One of our best avenues of public outreach is through the global change research community at large. Perhaps the project's most conspicuous opportunities for dialog and active collaboration are in our plans to make extensive use of existing models. We have initiated contacts with groups involved in the development of well-known models of landscape hydrology, soil carbon, and erosion. For example, to better appraise the relationship between our calculations and those used in the IPCC assessments of the global CO 2 budget, we have initiated a collaboration with terrestrial ecologists who are modeling the effects of land use on global carbon fluxes. Our modeling efforts will require substantial innovation, especially in linkages among different kinds of models, and we will benefit from the knowledge and advice of collaborators working with a diversity of models.
Collaborative opportunities exist in every aspect of our planned activities.
For example, we have initiated formal cooperative arrangements with the ARS for field work at several sites of ongoing erosion research. To the extent possible, we will also structure our efforts so that they can take advantage of improved data products expected in the near future. Another beneficial form of collaboration is the opportunity for regular scientific review of our activities. We have initiated a proposal review process for consideration of limited USGS funding for external research directed at targeted problems beyond our own expertise. We will also establish mechanisms for routine independent review of both specific project activities and overall MBCP progress and plans.