EGS XXV General Assembly, Nice, France, April 2000

OA31. Direct and indirect approaches to estimating the exchange and storage of carbon by the terrestrial biosphere: concepts, models and insights:

Event Information

Estimating the exchange and storage of carbon by the terrestrial biosphere present real scientific challenges. It consequently results in stimulating scientific debates. Estimating carbon exchange also entails high political stakes in the context of international climate negotiations. Consequently, the symposium aims at: (1) reviewing the state-of-the-art as far as concerns the concepts used to estimate carbon exchange and storage directly and indirectly; (2) reviewing the state-of-the-art as far as concerns the measurements made to estimate carbon exchange and storage directly and indirectly; (3) reviewing the state-of-the-art as far as concerns the models or frameworks developed to estimate carbon exchange and storage directly and indirectly; and, (4) reviewing the state-of-the-art as far as concerns the actual estimations of carbon exchange and storage directly and indirectly, the uncertainties presently associated with these estimates, and their resulting accuracy, and means to check the robustness of these estimates. The rationale behind these state-of-the-art reviews resides with the idea of generating discussions among symposium participants to advance the sate of this particular area of geophysics, in particular with respect to the theoretical concepts, their operational verification, and their practical implications in terms of accuracy and uncertainty. The symposium also aims at gaining insights from other fields of geophysics. The convener will commission and invite papers, in particular, from the satellite remote sensing and astrophysics community, to stimulate transdisciplinary exchanges and generate new ideas. The symposium will conclude with a synthesis and an assessment of research needs. The convener plans to publish the papers in an international peer-reviewed journal.

Preliminary List of Solicited Speakers

Co-Sponsorship