Evaluation of water, energy, and ecosystems in southern New Mexico

TitleEvaluation of water, energy, and ecosystems in southern New Mexico
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2001
AuthorsRango A., Chopping M., Havstad K, Havstad K, Ritchie J, Kustas WP, Schmugge T.J
Conference NameAmerican Water Resources Association Annual Conference
Date PublishedNovember 11, 200
Conference LocationAlbuquerque, NM
ARIS Log Number129550
AbstractLarge area, repetitive observations of surface characteristics in the Chihuahuan Desert, using multilevel remote sensing data, have been conducted at the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) near Las Cruces, New Mexico, since 1995. The Jornada Experiment (JORNEX) measurement campaigns are conducted twice a year, before and after the summer monsoon season. The basic data obtained during each campaign include ground-based hyperspectral and thermal observations in association with leaf-area index and line-intercept transect vegetation measurements. At the time of the ground observations, multispectral radiometer, multispectral video, and thermal infrared data are taken by low altitude aircraft flights. All measurements are coordinated with Landsat and Terra satellite passes. In addition to the basic data, various observations are made at selected times and include airborne bidirectional reflectance and hyperspectral (AVIRIS) data, airborne MASTER data and ground-based eddy correlation data. The JE (783 km2), bordering the Rio Grande about 37 km north of Las Cruces, has proven to be a fruitful experimental area because of several ongoing programs, including the Jornada Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project, designation as a NASA Earth Observation System (EOS) Core Site, and the fact ground measurements have been conducted at Jornada since 1912, thereby documenting long-term ecological change.