0.22 Spring Thaw Trend (Days yr -1, 1988-2007) -0.64 An Earth System Data Record for Land Surface Freeze/Thaw State John Kimball 1, Kyle McDonald 2, Youngwook

0.22

Spring Thaw Trend(Days yr-1, 1988-2007)

-0.64

An Earth System Data Record for Land Surface Freeze/Thaw State

John Kimball1, Kyle McDonald2, Youngwook Kim1 John Lucotch1 & Joseph Glassy1

1The University of Montana

2Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CalTech

NASA MEaSUREs/PoDAG meeting, Oct 15, 2010

Provide a consistent, long-term global record of landscape freeze/thaw (F/T) state dynamics for vegetated regions where frozen temperatures are a major constraint to ecosystem processes:

Distinguish F/T heterogeneity in accordance with mesoscale climate, terrain & land cover features;

Quantify F/T linkages to vegetation productivity and carbon fluxes;

Distinguish “natural” variability from climate change signal;

Establish baseline conditions for future missions (SMAP).

Over half of the global land area is affected by F/T cycles that constrain land-

atmosphere water, energy & carbon fluxes

Source: Kim et al. 2010. TGARS

Freeze-Thaw Affected Regions

Frozen Period (Days/yr)

Project Goals and Objectives

Apr 10

Jul 19

Dec 26

Daily Freeze-Thaw StatusSSM/I (37GHz, 25km Res.) 2004

Source: http://freezethaw.ntsg.umt.edu

• Daily F/T state maps:

- 4 discrimination levels: Frozen (AM & PM),

Thawed (AM & PM), Transitional (AM frozen,

PM thaw), Inverse-Transitional (AM thaw, PM

frozen);• Global domain encompassing F/T affected

areas:

- 66 million km2 or 52% of global vegetated

area);• Initial 20 year record (Final >30 years)• Detailed metadata on product QA/QC:

- Online documentation;

- Quantitative accuracy metrics (daily);

- Qualitative QA/QC maps (annual);- Quick-Visuals (thumbnails, animations);- Software support (HDFView, Panoply);

• 2 data formats (binary, HDF-5)

Current Results and Output Products


Example FT-ESDR Research Applications

Global F/T Climatology(1988-2007)

Non-frozen

Transitional

Frozen

AnnualVariation

Annual Non-Frozen Period Trend(1988-2007)

FT-ESDR Development Status

• First ATBD release (Jun-09):- Available online: http://freezethaw.ntsg.umt.edu/publications.htm

- Baseline seasonal threshold algorithm & single Tb data series;

- Planned updates for error budget, data integration and validation;• Recent FT-ESDR releases (Mar/Oct-10 at NSIDC):

- AMSR-E global land parameter bundle (2002-2008);- SSM/I based F/T record (1988-2007);- Two more releases planned (FY11/12);

• 2 online data archives (NSIDC DAAC, NTSG-ESIP)• Baseline (Tier-1) documentation of FT-ESDR accuracy:

- Daily comparisons against global WMO air temperature records (~3700 stations) over

homogeneous land areas;- Spatial QA/QC using ancillary data (e.g. DEM, Land cover heterogeneity);

• Current product characteristics:

- Global EASE-grid projection; 25-km Res; Daily repeat (AM, PM, CO); 20-yr record (1988-

07); derived from SSM/I 37V GHz Tb series; HDF-5 & binary formats.

• Product quality: Good (i.e. Validated Stage II based on EOS product maturity guidelines)

- Mean annual F/T classification accuracy >80% relative to WMO station observations (Tair).

FT-ESDR Algorithm Baseline

Source: Kim et al. 2010. Developing a global record of daily landscape freeze/thaw status using satellite passive microwave remote sensing. IEEE TGARS, DOI: 10.1109/TGRS.2010.2070515.

Seasonal Threshold Approach:

Annual Definition of SSM/I (37V GHz) Tb F/T Reference States

Frozen Non-Frozen

Pixel-wise Calibration using Tmx/Tmn from Global Reanalysis

ΔTbΔTb


Baseline (Tier-1) FT-ESDR Validation & QA/QC

Mean Annual Accuracy

Mean Daily Accuracy

Mean Annual Accuracy

Mean Daily Accuracy

Spatially Explicit Quality AssessmentGlobal Comparisons with WMO Daily Air Temperature Observations

Cross-channel F/T classification assessment

• Focused studies over intensive sub-regions:

- Sub-grid scale terrain & land cover heterogeneity effects;

- F/T sensitivity to individual landscape elements (snow, soil, vegetation);

- Leverage planned NASA field campaigns involving synergistic measurements (CARVE, SMAP).

