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satellite image of forest in Oregon
satellite image of Oregon
satellite image of Roseburg, Oregon

OTTER

Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research

The Oregon Transect Ecosystem Research (OTTER) project was a collaborative effort between NASA and several universities to study the ecology of western coniferous forests using remote sensing technology supported by ground observations. The primary objective of the OTTER project was to estimate major fluxes of carbon, nitrogen, and water in coniferous forests using an ecosystem process model.

Principal Investigator

David Peterson, Richard Waring

Data Centers

ORNL DAAC
Study DatesMay 27, 1989 - Aug. 24, 1991
Season of StudyYear-round
RegionWestern coniferous forest in Oregon
Spatial Bounds

N: 45°N

S: 44°N

W: 124°W

E: 121°W

Focus AreasCarbon Cycle and Ecosystems
Geophysical Concepts

Ecosystems/Biogeochemical Interactions

Biodiversity

Atmospheric Chemicals and Trace Gases

Scientific Topics

Carbon

Nitrogen

Forest Ecosystems

Water Flux within Coniferous Forests

PlatformInstrument(s)
Field Site

Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState)

Rain Gauge 

Pyranometer 

Modular Multiband Radiometer (MMR)

LI-COR Plant Canopy Analyzer 

Spectron Engineering-590 Spectroradiometer (SE-590)

Ceptometer 

Sunphotometer 

Digital Camera 

Stratospheric Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (SIRIS)

Rain Gauge 

Pyranometer

Spectrophotometer 

C-130

Sunphotometer

Advanced Solid-state Array Spectroradiometer (ASAS)

Digital Camera 

Thematic Mapper Simulator (TMS)

Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS)

DC-8

Airborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (AIRSAR)

PA-23

Compact Airborne Spectrographic Imager (CASI)

Fluorescence Line Imager (FLI)

Cessna Light

Spectron Engineering-590 Spectroradiometer (SE-590)

Modular Multiband Radiometer (MMR)

Quicksilver Model MXLI 

Generic-Radiometers (Gen-Radiometers)

Spectron Engineering-590 Spectroradiometer (SE-590)

Vehicle

Spectron Engineering-590 Spectroradiometer (SE-590)

Modular Multiband Radiometer (MMR)

ER-2

Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS)

Digital Camera 

Thematic Mapper Simulator (TMS)

Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer - Classic (AVIRIS-C)

The following resources provide additional information about the OTTER campaign.