Recipient Organization
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
FORT COLLINS,CO 80523
Performing Department
Soil and Crop Sciences
Non Technical Summary
The project will develop and deploy a state-of-the-art system for full greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, operational at the scale of an individual entity (e.g., farm, livestock operation). The system will be web-based, free and accessible by anyone having an internet connection. Key attributes of the system will include: 1) use of advance methods, including well-validated process-based models that are run in real-time at high spatial resolution, using site-specific data on soil properties, climate and land use and management practices; 2) flexibility, so that users can select, were appropriate, country-specific methods and emission parameters; 3) user-friendly design, making it possible for land managers and others, without specialized knowledge of GHG emission processes to use the system, in their native language; and 4) information on uncertainty, based on robust statistical methods. An important goal of the consortium will be to disseminate and promote the uptake of the COMET-Global system, including engagement and outreach to farmer organizations, environmental groups, governmental agencies and other stakeholders in each of the partner countries, as well as other researchers working on GHG mitigation in the land use sector.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Our overall project aim is to develop and deploy a state-of-the-art system for full greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, operational at the scale of an individual entity (e.g., farm, livestock operation). The system will be web-based, free and accessible by anyone having an internet connection. The system will be based on an existing US-based tool, COMET-Farm (http://cometfarm.nrel.colostate.edu/) which, together with our European and Australian partners, will be adapted for use in their countries.
Project Methods
The system development will leverage an existing comprehensive web-based tool, COMET-Farm, operational in the US. For implementing the system outside of the US, project partners will assemble geospatially-reference data (climate, soil, land management), from existing sources in their countries, that are needed as driving variables for the emission source models imbedded in the system. In addition to the DayCent model which is currently in the COMET-Farm system, we will incorporate two widely used process-based models developed in Europe, RothC and ECOSSE, that simulate soil greenhouse gas emissions. Project partners will also assemble country-specific emission factors and methods for non-soil GHG emissions, e.g., for livestock emissions, relevant for their countries. Experimental data for Australia and EU conditions will also be compiled by project partners for use in testing and validation. Project partners will also translate text used in the user interface into French, Spanish, German and Italian, to facilitate use of the system by non-English speakers. Finally, ) to provide maximum convenience on the part of a multinational user community. Finally, all members of the project will assist in helping disseminate information about the system, through contacts with relevant stakeholder groups, popular press and extension outlets, presentions at meeting and publication in the scientific literature.that provide