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Notes on the SALSA Workshop American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona
15 January 1998, 1:30-5:00 pm
The Semi-Arid Land-Surface-Atmosphere ("SALSA") Program is a multi-agency, multi-national global-change research effort that seeks to evaluate the consequences of natural and human-induced changes in semi-arid environments. PURPOSE
The purpose of this workshop was to coordinate the analysis and publication of SALSA 1997 research results; discuss data integration and database management issues; outline research plans for 1998; and propose future workshops and meetings. Special emphasis was placed on the ORSTOM/IMADES 1998 field experiments on the Mexico portion of the San Pedro River basin and coordination of trans-boundary efforts.
Workshop Participants Name Affiliation Telephone No. Email Address Dave Goodrich, co-chair USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x136 goodrich@tucson.ars.ag.gov Ghani Chehbouni, co-chair ORSTOM/IMADES 011.52.62.10.15.95 ghani@cideson.mx Hector Arias IMADES 011.52.62.15.98.91 arias@cideson.mx Gilles Boulet ORSTOM/IMADES 011.52.62.10.15.95 gilles@cideson.mx Ward Brady ASU 602-965-2402 ward.brady@asu.edu Robert Carlos LANL 505-667-6367 rcarlos@lanl.gov Dan Cooper LANL 505-665-6561 dcooper@lanl.gov Bruce Goff USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x149 bgoff@tucson.ars.ag.gov Diana Hadley AZ State Museum, UA 520-621-6279 hadleyd@u.arizona.edu Chawn Harlow UA-HWR 520-325-9178 chawn@hwr.arizona.edu Lawrence Hipps Utah State Univ. 435-797-2009 larry@claret.agsci.usu.edu Dan Hymer USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x159 dhymer@tucson.ars.ag.gov Fritz Jandrey AZ State Museum, UA 520-743-7731 jandreyf@u.arizona.edu Linda Kennedy ASU 602-965-5563 linel@imap1.asu.edu Bill Kepner EPA/ORD 702-798-2193 kepner.william@epamail.epa.gov Yann Kerr CNES 011.33.5.6155.85.22 yann.kerr@cesbio.cnes.fr Jean-Paul Lhomme ORSTOM/UNISON 011.52.62.13.75.92 lhommej@rtn.uson.mx Robert Mac Nish UA-HWR 520-621-3041 macnish@hwr.arizona.edu Robin Marsett USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x111 rmarsett@theriver.com Susan Moran USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x171 moran@tucson.ars.ag.gov Wanmei Ni USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x111 wni@tucson.ars.ag.gov Jiaguo Qi USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x112 qi@tucson.ars.ag.gov Julio Cesar Rodriguez IMADES 011.52.62.10.15.95 jcrod@cideson.mx Sean Schaeffer UA-SRNR 520-626-7131 schaeffe@ag.arizona.edu John Schieldge JPL 818-354-9879 john@lithos.jpl.nasa.gov Russ Scott UA-HWR 520-670-6380x159 russell@tucson.ars.ag.gov Xuan-Min Shao LANL 505-665-3147 xshao@lanl.gov Keirith Snyder UA-SRNR 520-626-7131 ksnyder@ag.arizona.edu Ron Tiller ASU 602-965-5563 tiller@asu.edu Carl Unkrich USDA-ARS 520-670-6380x178 unkrich@tucson.ars.ag.gov Chris Watts IMADES 011.52.62.15.98.81 watts@cideson.mx Martha Whitaker UA-HWR 520-621-7115 mplw@hwr.arizona.edu Dave Williams UA-SRNR 520-621-7259 dgw@ag.arizona.edu Other Participants Thomas Maddock UA-HWR 520-621-7115 maddock@ccit.arizona.edu Thomas Sisk NAU 520-523-7183 Thomas.Sisk@NAU.EDU Jim Toth UA-HWR 520-621-5082 toth@hwr.arizona.edu
INTRODUCTIONS
Dave Goodrich and Ghani Chehbouni opened the meeting by inviting the participants to introduce themselves and state their role or interest in the SALSA program (see participation list above). Summaries of ongoing research activities can be found on the SALSA webpage:
http://www.tucson.ars.ag.gov/salsa/archive/documents/research_summaries/research_summaries_1997.html
New SALSA collaborators included Ward Brady (ASU) who is studying trans-boundary socioeconomic and environmental issues as part of the multi-university SCERP program (see their website at http://www.civil.utah.edu/scerp/); Ron Tiller and Linda Kennedy (ASU) who are studying the ecology and recovery potential of big sacaton in the riparian grasslands in southeastern Arizona; and Diana Hadley and Fritz Jandrey (UA, Arizona State Museum) who are interested in historical landuse on the US and Mexican sides of the San Pedro River basin. Tom Sisk (NAU) was unable to attend the workshop but provided a handout outlining the his study of ecosystem fragmentation and restoration within the basin. For more information on SERDP, view their website at: http://www.hgl.com/SERDP/.
