Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NEESPI?

NEESPI stands for Northern Eurasian Earth Science Partnership Initiative.

What is this Initiative about?

NEESPI is designed to establish an international, large-scale, interdisciplinary program aimed at developing a better understanding of the interactions between the terrestrial ecosystem, the atmosphere, and human dynamics in Northern Eurasian.

What are NEESPI goals?

To conduct a large-scale, interdisciplinary program of funded research aimed at developing a better understanding of the interactions between the terrestrial ecosystem and the atmosphere, with a special emphasis on the human impacts and feedbacks in northern Eurasia in support of international Earth science programs with particular relevance to global climate change research interests (including carbon) and international sponsoring agency funding priorities.

What is the NEESPI study area?

The NEESPI study area is loosely defined as the region lying between 15 E Longitude in the west, the Pacific Coast in the east, 40 N Latitude in the south, and the Arctic Ocean coastal zone in the north. Territory of the former USSR, Fennoscandia, Eastern Europe, Mongolia, and North China are all included in this area. All landscapes and components of the terrestrial biosphere, including the hydrology and atmosphere, that are interactive for purposes of Earth science investigation (to include the human impacts) are considered a part of NEESPI study area.

What types of ecosystems are in northern Eurasia?

The vast territory encompasses: (1) peat bog-tundra, forest tundra and boreal forests in the north; (2) forests and agriculture at the mid-latitudes; (3) forest-steppes, steppe, agriculture and arid zones in the south; and (4) lakes, ice, and coastal zones throughout the region.

How did NEESPI originate?

Growing out of informal discussions at various meetings and conferences over several years between the US, European and Russian scientists the need for greater cooperation and more integrated studies was realized. At the end of the 1990, NASA approached the Russian Academy of Science (RAS) concerning the possibilities for a major Northern Eurasia-wide scientific mega project. Various meetings and workshops during the early 2000s lead to a formal agreement on October 30, 2002 (12th ESJWG) between NASA and RAS to jointly develop a plan to invite international Scientific community to jointly develop a plan of research beneficial to the community.

Who is leading the NEESPI?

NASA and the RAS are guiding the initial development, but multiple partners from other U.S. agencies, other Russian ministries, the European Union, Japan, China, the Ukraine, and other NIS are anticipated to form the leadership of the full NEESPI program of research. Key persons and organizations who currently have specific responsibilities for management, science and administration for leading the NEESPI development can be found on our “Organization” page.

What non-Northern Eurasia countries are currently involved in Earth sciences research in the NEESPI study area?

We are aware of active research projects from the following countries which are not considered to be within the NEESPI study area: Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Korea, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the U.S. Through three NEESPI Science Sessions held during the Annual AGU Meeting (December 2004 San-Diego, California), at the International Conference on Land Cover – Land Use Change Processes in North East Asia Region (February 2005, Harbin, China), First Climate and Cryosphere Science Conference, (April 2005, Beijing, China), two NEESPI Sessions at the 31 ISRSE Symposium (June 2005, St. Petersburg, Russia), and the First NEESPI Science Team Meeting (February 2006, Laxenburg, Austria), we have learned and hope to further learn of additional active projects in this region with which the NEESPI has begun the “networking of scientists” for the region. As of April 15, 2006, we have 52 active NEESPI Projects. With a few exceptions, each of these Projects includes Principal Investigators, Co-Investigators, or Collaborators outside the NEESPI study area.

How can I be involved with the NEESPI?

As a project leader of a self-supported scientific investigation in Northern Eurasia, you can request that your project be officially sanctioned within the NEESPI. (Contact information)

As a potential funding sponsor (for example, government agency Project Manager) you can contact NEESPI Project Manager regarding formal mechanisms for supporting meetings, individual studies, or integrative activities. (Contact information)