Implementation and management of ABoVE is provided by the Biosphere Office at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Field activities and operations conducted within the ABoVE Study Domain are organized, coordinated, and supported through the efforts of the Biosphere Office. Important aspects include coordination and support for field operations and logistics, safety and risk management, and interactions with local and regional stakeholders. The Biosphere Office provides cyberinfrastructure for data analysis and management (e.g., the ABoVE Science Cloud). The Biosphere Office assists Science Team members with permit applications to appropriate authorities. Depending on the needs of the Science Team, the Biosphere Office may also arrange for the collection of core variable data and installation of infrastructure at ABoVE field sites. The Biosphere Office is responsible for managing the airborne science campaigns. Science Team Members should work closely with the Biosphere Office and rely upon guidance from its staff for field activities, communications with local and regional stakeholders and authorities, and utilization of ABoVE cyberinfrastructure.

The ABoVE Science Team Leader and Deputy are responsible for providing scientific leadership and direction for ABoVE, providing scientific inputs regarding ABoVE priorities and activities to NASA management, and communicating about ABoVE to a wide variety of scientific, governmental, and public audiences. In close coordination with the ABoVE Science Team, the Biosphere Office, ABoVE program management at NASA HQ, and ABoVE partner organizations, they are responsible for writing and keeping up to date the ABoVE Implementation Plan detailing the research activities to be conducted and specifying roles and responsibilities for investigators involved in those specific activities during the execution of ABoVE. They are responsible for calling and organizing ABoVE ST meetings and related activities in coordination with NASA HQ managers and Biosphere Office. The Science Team Leads meet with NASA HQ and Biosphere Office management on a quarterly basis to review progress, resolve problems, and discuss next steps for implementation.

NASA Terrestrial Ecology research addresses changes in Earth’s carbon cycle and ecosystems using space-based observations in order to improve understanding of the structure and function of global terrestrial ecosystems, their interactions with the atmosphere and hydrosphere, and their role in the cycling of the major biogeochemical elements and water. The Program Manager provides overall direction and budgetary control for ABoVE, with assistance from the Program Scientist.