******** Apologies for Cross Posting **************** Land surface GPP and land-atmosphere interactions from GOSAT fluorescence NERC-NCEO-funded PhD Studentship at UCL, Department of Geography (Autumn 2013 start) Closing date for applications: 15th June 2013 Supervisors Prof. Philip Lewis, NCEO and Department of Geography, UCL Dr. Caroline Nichol, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh Topic The major constraint on vegetation growth and ultimately land surface carbon is the Gross Primary Production (GPP) of vegetation. Other than losses due to disturbance (such as fire) respiration and fluxes from soils, it also controls the exchange of carbon between the land surface and the atmosphere. At present, our information on this comes from extrapolated flux tower measurements and models, the latter being partially constrained by satellite observation of vegetation state. In the last year, it has been shown that it is feasible to measure canopy fluorescence from satellite instruments, namely the Japanese GOSAT instrument, by measuring in filling in solar Fraunhoffer lines, and we not have data for more than two years, globally. There are plans for future instruments that would be able to continue such measurements and hopefully improve on them, such as the ESA EE8 candidates. This presents exciting new opportunities for science and monitoring of GPP. Fluorescence is the closest we can hope for to a direct measurement of vegetation process (rather than state). There are several complicating factors that have limited current explorations of the fluorescence signal to coarse scale (in space and time) estimates by averaging observations. These include the spatial and temporal sampling characteristics of GOSAT and the inherently high noise in the fluorescence estimates (the instrument was never designed for such things). Further complication arises because GPP is most useful as a time integral quantity whereas the measurement is instantaneous. Furthermore, to fully understand leaf scale process, we need to account for vegetation amount and structure. For surface atmosphere flux considerations, we must also be able to include respiration, disturbance and soil fluxes. The exploitation of fluorescence then, needs both models and measurements and this is best achieved in a data assimilation framework. The student will have access to GOSAT data through existing collaborations. Field data collected in collaboration with partners at UoE will allow for the direct retrieval of solar induced fluorescence from field data for comparison with satellite methods. These data will come from narrow waveband radiance measurements currently operating as part of a long term RCUK project. This PhD will therefore explore key issues, developing methods to produce GPP estimates at higher spatial and temporal resolutions than the current coarse averages and using these to test and the land surface process models and help constrain atmospheric CO2 inversions. It will also be future looking in better positioning the community for future exploitation of data from forthcoming instruments. The appointed student will benefit from interactions within NCEO and the vibrant research environments at UCL and the School of GeoSciences at Edinburgh, as well as benefit from collaborations with Dr Luis Guanter and his group in Berlin. The PhD would be suitable for a candidate with a very good BSc or MSc degree in a suitable scientific discipline. Eligibility A UK Bachelor's degree in an appropriate subject, awarded with first or upper second-class Honours, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institute is required. A Master's degree in an appropriate subject is desirable. Standard NERC studentship eligibility criteria apply. Please check that you are eligible for funding before submitting an application. See: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/available/postgrad/eligibility.asp Contact If you have any questions regarding this PhD, please contact Professor Lewis: p.le...@ucl.ac.uk<mailto:p.le...@ucl.ac.uk> Application Please note that applications completed online may take some time to reach the department. It is essential that you include full details of your qualifications (full transcripts) and ensure that your chosen referees are available to provide a reference. All applications require the completion and submission of the Graduate Application Form. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study/application Applications can be completed online, or the application form can be downloaded and submitted to:
Fiona Mannion Graduate Admissions Department of Geography University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT Tel: 020 7679 7579/0575 E-mail: mast...@geog.ucl.ac.uk References and links: · http://www.nceo.ac.uk/ · http://www2.geog.ucl.ac.uk/~plewis/ · http://www.geos.ed.ac.uk/homes/cnichol · http://userpage.fu-berlin.de/luisguan/ · Guanter, L., Frankenberg, C., Dudhia, A., Lewis, P.E., Gomez-Dans, J., Kuze, A. , Suto , H., •Grainger, R.G. (2012) Retrieval and global assessment of terrestrial chlorophyll fluorescence from •GOSAT space measurements, Remote Sensing of Environment, 121, 236-251 · Hilker, T., Coops, N., Hall, F., Nichol, C., Lyasputin, A., Black, A., Wulder, M., Leuning, R., Barr, •A., Hollinger, D., Munger, B. & Tucker, C. 2011, “Global Terrestrial Photosynthetic Light-Use •Efficiency can be measured from Space” Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences. 116 · Coops, N. C., Hilker, T., Hall, F. G., Nichol, C. J. & Drolet, G. G. Nov-2010 “Estimation of Light- •use Efficiency of Terrestrial Ecosystem from Space: A Status Report” Bioscience reports. 60, 10, p. •788-797. 10 p. · J. Grace, C. Nichol, M. Disney, P. Lewis, T. Quaife, P. Bowyer (2007), Can we measure terrestrial •photosynthesis from space directly, using spectral reflectance and fluorescence?, Global Change Biology, 13 (7), 1484-1497. Fiona Mannion Geography Administrator Geography Department University College London Gower Street London WC1E 6BT Email: f.mann...@ucl.ac.uk Tel: 0207 679 (7579)(0575). Internal Ext: 27579, 30575.
