Office of Science

Office of Biological and Environmental Research

J Michael Kuperberg, Ph.D.

Dan Stover, Ph.D.

Terrestrial Ecosystem Science

AmeriFlux P.I. meetingJanuary 31, 2011

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research2

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research3

Department of Energy Office of Science

William BrinkmanDirector

Patricia DehmerDeputy Director

HighEnergyPhysics

Biological and Environmental

Research (BER)Sharlene

Weatherwax, Acting Associate Director

BasicEnergy

Sciences

FusionEnergy

Sciences

AdvancedScientific

ComputingResearch

NuclearPhysics

Biological Systems ScienceSharlene

Weatherwax,Director

Climate and Environmental

SciencesGary Geernaert,

Director

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research4

Biological and Environmental Research Mission• To understand complex biological, climatic, and

environmental systems across spatial and temporal scales.

• BER provides the foundational science to:– Support the development of biofuels as major, secure, and sustainable

national energy resources– Understand the potential effects of greenhouse gas emissions on

Earth’s climate and biosphere and the implications of these emissions for our energy future

– Predict the fate and transport of contaminants in the subsurface environment at DOE sites

– Develop new tools to explore the interface of biological and physical sciences

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research5

Biological and Environmental Research Approach• Understanding complex biological and environmental systems across

many spatial and temporal scales:– From the sub-micron to the global – From individual molecules to ecosystems– From nanoseconds to millennia

• Integrating science by tightly coupling theory, observations, experiments, models, and simulations

• Supporting interdisciplinary research to address critical national needs

• Engaging national laboratories, universities, and the private sector to generate the best possible science

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research6

Biological and Environmental Research Divisions

Biological Systems Science Division

Climate and Environmental Sciences Division

• Genomic Science Program

• Bioenergy Research Centers

• DOE Joint Genome Institute

• Low Dose Radiation

• Radiochemistry, Imaging, and Instrumentation

• Structural Biology

• Climate Change Research

• Atmospheric Radiation Monitoring (ARM) Climate Research Facility

• Subsurface Biogeochemical Research

• Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research7

Climate & Environmental Sciences Division(FY 10 funding levels)

• Research Programs

−Climate and Earth System Modeling ($69.7M)

−Atmospheric Systems Research ($26.4M)

−Environmental Systems Science

• Terrestrial Ecosystem Science ($32.6M)

• Subsurface Biogeochemical Research ($49.8M)

• Facilities

−Atmospheric Radiation Monitoring (ARM) Climate Research Facility ($41.8M)

−Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory ($52.0M)

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research8

Subsurface Biogeochemical Research

Terrestrial Ecosystem Science

Environmental System Science

http://www.sc.doe.gov/ober/ClimateRoadmapWorkshop_2010.pdf

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research9

Terrestrial Ecosystem Science

Foundational science to improve our predictive understanding of terrestrial ecosystems in the context of a changing climate

Observations

Manipulations

Large-scale, long-term field studies

Process modeling with ties to earth- system models

Funding to universities and national laboratories

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research10

Terrestrial Ecosystem Science

Foundational ecological science– Specific terrestrial and ecological processes

– Both for steady and rapidly changing climate conditions

Multiscale ecosystem experiments– Multiple ecological process interactions

– Existing and future rates of climate change

– Dedicated experiments, including manipulative

Process modeling– Translates understanding into multi-process models

– To be assimilated into earth system models and integrated assessments

– Uncertainty quantification

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research11

AmeriFlux sites

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research12

Molecular biology (-omics)

NGEE Concept(Next Generation Ecosystem “Experiment”)

Process

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research13

Climate Change and Permafrost Ecosystems

Approach• Collaborative effort among DOE National Laboratories and universities, led by

Oak Ridge National Laboratory• Interdisciplinary, multi-scale approach to advance predictive understanding

through iterative experimentation and modeling• Opportunities for leveraging through external collaboration (DOE and other

agencies)

Goal: advance the predictive understanding of the structure and function of Arctic terrestrial ecosystems in response to climate change

Objectives:• Understand processes/feedbacks governing

these complex systems• Design and deploy combination of

observations and manipulative experiments to test model-inspired hypotheses

• Resulting knowledge improves models, resulting in improved climate predictions

Department of Energy • Office of Science • Biological and Environmental Research14

Interagency Coordination

• Represented on USGCRP interagency working groups:– Carbon Cycle IWG

– Ecology IWG

• DOE representatives to the North American Carbon Program (NACP)

• Program management responsibilities for DoD’s Strategic Environmental R&D Program (SERDP)– Environmental Restoration and Sustainable Infrastructure focus areas