Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory

The rain-snow transition zone is particularly vulnerable to large & rapid changes in climate & landcover. While this zone undergoes rapid seasonal changes, going from snowcoverto wet soil to dry soil over a 1-2 month period, climate warming will shift this transition period earlier or eliminate it entirely. The result will be major changes in seasonal-to-interannualcritical zone processes involving water, nutrients and ecosystem response of the largely mixed conifer forest found in the rain-snow transition zone. Forest density & the threat of catastrophic fire in the zone are very high, leading to the further likelihood of changes in longer-term critical zone processes. Steep gradients in precipitation patterns, along both elevation and aspect, plus rapid seasonal changes, make this zone an excellent natural laboratory for studying how critical zone processes respond to perturbations, & particularlyhow the water cycle drives critical zone processes. Also, the characteristic spatial differences along gradients offer the opportunity to substitute space for time.

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Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory

File: 
KREW_CZO_jk.pdf

Publication Type:

Presentation

Authors:

Kirchner, James

Source:

(2007)

Notes:

Presented at the CZEN data and information systems workshop 9/17/07

Keywords:
Submitted by admin on Fri, 11/09/2007 - 13:45.

Data & Information Manager Position

Research position: Data & Information Manager
Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory
Sierra Nevada Research Institute, University of California, Merced

We seek a research scientist to join the team of the Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) in the Southern Sierra Nevada, to take responsibility for management of data and information. The Southern Sierra CZO is a multi-institutional initiative that involves extensive measurements and analysis of (bio)geochemical and hydrologic processes. Measurements involve embedded sensor networks, eddy correlation, stream and soil sensors, remote sensing and various campaign samples.

The candidate will maintain and extend databases or digital libraries for existing data and new data developed through CZO measurements and research. The candidate will also be responsible for developing and maintaining a system for providing access to this data for CZO researchers, and for the broader scientific community. The Southern Sierra CZO is one of three CZO’s recently established by NSF’s Geoscience Directorate as community resources.

Management of data will include maintaining both databases and geographic information systems for spatial data. The data manager will work with other CZO research staff and scientists for the development and maintenance of on-line data access. The candidate will also be required to assist in data quality assurance and documentation and will contribute to the implementation of formal meta-data policies and procedures. The candidate will need to work closely with data managers at other CZO’s and CZO technical committees to ensure standardization of data format and access protocols across different CZO’s.
The candidate will work with project researchers with a variety of different backgrounds and data needs. Successful candidate must therefore be able to work independently and communicate effectively.

For further information, contact Sierra Nevada Research Institute director and CZO PI Roger Bales (rbales@ucmerced.edu). To apply online, see position SSNRI1451A at http://jobs.ucmerced.edu/n/staff/position.jsf?positionId=1451. The position is available immediately. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Keywords:
Submitted by rbales on Fri, 04/11/2008 - 18:42.