Observatory Status

NEON operations have been impacted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States in March 2020. This includes a period during which no in-person or on-site work occurred at any NEON sites (23 March through 17 May 2020). NEON resumed operations at select sites on 18 May 2020, with required PPE, temperature checks, and other safety precautions in place for staff and surrounding communities. Since then, NEON Leadership has been continually assessing conditions across the Observatory, resuming operations and reinstating closures where changes in local conditions (i.e., government guidelines, local infection trends, local hospital capacity, and/or local availability of PPE and supplies) dictate. As of 21 June 2021, the only NEON sites that are experiencing ongoing restrictions due to COVID-19 are in northern Alaska (Domain 18: TOOK, TOOL, OKSR, BARR). Data users should expect significantly reduced data availability from Domain 18 sites, particularly for Observation System data products, throughout 2021. 

We will continue to keep you updated here on any changes to Observatory operations due to COVID-19 or other unplanned events, such as wildfire and weather. 

COVID-19 Impacts on 2020 NEON Data Collection and Data Products

STATUS (As of 2 Aug 2021)

Operations Status

Field operations are experiencing ongoing restrictions due to COVID-19 in northern Alaska (Domain 18), resulting in limited operations at TOOL, TOOK, OKSR, and BARR. 

The Blue Fire started on 29 June, 2021 and impacted D17 SOAP and BIGC operations. Access has reopened to both field sites and power is restored.

Airborne Operations

Airborne operations (AOP) are planned for 2021 according to the schedule below. Note that the proposed schedule is subject to significant change based on site conditions. For more information, you can find the daily flight reports here.

2021 AOP Deployment Schedule

*D11 was added to the data collection schedule after D09 was completed early and enabled an additional Domain collection. 

Data Products Status

Observation System (OS) Products

• The collection of OS data and samples are dependent on human operators being in the field. Thus, collections  at sites where conditions results in restricted access will be impacted. 
• Includes DP IDs: DP1.1XXXX, subset of DP1.2XXXX, DP4.00131, DP4.00132

Airborne Observation Products

• Airborne products are collected according to the schedule above; these data are all dependent on human operators traveling extensively and being in the field.
• Includes DP IDs: DPX.3XXXX

Instrumented System Products

• Most sensors continually collect and communicate data to the centralized NEON database. Regular on-site maintenance may be impacted at sites where conditions result in restricted access.
• Includes DP IDs: DPX.0XXXX (except for DP4.00131, DP4.00132), subset of DP1.2XXXX
• Unplanned power and/or communications outages occur as a normal part of operations. Please note that communications outages typically result in delayed delivery of data rather than data loss.
• Sites currently experiencing power outages or site-wide data loss:
  • D10 RMNP (TIS) - Power (infrastructure repairs) down since 2021/07/28
  • D16 MCRA (AIS) - Power intermittent since 2021/07/26
• Sites currently experiencing communications outages: 
  • D13 WLOU (AIS) - LC Communication RESTORED 2021/08/02
  • D18 OKSR (AIS) - Communications down since 2021/07/27

Assignable Asset Status

Battelle staff are continuing to work remotely and the Assignable Asset team will continue to process all current requests and any new requests submitted during this time. PIs with specific questions or concerns about current or planned projects, please contact the Assignable Assets team.