DISCUSSION OF SALSA SPECIAL-ISSUE PUBLICATION
Dave Goodrich proposed a three step approach to publishing results of 1997 SALSA activities. The first step would be to publish a brief "summary" of existing results in a science newspaper with a rapid turn-around time such as AGU's "EOS." The summary article could be submitted within 1-2 months. The next step would be to publish an extended "overview" article (~20 pages), condensed from existing AMS papers, in a journal with an intermediate turn-around time, perhaps the "Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society." (Note that digital forms of EOS and BAMS can be viewed by following the AGU and AMS links on the SALSA website.) The overview article could be submitted within 4-6 months. Finally, arrangements would be made with a journal to publish a "special-issue" collection of SALSA papers. These papers would extend the data analysis and modeling beyond that covered in the AMS papers. Draft versions of the special-issue papers could be ready for "in-house" peer review in one year and ready for submission to the journal shortly thereafter. Dave queried those present if they planned to develop their papers into journal articles; most indicated yes. The major question posed was which journal would be most appropriate for the special-issue, that is, one with the desired readership and reasonable publication schedule? A discussion followed on various journals that may fit these requirements and the following actions were recommended.
***ACTION ITEMS***
1. The following persons will contact the respective science journals about the prospect of publishing a SALSA special-issue and will forward the responses to Dave Goodrich by 15 Feb 98:
Susan Moran, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology;
Dave Williams, Journal of Arid Environments;
Dave Goodrich, Water Resources Research;
Bill Kepner, Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment;
Dan Cooper, Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmosphere.Factors to be considered include target audience (readership), review and publication schedule, page charges, color plate charges. Other SALSA participants are welcome to send their own recommendations to Dave as well.
2. Dave Goodrich and Ghani Chehbouni will review this information and select the most appropriate journals for the summary, overview, and special-issue articles by 28 Feb 98, make subsequent contacts, assign writing tasks, and establish a publishing schedule.
3. All contributors to the SALSA special issue will have draft manuscripts ready by 1 Feb 99 (DEADLINE).DATA EXCHANGE / INTEGRATION ISSUES
The issues of data exchange, integration, and management were discussed by the group. Dave Goodrich emphasized the need to develop standards to facilitate data exchange, protect data sets, and assure quality control. To address near-term data management issues, it was recommended that SALSA researchers prepare metadata files which describe the nature and availability of their data sets. Until there is a centralized data facility and an agreed-upon data access policy, each researcher will maintain their own data set and control distribution of the data. It was also recommended that SALSA data be shared only among SALSA collaborators at this time.
In the mid-term, researchers will be asked to organize their data sets according to a common format, such as the simple ASCII files used for the Monsoon '90 database. This would facilitate exchange and usability among SALSA collaborators. Again, data distribution would be limited to SALSA collaborators and persons sharing data must discuss co-authorship on subsequent publications.
In the long-term, the data sets will be brought together in a standardized database, such as used for Hapex-Sahel. This will require sophisticated software and a dedicated database manager. The data would be available on CD-ROM or over the Internet, and eventually made available to interested researchers outside the SALSA community.
Non-spatial (variable/parameter) and spatial (imagery) data will need to be handled separately, largely because of the massive storage requirements of the spatial data. It was also recommended that SALSA researchers maintain duplicate copies of their data sets; accordingly, they were invited to store duplicate materials at the ARS office for safe-keeping, if they desire.
