Global Primary Production Data Initiative

We propose to conduct a 2-week Working Group to develop a methodology for extrapolating sparse field observations of net primary production (NPP), including environmental controls on carbon allocation, to create a database representative of major worldwide vegetation and environmental regimes. This methodology will be used to produce a consistent database of worldwide NPP estimates, which is currently lacking. The database will be made available to global change researchers to (1) parameterize and validate global primary production models, (2) calibrate models driven by remotely sensed data, and (3) re-examine worldwide patterns of NPP. The database will include key ecological data such as biomass dynamics, climate and soils information, as well as NPP, providing a valuable global resource for a variety of other ecological studies, such as biodiversity and nutrient cycling.