You are invited to participate in three synthesis activities on the North American carbon cycle.
As part of the North American Carbon Program, we are conducting three activities over the next 12 months to examine the following questions on the North American carbon budget: What is the magnitude, spatial distribution, and interannual variability of carbon sources and sinks during the period 2000 - 2005?; Do model results and observations show a consistent impact of the 2002 drought?; and How do carbon sources and sinks and our understanding of the underlying processes vary across scales (site - region, region - continent)?
These questions will be addressed at the regional - continental scale and also at individual sites by three coordinated synthesis groups:
1. Regional - Continental Interim Synthesis (Mac Post, Andy Jacobson, and Bob Cook, coordinators) (contact email: postwmiii@ornl.gov )
2. Site Interim Synthesis (Peter Thornton, Ken Davis, Kevin Schaefer, and Bob Cook, coordinators) (contact email: thornton@ucar.edu )
3. Mid Continent Interim Synthesis (Stephen Ogle, Scott Denning, and Ken Davis, coordinators) (contact email: ogle@nrel.colostate.edu )
The interim syntheses are investigator-led (grass roots) efforts that are open to all investigators and modelers studying the carbon cycle in North America (NACP funding is not a requirement to participate). Currently, we do not have separate funding for these synthesis activities, and we are requesting resources (i.e., travel funds) from NACP for small workshops to complete the analysis.
We have the following general schedule for the syntheses:
Late Winter -DRAFT Synthesis protocols available for comment Late Spring -Observations and model results sent to MAST-DC Summer -Analysis and intercomparison of observations and model output Fall -Intercomparison Workshops Fall - Winter -Write papers February 2009 -Present results at NACP All-Scientist Meeting Winter 2009 -Submit papers