***ACTION ITEMS***
1. Bruce Goff and Dave Goodrich will develop draft metadata formats for non-spatial and spatial data sets and distribute it to the SALSA group for comment, by 4 Feb 98.
2. After incorporating recommended changes, Bruce Goff will send metadata forms to each researcher by 6 Feb 98.
3. Each researcher (or research group) will return completed metadata forms to Bruce Goff by 20 Feb 98.
4. Bruce Goff will compile the metadata forms and distribute them to SALSA researchers and/or post them on the SALSA website by 30 Feb 98.1998 RESEARCH PLANS
[Note: Much of the material presented by the speakers was on overhead transparencies or handouts. This information will be assembled in digital format and emailed as an addendum to these notes. The following notes refer to the general topics of discussion.]
John Schieldge, JPL, discussed the upcoming "MASTER" (MODIS and ASTER) remote sensing effort that could be ready by Aug 98. He also mentioned some of the bureaucratic and logistical constraints to flying the NASA/DOE plane into Mexico.
Ghani Chehbouni, ORSTOM/IMADES, outlined the planned activities of the SALSA Mexico team. He emphasized the importance of involving US researchers in developing and implementing hydrological measurement strategies on the Mexico side of the San Pedro River basin.
Dave Goodrich summarized Rachel Pinker's (U. of Maryland) 1998 research activities dealing with derivation of surface short-wave fluxes and temperatures from satellite data; and Tom Sisk's (NAU) proposed ecology studies.
Dave also queried the ARS and UA researchers about plans to follow-up on the 1997 Riparian Campaign research. Dave Williams indicated he was going to study sapflow under irrigation treatments. Martha Whitaker will continue monitoring streambank conductance until June, Russ Scott will continue operating the meteorological stations, and Dave Goodrich et al. will periodically measure surface and groundwater conditions at the Lewis Springs site. Jiaguo Qi plans to continue monitoring vegetation plots on the Audubon Research Ranch and Susan Moran had no activities planned.
Bill Kepner (EPA) showed a long list of GIS coverages for the Upper San Pedro Basin that his office was developing as part of the SALSA effort. One of the major activities they plan to undertake in 1998 is a comprehensive field verification of the vegetation classification developed from Landsat imagery. Bill will be asking the SALSA community as well as other agencies and interested groups, in both the USA and Mexico, to assist EPA in this labor-intensive process. He also asked that SALSA collaborators with specific expertise in this type of large-scale vegetation sampling assist him in developing the sampling scheme. The product of this effort will be a very accurate vegetation map that can be used as the basis for future landscape studies.
Ward Brady (ASU) briefly described his efforts as part of the multi-institutional SCERP (Southwest Center for Environmental Research and Policy) program. SCERP will be studying trans-boundary issues in the Tijuana and San Pedro Basins and would like to coordinate activities with the SALSA program.
Dave Goodrich handed out copies of research questions submitted by various SALSA participants (these were emailed to the SALSA AMS mail list previously and are currently posted on the SALSA website) and asked the group to consider them in their subsequent discussions. The group then broke into smaller groups for an hour of collaborative discussion.
***ACTION ITEMS***
1. Dave Goodrich will assess prospects for ARS participation in the SALSA 1998 Mexico research effort and communicate this to the ORSTOM/IMADES group by 30 Feb 98.
2. Hector Arias and Jean-Paul Lhomme will investigate the feasibility of importing hydrology equipment into Mexico and will communicate the results to the ARS by 30 Feb 98.
3. Bill Kepner will propose a plan for the vegetation-classification field sampling program and coordinate with US and Mexico counterparts about logistics and scheduling.FUTURE DIRECTION, SCIENCE PLAN, ETC.
The principal focus of the 1998 field research will be on the ORSTOM/IMADES study sites in Mexico. Additionally, several existing SALSA activities will continue into 1998, including mesoscale modeling, micrometeorological and stream-aquifer monitoring at Lewis Springs, remote sensing at the Research Ranch, and landscape classification and analysis. SALSA will also collaborate on several ongoing or new studies in the San Pedro Basin, including sacaton grassland research, socioeconomic and environmental policy studies, ecosystem fragmentation studies, and historical landuse analysis. Additional collaborative research prospects are being investigated with the US Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation, and Biosphere 2.
