TY - JOUR
T1 - Ecosystem scale measurements of biomass water using cosmic-ray neutrons
AU - Franz, Trenton E.
AU - Zreda, M
AU - Rosolem, Rafael
AU - Hornbuckle, Brian
AU - Irvin, Samantha
AU - Adams, Henry
AU - Kolb, Thomas
AU - Zweck, Chris
AU - Shuttleworth, W. J.
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - Accurate estimates of biomass are key for understanding the global carbon cycle. However, measurements of biomass and water in the biomass are difficult to obtain at a scale consistent with measurements of mass and energy transfer, leading to substantial uncertainty in dynamic global vegetation models. Here we use a novel cosmic-ray neutron method to estimate average water content of biomass over an area of ~35 ha. We present two experimental studies, one in a ponderosa pine forest, the other in a maize field, where neutron-derived estimates of biomass water are consistent with direct observations. Given the new scale of observation we anticipate these measurements will be useful to many scientific disciplines ranging from atmospheric science, hydrology, ecology, forestry and agronomy.
AB - Accurate estimates of biomass are key for understanding the global carbon cycle. However, measurements of biomass and water in the biomass are difficult to obtain at a scale consistent with measurements of mass and energy transfer, leading to substantial uncertainty in dynamic global vegetation models. Here we use a novel cosmic-ray neutron method to estimate average water content of biomass over an area of ~35 ha. We present two experimental studies, one in a ponderosa pine forest, the other in a maize field, where neutron-derived estimates of biomass water are consistent with direct observations. Given the new scale of observation we anticipate these measurements will be useful to many scientific disciplines ranging from atmospheric science, hydrology, ecology, forestry and agronomy.
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
JO - Geophysical Research Letters
JF - Geophysical Research Letters
SN - 0094-8276
ER -