• Comparisons with other synergistic datasets:

- Atm. CO2 anomalies, Satellite based snow cover extent, GPP/NPP, NDVI & LST.

Secondary (Tier-2) FT-ESDR Validation

FT-ESDR Spring Thaw & 1Snow Cover Extent Anomalies over Northern (>50ºN) Domain

r = 0.64, p<0.001

1Source: D.A. Robinson (http://climate.rutgers.edu/snowcover)

Enhanced FT-ESDR Development & Validation

Mean Annual F/T Classification Accuracy

SMMR/SSM/I AMSR SeaWinds (H) SeaWinds (V)

Mean annual F/T Classification Accuracy

2007 frozen period difference between SSM/I and AMSR-E

• Cross-sensor F/T comparisons:

- Document F/T differences between overlapping sensor records: SSM/I, SMMR, AMSR-E, ASCAT, SeaWinds, SMOS;

- Utilize multiple sensor records for FT-ESDR production (e.g. empirical & forward process models, data assimilation);

- Goal: Document & exploit synergies among multiple satellite records/frequencies/polarizations to enhance FT-ESDR information, accuracy and QA/QC.

≥390

Days≥ 39

SMMR/SSM/I: 37V GHzAMSR-E: 36V GHzSeaWinds: 13 GHz

Human Healthclimate sensitive infectious disease distribution and change, vector habitat change

AgricultureFrost status/potential, growing season and potential yield

Water Resourcessnow cover status and frozen soils monitoring, timing of ice breakup and formation in rivers and lakes

Weather, Natural HazardsWeather forecasting, runoff and flood risk potential

Forestsphenology, productivity, carbon source/sink activity, cold hardiness, vegetation stress & forest ecoregions

Species and HabitatsShift in ecological zones,habitat change

Potential FT-ESDR Research

Applications

Climate ChangeMonitoring of extent, seasonal-annual variation & trends in frozen/non-frozen period

Potential FT-ESDR User Community

SSM/I and SMMR Primary Thaw Date vs Spring River Ice BreakupSSM/I and SMMR Primary Thaw Date vs Spring River Ice Breakup

SSM/I Derived Day of Primary ThawSSM/I Derived Day of Primary ThawExample FT-ESDR Cryosphere &

Hydrology Applications:

Primary Spring Thaw Date vs Spring River Ice Breakup on Tanana River AK

Primary Thaw Date vs Spring Flood Pulse, Yukon Basin, AK


Example Agriculture Application:

2007 Spring Frost Index

Source:1http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_Subject/index.php2http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Crops_and_Plants/index.asp

%%

Spring frost index (%) =day awedprimary th-181

day awedprimary thafter day nal transitioofnumber 100

2Soybean Harvested Acres2007

1


Example FT-ESDR Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems Application:


• Diverse User Community:

- Decadal Survey mission teams (SMAP)

- Cryosphere

- Ecosystems & Carbon Cycle

- Hydrology

- Global Change

- Atmosphere and Climate

• Community ID & Interaction:- Literature search

- Publications

- “Dear Colleague” letters

- Workshop presentations

- FT-ESDR user metrics

- User “feedback”

- SMAP SDT/WG activities

http://freezethaw.ntsg.umt.edu

User Identification Through FT-ESDR 1Metrics Reporting

Metric June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 TotalDistinct Users -Total 76 109 97 282

Distinct Users -F/T Website 54 79 88 221Distinct Users -F/T FTP 9 12 5 26

Distinct Users -AMSR-E FTP 13 18 4 35Distinct Users -NSIDC Website 0 0 0 0

Distinct Users-Government FTP 4 3 0 7Distinct Users-Education FTP 6 10 2 18

Distinct Users-Other FTP 12 17 3 32Products Delivered-Total 7407 102935 32 110374

Products Delivered-F/T FTP 7346 102770 28 110144Products Delivered-ASMR-E FTP 69 166 4 239

Products Delivered-NSIDC 0 0 0 0Volume of Data Distributed-Total*in KB 9610840 65499380 134685 75244905

Volume of Data Distributed-F/T FTP*in KB 5997176 52848740 132015 58977931Volume of Data Distributed-ASMR-E