SALSA Workshop participants returned from the collaborative discussions cautiously optimistic about achieving the principal goal of the 1997 Riparian Campaign: a better understanding of evapotranspiration processes along the riparian corridor. It was generally acknowledged that conventional energy-balance techniques alone were inadequate to estimate ET from the linear riparian system, but that the integration of lidar, sapflux, remote sensing, and other data may yield the desired results, provided scaling issues could be resolved. Although Larry Hipps suggested prayer was needed (for inspiration or a miracle?) it was generally agreed that the goal could be achieved through effective collaboration and data exchange among the SALSA researchers. Analysis of the Riparian Campaign and Mexico-site data, along with the associated studies, and the preparation of a special-issue publication are primary objectives for SALSA in 1998.
Dave Goodrich briefly spoke about the SALSA Science Plan which needs to be submitted to NASA by the end of Mar 98. Preparation of this document will be undertaken by Bruce Goff, Dave Goodrich, and Ghani Chehbouni, in consultation with other SALSA participants. The Science Plan will serve as a guide for future SALSA activities and will be used to pursue funding opportunities.
It was proposed that the next SALSA Workshop be held in early November 1998. The agenda and venue for this meeting will discussed in subsequent correspondence.
The ORSTOM/IMADES contingent proposed to hold a SALSA meeting in Hermosillo some time in 1999. This meeting would address how the scientific knowledge acquired by SALSA could be applied to management of the San Pedro River Basin. Hector Arias recommended that the meeting include both science and policy issues and that proceedings be produced in both Spanish and English. If this meeting is to include non-SALSA participants, preparations and announcements should be made far in advance.
***ACTION ITEMS***
1. Bruce Goff and Dave Goodrich, with input from others will prepare a SALSA Science Plan and submit it to NASA by the 31 Mar 98 deadline.
2. Ghani Chehbouni and Dave Goodrich will develop a proposed agenda and venue for the Nov 98 SALSA Workshop and distribute it by 30 Jul 98.
3. Ghani Chehbouni and Hector Arias will plan the proposed 1999 Hermosillo Meeting, and distribute information on the theme, agenda, venue, participants, and other matters by 30 Jul 98.Contact SALSA program leaders, Dave Goodrich and Ghani Chehbouni at the email addresses given above for more information about SALSA 1998 plans.
Addendum to Workshop Notes (6 Feb 98)
RESEARCH SUMMARY: Ron Tiller and Linda Kennedy, ASU
Ecology and Recovery Potential of Sporobolus wrightii (big sacaton)
Riparian Grasslands in Southeastern ArizonaJanuary 1998
Arizona State University
Department of Plant Biology
P.O. Box 871601 Tempe, AZ 85287-1601 FAX: (602) 965-6899The goals of this multi-year study are to: 1) acquire the ecological information necessary to understand the natural processes that allow for regeneration and maintenance of Sporobolus wrightii (big sacaton) riparian grasslands along alluvial streams in southeastern Arizona, and 2) use this information to determine natural recovery and restoration potential of this grassland community on abandoned agricultural fields.
Objectives are to: 1) determine establishment requirements of S. wrightii and environmental tolerances of this species to a suite of biotic and abiotic variables; 2) determine physical and biological characteristics of abandoned agricultural fields and compare these conditions to autecological requirements of S. wrightii; 3) quantify rates and patterns of natural succession in extant S. wrightii grasslands and abandoned agricultural fields; 4) develop management strategies that encourage processes of natural recovery on abandoned agricultural fields; and 5) create and disseminate a S. wrightii vegetation community database to facilitate communication and information exchange between land managers, researchers, and restoration professionals.
