The Terrestrial Ecosystem Science (TES) program develops unique, foundational scientific insights about the terrestrial biosphere’s role in the global cycling of carbon, nutrients, and water.
A significant fraction of the CO2 released to the atmosphere during energy production is taken up by terrestrial ecosystems. This “sink” for anthropogenic carbon represents an important buffer, offsetting the greenhouse gas effects of CO2 emissions. However, the effects of related processes such as nutrient, water, and energy cycling, in addition to climate variability and change on that uptake remain a mystery. Uncertainties about how terrestrial ecosystems will function in a changing climate hamper efforts to determine long-term impacts and stability of carbon in the biosphere. This limitation makes resolving the role of the terrestrial biosphere in the global carbon cycle a high priority.
Future climatic changes will almost certainly affect critically sensitive ecosystems and their inherently important ecosystem processes. Understanding the foundational properties of these ecosystem processes is essential if we are to improve our ability to predictively model terrestrial ecosystems and potential forcing feedbacks. TES research will continue to navigate the forefront of interactions between terrestrial ecosystems and a changing climate.
The TES program supports mission-oriented research performed by
Environmental System Science Projects 2018
Environmental System Science Projects 2016
Environmental System Science Projects 2015
2014 Interagency Solicitation for Carbon Cycle Science: NASA Research Opportunity in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES)
Collaborative Research in Support of GOAmazon Campaign 2013
Terrestrial Ecosystem Science 2013
Terrestrial Ecosystem Science 2012
Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Carbon Cycle Research 2011 and 2010
Registration is now open for the April 30-May 1, ESS PI Meeting. See WEBSITE for more details.
Submit Research Highlight
Climate and Environmental Sciences Division (CESD) Strategic Plan 2018 (PDF; 14MB)
The Terrestrial Ecosystem Science program is sponsored by the Climate and Environmental Sciences Division of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research. (BER Program Overview PDF)
BER Research Highlights
BER Advisory Committee (BERAC)
DOE Office of Science Statement on Digitial Data Management (2014)
Visit our sister program,