FTP*in KB 3613664 12650640 2670 16266974Volume of Data Distributed-NSIDC*in KB 0 0 0 0

Number of Countries 8 12 16 36

Metric June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 TotalDistinct Users -Total 76 109 97 282

Distinct Users -F/T Website 54 79 88 221Distinct Users -F/T FTP 9 12 5 26

Distinct Users -AMSR-E FTP 13 18 4 35Distinct Users -NSIDC Website 0 0 0 0

Distinct Users-Government FTP 4 3 0 7Distinct Users-Education FTP 6 10 2 18

Distinct Users-Other FTP 12 17 3 32Products Delivered-Total 7407 102935 32 110374

Products Delivered-F/T FTP 7346 102770 28 110144Products Delivered-ASMR-E FTP 69 166 4 239

Products Delivered-NSIDC 0 0 0 0Volume of Data Distributed-Total*in KB 9610840 65499380 134685 75244905

Volume of Data Distributed-F/T FTP*in KB 5997176 52848740 132015 58977931Volume of Data Distributed-ASMR-E

FTP*in KB 3613664 12650640 2670 16266974Volume of Data Distributed-NSIDC*in KB 0 0 0 0

Number of Countries 8 12 16 36

1Preliminary results based on NTSG-ESIP statistics from Jun-Aug, 2010.

• Project website with online data archives, documentation & metadata

- Embedded links to NSIDC archives & similar or synergistic data products;

• Publication of methods, data & software

- Peer-review journal publications;

- Public data archives (NSIDC DAAC, NTSG-ESIP);

- Data links through existing community data portals (NACP);

• “Dear Colleague” invitations for data download & feedback• SMAP SDT involvement:

- Baseline Info. for planned L3_F/T product development;

- F/T inputs for other product retrievals (L3/4_SM & L4_C);

- Cal/Val & Applications WGs;

• Development, publication, distribution of synergistic data bundles (AMSR-E)

- FT-ESDR used as a frozen T constraint for production of higher-order AMSR-E product retrievals: Inundated area, Soil Moisture, Air Temperature, Water Vapor & VOD;

- AMSR-E science team support;

FT-ESDR User Community Support

FT-ESDR Project Summary

• Three planned FT-ESDR data releases:

- Initial data release (FY10: 20 yr record [1988-07]) & transfer to NSIDC completed;

- Additional F/T data release with AMSR-E land product bundle (2002-08);

- Two more releases planned for FY11/12 (up to 33 yr record [1979-011]);

• Metrics reporting initiated for both NSIDC & NTSG-ESIP archives;

• Product Maturity: Good (i.e. validated, Stage 2 based on EOS product maturity guidelines)

- Mean annual F/T classification accuracy >80% relative to ~3700 WMO stations;

- Accuracy adequate for broad set of science applications: climate change, cryosphere, hydrology, ecosystems & C cycle;

- Methods publication (Kim et al. 2010. IEEE TGARS);

• Product readiness to support next wave of IPCC activity: Good

• Work in progress:

- Comparison & use of multiple sensor records for improved information & development of longer F/T record;

- Detailed algorithm error budget development;

- Validation (Stage 3) & QA/QC;

BACKUP SLIDES

Source: http://nsidc.org/data/docs/daac/ae_land3_l3_soil_moisture.gd.html

Product Maturity Definitions

Data for FT-ESDR Production and Validation

Daily Users

Distinct Users by Class

FT-ESDR User Community Statistics

Data Volume in GB (Jun-Aug 2010)

80706050403020100

Total FT-ESDR AMSR-E

Example user metrics from NTSG-ESIP archive

2004 Non-Frozen Season from

SSM/I, AMSR-E & SeaWinds

Cross Sensor F/T Comparisons

Annual NPP (MOD17) vs FT-ESDR Spring Thaw Timing Anomalies

Example FT-ESDR Ecosystems Application:



Example Agriculture Application:

2007 Spring Frost Index

Source:1http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_Subject/index.php2http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Ag_Atlas_Maps/Crops_and_Plants/index.asp

%%

Spring frost index (%) =day awedprimary th-181

day awedprimary thafter day nal transitioofnumber 100

2Corn Harvested Acres2007

1

Documents

0.22 Spring Thaw Trend (Days yr -1, 1988-2007) -0.64 An Earth System Data Record for Land Surface Freeze/Thaw State John Kimball 1, Kyle McDonald 2, Youngwook