Relationships between S. wrightii seedlings and environmental factors (e.g. depth to groundwater, flood regime, precipitation, and soil conditions) will be assessed via field observations of plant distributions under natural conditions, and by controlled laboratory and field studies on germination, emergence and seedling survival. Relationships between environmental factors and mature S. wrightii will be defined through field studies relating abundance, productivity and distribution to various environmental factors. Site conditions on abandoned agricultural fields will be examined and compared to autecological requirements established for S. wrightii. Strategies for evaluating the restoration potential of abandoned agricultural fields to S. wrightii grasslands will be developed.
This project will consolidate information from existing S. wrightii restoration and research efforts. Results of this research will enhance our understanding of the ecology, natural recovery, and restoration potential of this once widely distributed and important riparian grassland community. Expansion of the knowledge base will facilitate more effective conservation, management and restoration of S. wrightii grasslands. Lasting benefits will be realized through enhanced erosion control, water quality, groundwater recharge, forage production, and wildlife habitat.
This project is supported in part by grants from the Arizona Water Protection Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Heritage Program, and the Graduate Research Support Office at Arizona State University, and through a fellowship from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Contacts:
Juliet C. Stromberg, Associate Professor, (602) 965-0864, jstrom@asu.edu
Linda J. Kennedy, Ph.D. student, (602) 965-5563, lkennedy@asu.edu
Duncan T. Patten, Professor Emeritus, (602) 965-3167, iacdtp@asuvm.inre.asu.edu
Ronald L. Tiller, Ph.D. student, (602) 965-5563, tiller@asu.edu
Jean C. Stutz, Associate Professor, (602) 965-5563, jstutz@asu.edu
Brantlee Spakes, M.S. student, (602) 965-5563, brantlee@asu.eduResearch Activities and Information Specific to Lewis Springs
Previous Studies: Permanent sampling points were established along a transect oriented perpendicular to the flow of the river in April 1993. This transect is located approximately 100 meters north of the bridge. A cross-sectional survey of the post-entrenchment floodplain was conducted at the same time. Data on woody and herbaceous vegetation were collected at the permanent points during the same year. Species composition, basal diameter, and canopy foliage volume (LAI) were measured for woody plants during the summer months. Herbaceous vegetation was sampled during the spring and summer growing seasons. Species composition and percent cover data were collected. Soil samples were collected at the permanent points from depths of 0-15, 16-60, and 61-100 cm. Samples were analyzed for substrate composition, pH, and electrical conductivity. In addition, percent organic matter, available phosphorus, and nitrate-nitrogen were determined for soils collected at 0-15 cm.
Data collected from this site were analyzed as part of a larger data set from ten additional sites along the upper San Pedro River. Results were published in Ecological Applications (6)1:113-131.Current Studies: Two studies examining the relationship of S. wrightii to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are nearing completion. One study includes determination of species composition and richness of AM fungi identified from field soil collected from Populus fremontii-Sporobolus wrightii and S. wrightii vegetation associations on the west side of the river. This study indicates the presence of at least seventeen distinct species or morphotypes associated with S. wrightii. As a subset of the second research project, soil cores and root samples were collected periodically through 1995 from the rhizosphere of S. wrightii. Results from this study indicates a strong seasonal relationship between arbuscular mycorrhizae and S. wrightii.
Depth to groundwater data have been collected on a monthly basis since August of 1997 from the BLM piezometer located on the east side of the river. Data will be collected from this well through spring of 1999.Planned Activities: We intend to extend and survey the existing permanent transect to incorporate the pre-entrenchment floodplain, encompassing the sacaton grassland and sacaton-mesquite scrubland communities. At newly established sample points we intend to build on the existing vegetation and soils data sets for this site. In addition to the previously collected information, we plan to characterize the availability of sunlight to S. wrightii in open and shaded environments. Bulk density will also be determined from surface soils.
Additional Study Sites within the San Pedro River Watershed:
Upper San Pedro River (BLM Riparian National Conservation Area): Palominas Bridge,
Hereford 2, Cottonwood 1, and Fairbanks
Middle San Pedro River (BLM and private): Clark, BLM Bennett, BLM Steinmann, and
BLM Hughes
Babocomari River (Babocomari Ranch): Babocomari 1 and 2
Lyle Creek (Babocomari Ranch): Lyle 1
O'Donnell Creek (The Research Ranch): The Research Ranch 1-3
Information and results to date pertaining to the entire research effort on the ecology of Sporobolus wrightii grasslands is available in a 1997 Annual Report to the Arizona Water Protection Fund and a Fall 1997 Quarterly Report to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Heritage Fund.
