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logo Field Report - Kansas '99

"HDRF of an Ocean of Grass"

From 7/11 to 7/18/99, Jim Conel, Alejandro White (a summer-hire physics student), and Mark Helmlinger collected field data at the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, a biological field station of Kansas State University. For more information about the Konza Prairie, see: http://www.ksu.edu/konza

The Konza Prairie was chosen as a target for the validation of AirMISR canopy and surface retrieval algorithms. Large areas of the prairie are consistently covered with tall grasses. Picking which groups of AirMISR image pieces (pixel areas) to include in calculations is made easier when they are large and contain many similar pixels. Also, using many similar image pixels increases the statistical certainty of surface property estimates deduced from remotely sensed data.

Grass was chosen because it is easier to work in than a jungle or forest and a good place to start. The Konza Prairie has many different areas of grasses, a patchquilt of various burned, cleared, fallow, and grazed fields secure from the casual passer-by, bovine or bison. Our site was chosen for its size, flatness, and uniformity and had the added benefit of including a field burned annually and a slightly different looking field burned biannually.

The timing of the experiment was decided by the weather. We were very lucky to have cool weather for the entire deployment and a couple of clear days between rainstorms. We set up our whole suite of instruments between the two fields, except for PARABOLA, which was moved into the middle of each field on two different days. Details of what/when/where can be found at: KONVEX data acquisition summary report

