The document discusses the importance of accounting for and communicating uncertainty in environmental data. It suggests that the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) can help by providing standardized approaches, making data and algorithms openly available, and educating policymakers. NEON should emphasize uncertainty in papers, classes, and labs, and provide forums to focus on the topic. The goal is to advance understanding and use of uncertainty estimates so they can better inform environmental policy decisions.

1. WHY SHOULD WE BE UNCERTAIN?
Jeffrey R. Taylor
1jtaylor@neoninc.org

2. Approaches to Uncertainty
jtaylor@neoninc.org 2

3. What can NEON do to help?!?
• Offer Standardized Approaches
• Make Data and Algorithms Freely Available to Everyone
• Provide Forums/Workshops to Focus on Uncertainty
• Emphasize this is Papers/Classes/Labs
• Help Educate Policy Makers
jtaylor@neoninc.org 3

4. Propagation of Uncertainty
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Data Products at a Site Continental Scale
Data Products

5. • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Guidance Notes
How Do We Manage This Problem?
jtaylor@neoninc.org 5
Very Qualitative, but Digestible…

6. Ultimately Must be Communicated…
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7. VISION: Tracing Policy Back to Science
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8. NEON Data Portal
All Data, Data Quality Information, Uncertainty Calculations,
and Algorithm Details are freely available to everyone
jtaylor@neoninc.org 8
data.neoninc.org

9. NEON ATBDs
Available for all at…
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data.neoninc.org

10. Summary
• Uncertainty is (finally) gaining attention as an important
part of informing environmental data
• Standards will be necessary to compare uncertainty
between different network measurements and continental
scale estimates
• Transparency and open communication are essential for
effective understanding of uncertainty
• Advocacy at the Policy Maker level will advance the
impact of uncertainty estimates
jtaylor@neoninc.org 10