A global terrestrial monitoring network integrating tower fluxes, flask sampling, ecosystem modeling and EOS satellite data

Acurrate monitoring of global seals changes in the terrestrial biosphere ha s become acutely important as the scope of human impacts on biological syst ems and atmospheric chemistry grows. For example, the Kyoto Protocol of 199 7 signals some of the dramatic socioeconomic and political decisions that m ay lie ahead concerning CO2 emissions and global carbon cycle impacts. Thes e decisions will rely heavily on accurate measures of global biospheric cha nges (Schimel 1998; IGBP TCWG, 1998). An array of national and internationa l programs have inaugurated global satellite observations, critical field m easurements of carbon and water fluxes, and global model development for th e purposes of beginning to monitor the biosphere. The detection by these pr ograms of interannual variability of ecosystem fluxes and of longer term tr ends will permit early indication of fundamental biospheric changes which m ight otherwise go undetected until major biome conversion begins. This arti cle describes a blueprint for more comprehensive coordination of the variou s flux measurement and modeling activities into a global terrestrial monito ring network that will have direct relevance to the political decision maki ng of global change. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1999.