RESEARCH SUMMARY: Thomas Sisk, NAUPredicting the Effects of Ecosystem Fragmentation and Restoration:
Management Models for Animal PopulationsThomas D. Sisk
Northern Arizona University; P.O. Box 5694; Flagstaff, AZ 86011; Email: Thomas.Sisk@nau.eduAn improved understanding of the effects of ecosystem fragmentation on animal populations is required for improved land management, and for maximization of benefits associated with land rehabilitation and habitat restoration. The detrimental effects of habitat fragmentation on animal populations are widely documented. In contrast, the development of practical tools to predict the effects of fragmentation and design appropriate mitigation efforts has progressed only slowly. Development, resource extraction, recreation, and water management on and adjacent to public lands often contribute to fragmentation and affect species of special concern, including threatened and endangered species. This project will develop species-specific models that predict the responses of mobile animal species in heterogeneous landscapes. Modeling efforts will build on connections between life history characteristics and the responses of mobile animals to habitat edges and other factors associated with landscape fragmentation and habitat restoration. Field research will permit parameterization of models and testing of model predictions, leading to refinement of the conceptual approach. The primary taxonomic foci are bird and butterfly populations occupying ponderosa pine forests and riparian habitats in the arid southwestern USA. These two habitat types are widespread throughout the U.S. and currently the subject of great management debate. The project will link field and remotely-sensed data in validated landscape models that will permit comparison of the effects of alternative land use strategies on wildlife species of management concern. The primary ponderosa field site will be Camp Navajo, operated by the U.S. Army and Arizona Army National Guard. The primary riparian site will be Ft. Huachuca and the adjacent San Pedro River National Riparian Conservation Area. Test sites will include other appropriate forest and riparian sites in the Southwest.
RESEARCH SUMMARY UPDATE: Rachel Pinker, UM
We are involved in two activities which could benefit from SALSA, and perhaps, contribute to SALSA. One is a project which is already in a "going" phase, while the other one, is still in a developmental stage. I will describe each independently:
1. Derivation of surface shortwave radiative fluxes from satellite observations: this activity is in real time operational stage. NOAA is presently implementing the methodology in real time for the entire United states, and we are involved in algorithm improvements and validation. We use the AZMET network in the validation effort, and data of "opportunity", during experiments in AZ (e.g., Monsoon Experiment).We need info on aerosols, and validation of surface albedo. We operated a CIMEL instrument for one year at Walnut Gulch (with the help of John Smith from Dave's group) during December 1996-December 1997 (as yet, data were not utilized). During the next SALSA experiment and ASTER validation activity, tentatively planned for July-August 98 , we would like to make some aircraft measurements of broadband albedo (can cover the expenses), and can again deploy an instrument for getting aerosol info.
Related activity: Jim Shuttleworth's students, Jaime Garatuza and Ismail Yucel, are working on implementing the solar radiation inference scheme at high spatial resolution for the SALSA region, using GOES 9 data as received at Obregon, Mexico. The data to be collected would benefit their activity as well.
2. Developmental activity in support of the GLI instrument on ADEOS II: we are developing methods to get the surface temperature from this instrument. Need ground truth on surface temperature to test the methodology. Since ASTER or MASTER have similar objectives, the ground truth to be collected and algorithm comparison would be of interest. Currently, we have a first version of the algorithm ready, using three channels from the engineering prototype of GLI. We also have a version for GOES 8. We could implement it during the 98 experiment with the GOES version. The ADEOS mission will fly in year 2000, which could give us enough time to have a well tested approach ready.
Rachel
P.S.
We are preparing a web site that will describe the shortwave product, as produced by NOAA. You can already log in at following address:
The entire info will be released within 1-2 weeks.
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Rachel T. Pinker, Department of Meteorology, Space Sciences Building, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Tel: 301-405-5380; FAX: 301-314-9482; email: pinker@atmos.umd.edu
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