Integrating Flux Towers, Remote Sensing, and Models in the Everglades
September 16, 2026 11:00 am (Central Time)
Abstract
The Everglades are a critical freshwater resource for South Florida, serving more than nine million people and replenishing the Biscayne Aquifer. Beyond water supply, they play key roles in flood control, storm protection, and sustaining a highly diverse ecosystem with thousands of species. As the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, they also contribute significantly to the economy, generating about $31 billion annually. Existing flux-towers in the Everglades provide point measurements at high frequency, but their spatial coverage is limited, and scaling infrastructure is challenging due to cost and maintenance. During Summer School 2026, the broad question that this team addressed is: how can in situ measurements from flux towers, remote sensing observations, and first-principles models be effectively integrated to improve the accuracy, spatial scalability, and predictive capability of carbon, water, and energy flux estimates in the Everglades? The Summer School team collaborated on data integration and processing, machine learning, and model formulation and validation, and will be sharing highlights from their week-long experience of working together.
Speakers
Summer School 2026 Team 2