Introduction A Terrestrial Carbon Observation (TCO) data warehouse building workshop was held in Prague, Czech Republic,16-21 November 2002. Carbon scientists, data holders and programmers from the CEE region were brought together to participate in analyzing the carbon relevant data available in the CEE region. Data and metadata were gathered and placed in a data warehouse and in a metadata report.

The main objectives of the workshop were to:

1. gather existing data sets needed to support estimation and understanding of terrestrial carbon stocks and fluxes at the regional level;

2. begin establishing standardized methods and data formats to facilitate a simplified integration of large-scale data sets;

3. identify scientific needs of CEE region, gaps in the required data, options for filling these, and appropriate follow-up activities;

4. provide training in the use of the Dynamic Atlas data management software.

The workshop was funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic.

More introductory information

Participants

Individuals from the CEE countries were invited to the workshop (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Ukraine) as well as other leading carbon experts from around the world (Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy and the USA).

Final list of participants (140 KB)

Results of workshop

The workshop was the first opportunity for many scientists to meet other colleagues working not only at the regional but also at the national level. It became clear from discussions with participants that there is lack of coordination both at the national and regional scale. Research relevant to carbon studies is often fragmented and uncoordinated with little communication between different scientists or institutes. Although a very large amount of good quality data is gathered this is often unavailable to general users because of a number of restrictions and incompatibility with Western European standards.

Details

Conclusions

For many participants, the workshop provided the first opportunity to meet other carbon scientists not only at the regional level but also from within their own country.

This low level of communication between scientists makes it very difficult to ascertain the type and quality of data currently being measured in the region. Many of the data sets that were identified could not be used in the warehouse due to restrictions on its free use.

National and regional collaborative networks between scientists should be established. These networks could then identify relevant research activities and identify regional gaps. The networks could then be involved in joint projects encouraging methods standardization facilitating the production of regional and global data sets. Scientists should also be encouraged to formulate and begin implementing regional activities aimed at carbon budget analysis that would make effective use of data currently available.

Next steps

Agenda

Day 1: Sunday, 17 November 2002

9.00-12.30
.....1. Poster mounting.
.....2. Preliminary analysis of datasets available.
.....3. Data and metadata sheets are improved expanded.

12.30-14.00 Lunch

Introductory session
Due to the large file size please download files onto your hard drive and then unzip. You can request a CD of all the files from the GTOS Secretariat.

16.00 Reception

Day 2: Monday, 18 November 2002

9.00-9.10	Official opening by representative of the Czech Ministry of Agriculture
9.10-9.20	Overview of FAO activities and GTOS projects in the CEE area Reichert (7,718 KB), (9,297 KB)
9.20-9.50	Issues in gathering large-scale terrestrial data sets. An overview based on TCO planning and related activities Cihlar (72 KB), (12,227 KB)
9.50-10.20	The IPCC Good practice guidance and reporting rules within UNFCCC Seufert (7,331 KB), (22,868 KB)
10.20-10.35	Break
10.35-11.00	Methods, data acquisition and protocols Schmullius (38,117 KB), (17,353 KB)
11.50-12.15	Flux tower measurements and data products Barcza (1,562 KB), (13,426 KB)
12.15-12.40	Validation of remote sensing data using field measurements Reichstein (1422 KB), (15,016 KB)
11.00-11.25	Problems in combining data sets to a common time, space, and parameter Vanderbilt (3,221 KB), (14,323 KB)
11.25-11.50	Uncertainties in data sets, a systems view and national experiences Zimmermann (53,726 KB), (18,023 KB)
12.40-14.00	Lunch
14.00-14.35	Use of diverse data sets for regional carbon source/sink case studies in Europe Seufert (3,640 KB), (16,675 KB)
14.35-15.10	National and regional case studies in using multiple techniques Shvidenko (5,131 KB), (30,343 KB)
15.10-15.25	Break
15.25-18.30	Dynamic Atlas: Training 1 Williams

Day 3: Tuesday, 19 November 2002

8.30-8.55

Assembly of carbon - related data sets for CEE: approach, results and issues Adolt (1,786 KB), (10,234 KB)

8.55-10.15 Working session 1: Standardization of methods and data set harmonization Shvidenko

10.15-10.30 Break

10.30-12.30 Working session 1 cont'd

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00-14.30 Review of Working session 1

14.30-15.00

Quality assurance and quality control (presentation and discussion) Vanderbilt (559 KB), (24,771 KB)

15.00-15.15 Break

15.15-17.30 Dynamic Atlas: Training 2 Williams

17.30-18.30 Working session 2: Combination of ORNL DAAC and participant data sets Schmullius


Day 4: Wednesday, 20 November 2002

8.30-10.15 Working session 2 cont'd

10.15-10.30 Break

10.30-12.30 Working session 3: Integration and use of multiple data sets Cihlar

12.30-14.00 Lunch

14.00-15.00 Working session 3 cont'd

15.00-16.15 Dynamic Atlas: Training 3 Williams

16.15-16.30 Break

16.30-18.30 Concluding session Cihlar
Results, summary, conclusions, next steps, future activities

Sound recordings of the working sessions and conclusions to the workshop are also available on request.