KECK INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES

       

Workshop: Managing Soil Organic Carbon for Climate Change Mitigation - Multiscale Quantification Through Remote Sensing, AI and Biogeochemical Models

August 28 - September 1, 2023
California Institute of Technology - Pasadena, CA 91125

Workshop Overview:

Mitigating climate change by halting (and then reversing) the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a critical challenge which must be addressed by all sectors of the global economy, including how we manage land. Historically, carbon stocks in agricultural soils have been deleted through degradative management; by adopting new regenerative management practices, farmers and ranchers can rebuild carbon stocks and improve soil health and sustainability. Hence, soils have the potential to contribute as a ‘carbon sink’ to reduce CO2 levels in the atmosphere as part of global ‘decarbonization’ efforts. However, effective policies and programs to incentivize soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration efforts require the development of robust, cost-effective tools to quantify soil carbon stock change and greenhouse gas emissions.

Soils offer an attractive ‘natural capital solutions’ approach to atmospheric CO2 removal and climate change mitigation, but accurately quantifying soil organic carbon (SOC) stock changes (and hence CO2 removal) at landscape to regional scales is a major challenge. Our workshop will be used to develop a credible framework for a comprehensive SOC data analysis, modeling and prediction system that will enable accurate tracking of SOC changes from landscape to regional and national soils. The workshop will review the current state-of-the-art in model-data systems for soil carbon measurements, assess key knowledge and technical gaps, and develop an operational blueprint for a novel integrated modeling and data fusion system that can be applied at landscape to regional scales.

Our workshop goal is to design a novel, scalable SOC quantification platform that integrates remote sensing, field experimental and on-farm monitoring data, with linked process-based and machine-learning ensemble modeling, data assimilation/fusion of remote sensing observations and farm scale activity data.

Schedule Coming Soon...

List of Workshop Participants Coming Soon...

Lodging for out-of-town attendees

There are a number of hotels that are close to the Caltech campus where we have a negotiated rate. (Please note that this negotiated rate does not guarantee you the lowest rate as there may be internet specials or AAA rates that may be better.)

Please note that with enough notice, you can reserve rooms for attendees at the Athenaeum, which has been recognized as a Platinum Club of America. Newly refurbished, it is conveniently located on the Caltech Campus. Contact Janet Seid if you would like to check the availability of this option.


Visa Requirements

For Visa requirement information and travel to the United States please visit the website of the U.S. Department of State.


Parking (for Visitors and for JPL Personnel)

For Visitors: From the Arroyo Parkway, turn right (east) on Del Mar Avenue. Proceed approximately one and a quarter miles. The Caltech campus will be on your right. Turn right (south) onto Michigan Avenue. Turn right into the outdoor parking lot and park in an unmarked spot. Buy a parking permit from the kiosks near the middle of the lot or request one ahead of time from KISS.

For JPL Personnel: JPLers may use their JPL hang tag for parking or request a special parking hangtag from the JPL parking office. Employees who do not have on-Lab parking privileges can obtain a hang tag created for this purpose from JPL parking coordinator Robert Kennedy (818-354-4586, Building 310-108B, 9/80 schedule). Please park in the outdoor parking lot located on Michigan Avenue in an unmarked spot.


Maps and General Information on Pasadena