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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #262488
Title: Methodology for large-area moderate-resolution monitoring of soil organic carbon change

Author
item RICE, CHARLES - Kansas State University
item BROWN, DAVID - Washington State University
item Hunt Jr, Earle
item IZAURRALDE, CESAR - University Of Maryland
item PAUSTIAN, KEITH - Colorado State University
item SHUMAKER, BONNY - Jet Propulsion Laboratory
item WEST, TRISTRAM - University Of Maryland

Submitted to: Trans American Geophysical Union
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/19/2010
Publication Date: 11/23/2010
Citation: Rice, C.W., Brown, D.J., Hunt, E.R., Izaurralde, C.R., Paustian, K.H., Shumaker, B.L., West, T.O. 2010. Methodology for large-area moderate-resolution monitoring of soil organic carbon change. Trans American Geophysical Union. 91(47):441-443.

Interpretive Summary: Sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil helps to reduce global warming by greenhouse gases and helps to sustain the soil. Methods need to be developed to monitor changes in soil organic carbon over large areas such as the central United States. Direct measurements are accurate, but only at very small scales. Remote sensing can cover large areas at moderate resolution but the coverage stops at the soil surface. Biogeochemical models of soil carbon dynamics can be used to connect the two scales, but need to be modified to accept remote sensing inputs.

Technical Abstract: Sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the soil helps to reduce global warming by greenhouse gases and helps to sustain the soil. Methods need to be developed to monitor changes in soil organic carbon over large areas such as the central United States. Direct measurements are accurate, but only at very small scales. Remote sensing can cover large areas at moderate resolution but the coverage stops at the soil surface. Biogeochemical models of soil carbon dynamics can be used to connect the two scales, but need to be modified to accept remote sensing inputs.