How do ocean ecosystems work? Use remote sensing to address fundamental questions Lack of field data on BGC processes, impeding calibration and validation. Integrating observations and remote sensing and modeling Observations at additional wavelengths (e.g. UV in ocean systems, hyperspectral RS for mapping functional types) are needed. Issues of scaling. Data at higher spatial resolutions are crucial for understanding features that are typical for the Arctic. E.g. LIDAR for mapping micro-topography High latitude ecosystem modeling needs high-quality RS data, validated for high latitudes How do river inputs (DOC) and sea ice cover change affect arctic marine ecology and carbon flux How does the reduction in sea ice cover change the morphology of the Arctic coast How is the terrestrial Arctic system going to change as permafrost degrades (CH4, carbon flux, …)? RS to address ‘shrubification’ of tundra. Characterizing vegetated wetlands (carbon exchange, CH4) Linkage between permafrost degradation and depth of thaw and wetland extent 1&2. Considering what NASA is currently doing and could do in the near future, what are the most important science questions to address? (“ripe” in bold)

Warmer and drier vs. Warmer and wetter (precipitation, ET, hydrology & ecology) Sub-surface processes, carbon storage. The energy budget. Models that can deal with incoming flux, ET, wave energy, sea-surface and troposhperic winds, albedo … Total energy budget of the panarctic How will changes in the surface energy budget affect atmospheric and ocean circulation. How will changes in sea ice and permafrost change cloud structure and how will this feed back Where and how will released energy be stored? The role of atmospheric iron inputs and transformations on Southern ocean systems Permafrost degradation Stored methane-hydrates How will different functional types respond to temperature changes? (shrubs vs trees vs tundra, as well ocean life) What is the sensitivity of ecosystems to changing disturbance regimes? Marine mammal populations, those that require sea ice in particular. Migratory birds and sea mammals. Need for better estimates of the carbon balance of high-latitude systems.

International exchange of data, Data rescue Improved intra and interagency data-sharing and coordination Integrating RS products into models Improve interactions with other funding agencies, both US and international (e.g. leverage polar cruises) Participation in long-term observation networks Long-term data archiving Monitoring of key circumpolar locations (e.g. with respect to CAVM) 3. Is there a need for additional coordination of existing research activities in this topic area?

4. What are the most promising opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration to answer compelling global change research questions? Is sea ice a cap for CO2 exchange? Links the ice community to physical oceanographers, and biologists Antarctic coastal oceanography (ship-based) strengths and duration of katabatic winds and their effects on the formation of polynyas along the coast The chain of events by which increased winds and precipitation (stratification) over the Southern oceans affect the ability of the ocean to take up atmospheric CO2. Dynamics of snow cover distribution, and depth, as well as snow water equivalent. Fluxes of persistent organic pollutants (including mercury) in the absence of ice or snow.

Global climate implications Native communities Marine subsistence communities, herding communities Damage to infrastructure, pipelines, airports (melting permafrost) Sea ice and shipping Fisheries, both Arctic and Antarctic Conservation Resource extraction vs. sustainability, e.g. forestry 5. Where will there be strong societal benefit?

Purpose: Discussions should allow workshop participants to consider scientific questions and issues that will shape future directions for the NASA Carbon Cycle and Ecosystems Focus Area. There is an emphasis on cross-cutting topics that involve more than one of the Focus Area's program elements and/or applications areas. All of the session topics are areas for future research by NASA and/or the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. Many have already been the subject of NASA solicitations. Science, Emerging Issues and Future Directions: High Latitude Ecosystems - land and ocean, Arctic and Antarctic

Individual topic breakouts will identify opportunities and priorities for NASA as well as raise issues or concerns for the Focus Area to address. RE: the scientific topic: why it is important, the role of remote sensing in addressing it, and what has been done and what may be proposed in the near future in this regard. The breakouts will open up to allow for general discussion in order to raise and address questions and issues. One issue that is open for discussion is the ability of upcoming NASA missions to address these scientific topics.

1. Considering what NASA is currently doing and could do in the near future, what are the most important science questions to address (in the topic area of the breakout)? 2. Which are especially "ripe" with a high likelihood of producing major results? 3. Is there a need for additional coordination of existing research activities in this topic area? 4. What are the most promising opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration (especially within the CC&E Focus Area, but also with other disciplines and programs) to answer compelling global change research questions? 5. Where will there be strong societal benefit? Questions