing processes overtake the long-term view of making one's own data available to others with the same ease and openness that was desired when seeking data from others. This presentation describes our experience with acquiring data for our carbon modeling efforts, dealing with federal, state and local agencies, variety of data formats, some published, some not so easy to find, and documentation that ranges from excellent to non-existent. A set of indicators are proposed to place and determine the accessibility of scientific data -- those we are seeking and those we are producing -- in order to bring some transparency and clarity that can make data acquisition and sharing easier. The paper concludes with a proposal to utilize a free, open and well-recognized data marks such as CC0 (CC-Zero), Public Domain Dedication License, and CC-BY created by Creative Commons that would advertise the openness of scientific data to everyone.

Scott Peckham presented at AGU2010 in San Francisco, CA.

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Scott Peckham gave two presentations at the U.S. Forest Service Region 9 Planning, Appeals & Litigation Meeting, May 19 in Minocqua, WI. PDFs of the presentation can be downloaded below -

Both presentations can be downloaded here.

Natalie Hunt gave a presentation titled "Where does our energy come from? Life Cycle Analysis of Biofuels in the Upper Midwest" at the US EPA Women in Science and Engineering conference in Chicago Mar 11-12, 2010.

Over the next 20 years, biofuel production will take on an increasingly significant role in meeting this country's energy needs. This will require greater production intensity on existing cropland, or introducing production onto marginal land currently set aside in conservation programs. Major uncertainties in biofuel production include determining how much biomass can be produced, the environmental impacts of growing and transporting biomass, and finally converting it to liquid transportation fuel. With large overarching national policy pushing toward incorporating biofuels into an energy independence strategy, weighing these complex issues at multiple scales is a great yet significant challenge.

Natalie is exploring these questions by using a series of process models to simulate the life cycle of biofuels. Natalie is applying a "field to wheels" approach, by looking at all the processes involved in moving the corn plant from the field to the gas tank, and accounting for all of the energy inputs/outputs and greenhouse gas emissions of feedstock production, fuel processing and fuel distribution. This production system requires energy to power these processes so we also must account for these as well. One of the challenging aspects of life cycle analysis is that there is not one "catchall" model that can accurately simulate all of these processes and interactions, so Natalie's  research team is working to construct a framework for threading together a series of computer models to set up a protocol for life cycle assessment.

Natalie Hunt, Nelson Institute Ph.D. student and Carbon Model team member, and Prof. Tom Gower, Carbon Model team leader, presented posters on Biome-BGC at the GLBRC Thrust 4 retreat February 10-12, 2010 at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station.

The Renewable Fuels Standards (RFS) set out in the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act call for an increase in the production of renewable transportation fuels to 36 billion gallons per year by the year 2022, 16 billion of which must include cellulosic ethanol. The RFS will increase demand for corn grain and cellulosic ethanol, both of which will require additional biomass from crop residues such as corn cobs and corn stover. Such an increase in biomass demand will require greater production intensity on existing cropland, or introducing production onto marginal land currently set aside in conservation programs. Greater production intensity will include reducing the amount of crop residues typically left on the soil surface, which may decrease long term soil productivity.   

Major uncertainties in biofuel feedstock production include determining how much biomass can be produced, and how carbon and nutrient cycling in agricultural ecosystems will be impacted by increased residue removal.  The answers to these questions will determine if and how we can sustainably produce adequate biomass to meet our future energy demands.