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The Biosphere: a Decadal Vision

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The Biosphere: a Decadal Vision The Biosphere: A Decadal Vision David L. Peterson, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field CA 94035 Paul J. Curran, Southampton University, Southampton, UK Marty Mlynzcak, Langley Research Center, Hampton VA 23681 Richard Miller, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529 I. INTRODUCTION and interactive modeling can play in developing our While space scientists renew the hunt for a living planet, understanding of Earth and its the living systems. Earth science has launched the grandest study ever con- Ecological principles were laid down only a few ceived of the only living planet we know, our home planet decades ago with the 1929 publication of the book by Earth. This study is truly one at a planetary scale involving Vernadsky.[l]. Ecology is the science of how the Earth’s programs and people from around the world and techno- vegetation and animals assemble into organized internally logies and modeling barely envisioned just 25 years ago. competing systems interacting within environmental con- Earth startlingly differs from our solar system neighbors straints. The co-evolution of ecosystems with the environ- because of the presence and power of life, life which ment provides many clues to our future. Today, for the first influences virtually every system on Earth. Biospheric time, satellites can measure in a routine way some key pro- processes on the land, in the coastal zone and in the open perties of ecosystems. These observations are enabling the ocean exert an influence on Earth’s climate system and prediction of a number of important processes: land use, climate, in turn, exerts a strong effect on the biosphere and land cover, parts of the carbon and water budgets, and how it is structured and functions. The biosphere, and life in carbon exchange with aquatic systems. But, the required general, depend to a great extent on the presence of liquid satellite observations needed is far from complete. Just to water. Changes in climate as well as changes in the bio- permit a knowledgeable analysis of how the biosphere, sphere are beginning to affect many aspects of the Earth’s water cycle and the climate system interact with an hydrologic systems, in particular the delivery of one of the assessment of the influences of human actions demands smallest fractions, fresh water. These interactions have a much more than is currently planned. Further, a more robust new and complicating force, the transformational power of satellite program is required to address the manner in which the growing human population and spirit. And, ultimately, this knowledge can be used to sustain support for all of how these changes influence the fate and health of the Earth’s living systems, including humans. The long lead human population is itself compelling. time for satellite programs means the low priority currently To a great extent, the space agencies have pursued being afforded to advanced remote sensing for biospheric an old and familiar object, the climate system. From the measurements will stretch the time needed to gain a earliest days of space observations, Earth’s weather and complete global understanding of this interaction. climate systems have focused the attention of agencies and While the biological systems of the open ocean and the public. And, still today, to a large extent the central the coastal zone are vital to understand and predict, the focus of the space-based global science programs are availability of fresh water is a growing international and concentrated on the climate system. The focus is different in policy concern. As Matthews [4] articulates so clearly, the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme, a found- resources will become an increasingly important part of ing program of the study of global change. While climate future national security policy, with the access to and effects and influences are clearly stated, there is a greater maintenance of fresh water supplies one of the most urgent. balance between geospheric and biospheric concerns. One Mirroring the growth of human population and technology, of the net effects is a loss of priority in the space camp for human demands for fresh water for agriculture and observations needed for a fuller study of the biosphere. household uses has been growing dramatically these last 50 This paper focuses on biosphere-climate interac- years. Climate change and global warming can alter the tions including the influences of human activities. Recog- patterns of precipitation delivery, timing, state and quantity nizing this is only one aspect of biospheric processes, this in ways that are likely to exacerbate fresh water supplies. places an emphasis of those biogeochemical processes that Impoundments and diversions are a supply solution with have a profound effect on numerous other aspects of the their own consequences, including the diversion of silt away biosphere and the services it provides, services which are from the coastal environments as well as the total amount of critical to sustaining life on Earth. And, the paper will focus fresh water to mix with salt water. The cleansing of water is on the various scientific aspects of assessing the availability a function of the ecosystem in the contributing watersheds. of fresh water, including its sensitivity to climate variance The effects of human manipulation of terrestrial ecosystems and land use changes. Finally, this paper hopes to emphasize worldwide has impacts on fresh water quality and amount the potential role that greatly expanded space observations that are not well understood. And, the control of fresh water systems has important effects on the biological systems in wetlands, streams, lakes and rivers that depend on uncertainties in climate projections.” One of the long-term evolutionary adaptations to the characteristics of these questions of the USGCRP Changing Ecosystems program systems. Lastly, human interactions with fresh water element is “how do natural and human-induced changes in organisms can have profound human health implications. the environment interact to affect the structure, functioning, Many vectors of infectious disease, such as malaria, and services of ecosystems at a range of spatial and schistosomiasis, cholera and more have a critical link to the temporal scales, including those functions that can in turn patterns and condition of fresh water systems. influence regional and global climate.” The National Science Foundation of the U.S. has a n. CURRENT PLANS (NEXT DECADE) research program originally called the Freshwater Initiative There is quite a bit of consensus among international to initiate research on many aspects of fresh water hydro- programs on research priorities for terrestrial ecosystems, logy, watershed health, and freshwater ecology. The the coastal zone, and the open ocean. A significant portion USGCRP Global Water Cycle Program Element lists these of these objectives concern the interactions of the structure focus areas: (1) the effects of large-scale changes in land use and function of ecosystems with the climate system and and climate on the capacity of societies to provide adequate changes in it, and the added complications of the human supplies of clean water; and, (2)how natural processes and dimensions. For example, the objectives of long-term pro- human activities influence the distribution and quality of grams of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme water within the Earth system and to what extent the resul- (IGBP) address this question including Global Climate and tant changes are predictable. The USCCRP reiterates these, Terrestrial Ecosystems (GCTE), Global Environmental adding concern about the movement of sediments, biogeo- Change and Food Systems (GECaFS), and Biospheric chemical and toxic subtances, and nutrient transport. These Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle (BAHC). Recently, programs stress the need for research to inform policy IGBP initiated the Integrated Land Ecosystem-Atmosphere debates and enter decision processes for water management. Processes Study (ILEAPS) whose goals is “to provide IGBP recently completed the Biospheric Aspects understanding of how interacting physical, chemical and of the Hydrologic Cycle, integrating parts into the ILEAPS biological processes transport and transform energy and and Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) matter through the land-atmosphere interface.” The second of the World Climate Research Program. Much of the phase of IGBP’s Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal research was concentrated on the water balance and role of Zone (LOICZ) Program addresses five themes: (l), river vegetation in regulating that balance. basins and human dimensions; (2), coastal development and The European community, while largely in agree- change: Implications for landsea use; (3), fate and trans- ment with the biosphere-climate interactions as discussed in formation of materials in coastal and shelf waters; (4), NASA’s 2030 vision, has three important areas of diver- towards system sustainability and resource management; gence. First, what is the role of agricultural lands and not and, (9,vulnerability of coastal systems and human safety. just semi-natural vegetation, in the study of biosphere/ The IGBP maintains other studies of the ocean including the climate interactions? Remote sensing has a role to play at Joint Global Ocean Flux Study concerned with the fluxes of the scale of the field and farm where environmental changes materials and energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. in space and time are relatively
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