Mark's photos of the experiment & six steps of fieldwork

First Step: Load the Vehicle(s)
Next to my trailer/lab at JPL, Alejandro helps with packing our two vans to the rafters. Note the enthusiasm evident in his demeanor. It's important to pack tight, so that the load does not shift. Also, it is generally a good idea to pack heavy stuff forward and on the bottom. This guarantees that whichever item you desire to get at requires unpacking the entire van! Next to my trailer/lab at JPL, Alejandro helps with packing our two vans to the rafters. Note the enthusiasm evident in his demeanor. It's important to pack tight, so that the load does not shift. Also, it is generally a good idea to pack heavy stuff forward and on the bottom. This guarantees that whichever item you desire to get at requires unpacking the entire van!
Second Step: Get to the Experiment Site (and don't dawdle)
Jim and Alejandro take in some forsaken corner of Utah that Jim remembers from his graduate field geology days, (rumored to have occurred in the Pleistocene). But seriously, traveling with Jim across the American West is a real treat. He knows all kinds of cool places to witness geological marvels. Jim and Alejandro take in some forsaken corner of Utah that Jim remembers from his graduate field geology days, (rumored to have occurred in the Pleistocene). But seriously, traveling with Jim across the American West is a real treat. He knows all kinds of cool places to witness geological marvels.
Remember: Get to the Site (and do not dawdle!)
Alejandro takes in the scenery at a rest stop in eastern Utah, along I-70 on the way towards Denver. He did most of the driving, and was an all-around great help. Thanks, man. Soon after this we hit rain all the way into Kansas. Not as bad as it may sound, because high pressure ridges follow the storms and sweep the sky clear. That's the theory, in any case. Alejandro takes in the scenery at a rest stop in eastern Utah, along I-70 on the way towards Denver. He did most of the driving, and was an all-around great help. Thanks, man. Soon after this we hit rain all the way into Kansas. Not as bad as it may sound, because high pressure ridges follow the storms and sweep the sky clear. That's the theory, in any case.
Third Step: Find the Site
Wow, talk about Big Sky Country! Jim is looking for a good area to set up. Criteria include size, flatness, and eveness of the grass. You could say Jim is out standing in his field. Anyhow, we need as simple an experimental situation as can be found. More complicated (i.e. realistic) sites will follow once we understand what's going on here. Wow, talk about Big Sky Country! Jim is looking for a good area to set up. Criteria include size, flatness, and eveness of the grass. You could say Jim is out standing in his field. Anyhow, we need as simple an experimental situation as can be found. More complicated (i.e. realistic) sites will follow once we understand what's going on here.
Fourth Step: Unload the Vehicle(s)
Alejandro helps with unpacking our vans. We wound up doing this a lot. Ale' says packing is like 3-D Tetris. Da, da. Anyhow, here we are between the two fields of different burn periods, staking out a claim and making the place look like a yard sale of used UFO parts. Alejandro helps with unpacking our vans. We wound up doing this a lot. Ale' says packing is like 3-D Tetris. Da, da. Anyhow, here we are between the two fields of different burn periods, staking out a claim and making the place look like a yard sale of used UFO parts.
Fifth Step: Set up the Instruments
I made a rickshaw with large diameter wheels for such hip-deep situations. I fabbed this cool cart out of tubular aluminum and BMX bicycle wheels with fiberglass rims and urethane foam-filled puncture-proof tubes. It all collapses into a flat assembly for shipping (Some assembly required). Here Jim & I are getting even with the center of the target before wading out to set up the PARABOLA stand. I made a rickshaw with large diameter wheels for such hip-deep situations. I fabbed this cool cart out of tubular aluminum and BMX bicycle wheels with fiberglass rims and urethane foam-filled puncture-proof tubes. It all collapses into a flat assembly for shipping (Some assembly required). Here Jim & I are getting even with the center of the target before wading out to set up the PARABOLA stand.
Final Step: Take Data
Hey, this is hard work! After we run around like crazy getting everything ticking along, we get down to buisness. No, we are not watching the grass grow. We are taking data. Well, the machines are, anyway. They require constant attention... Can't you tell? Hey, this is hard work! After we run around like crazy getting everything ticking along, we get down to buisness. No, we are not watching the grass grow. We are taking data. Well, the machines are, anyway. They require constant attention... Can't you tell?
Nearby Meteorological and Gas Flux Tower
Dale Bremer at KSU maintains a network of these towers all over Kansas. You can see our green NASA-vans in the background. He came out to maintain his tower and I asked him about lightning and such. No worries. He also explained how they burn only one field at a time (start at the edges). More tower info: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/envphys Dale Bremer at KSU maintains a network of these towers all over Kansas. You can see our green NASA-vans in the background. He came out to maintain his tower and I asked him about lightning and such. No worries. He also explained how they burn only one field at a time (start at the edges).
Area Around PARABOLA Looking South
Thigh high and burned once a year, this grass does not have dead stalks in is as the field which is burned every two years does. Lots and lots of tall green grass, waving and rustling in the breeze. Birdsong in the distance, and fireflies at night, too. Nice place, when it isn't stormy. Thigh high and burned once a year, this grass does not have dead stalks in is as the field which is burned every two years does. Lots and lots of tall green grass, waving and rustling in the breeze. Birdsong in the distance, and fireflies at night, too. Nice place, when it isn't stormy.
Area Around PARABOLA Looking North
PARABOLA scans the whole sky and ground at 2,664 different angles. The angular measurements of sunlight reflecting off of the grass made by AirMISR and PARABOLA can each be used to make estimates about plant properties. We are trying to see how they compare. One such property is biomass, that is, how many kilos of grass you could harvest from a square meter of prairie. Wait, that doesn't sound quite right. PARABOLA scans the whole sky and ground at 2,664 different angles. The angular measurements of sunlight reflecting off of the grass made by AirMISR and PARABOLA can each be used to make estimates about plant properties. We are trying to see how they compare. One such property is biomass, that is, how many kilos of grass you could harvest from a square meter of prairie. Wait, that doesn't sound quite right.
Still Taking Data . . .
Jim makes field notes while Alejandro contemplates the finer experiences of fieldwork. This photo was taken a few minutes after dawn on one of our clear days. Generally, we would be on the road from the motel before dawn so as to arrive on site in time to catch the sun rising over the prairie. Good thing Jim and I are morning people. Jim makes field notes while Alejandro contemplates the finer experiences of fieldwork. This photo was taken a few minutes after dawn on one of our clear days. Generally, we would be on the road from the motel before dawn so as to arrive on site in time to catch the sun rising over the prairie. Good thing Jim and I are morning people.