George Burba

Relationship between gross primary production and chlorophyll content in crops: Implications for the synoptic monitoring of vegetation productivity

CO2/m 2 s in maize (GPP ranged from 0 to 3.1 mg CO2/m 2 s) and less than 0.2 mg CO2/m 2 s in soybean (GPP ranged from 0 to 1.8 mg CO2/m 2 s). Validation using an independent data set for irrigated and rainfed maize showed robustness of the technique; RMSE of GPP prediction was less than 0.27 mg CO2/m 2 s.

Phase and amplitude of ecosystem carbon release and uptake potentials as derived from FLUXNET measurements

As length and timing of the growing season are major factors explaining differences in carbon exchange of ecosystems, we analyzed seasonal patterns of net ecosystem carbon exchange (FNEE) using eddy covariance data of the FLUXNET data base (http://www-eosdis.ornl.gov/FLUXNET). The study included boreal and temperate, deciduous and coniferous forests, Mediterranean evergreen systems, rainforest, native and managed temperate grasslands, tundra, and C3 and C4 crops. Generalization of seasonal patterns are useful for identifying functional vegetation types for global dynamic vegetation models, as well as for global inversion studies, and can help improve phenological modules in SVAT or biogeochemical models. The results of this study have important validation potential for global carbon cycle modeling. The phasing of respiratory and assimilatory capacity differed within forest types: for temperate coniferous forests seasonal uptake and release capacities are in phase, for temperate deciduous and boreal coniferous forests, release was delayed compared to uptake. According to seasonal pattern of maximum nighttime release (evaluated over 15-day periods, Fmax) the study sites can be grouped in four classes: (1) boreal and high altitude conifers and grasslands; (2) temperate deciduous and temperate conifers; (3) tundra and crops; (4) evergreen Mediterranean and tropical forests. Similar results are found for maximum daytime uptake (Fmin) and the integral net carbon flux, but temperate deciduous forests fall into class 1. For forests, seasonal amplitudes of Fmax and Fmin increased in the order tropical C3-crops>temperate deciduous forests>temperate conifers>boreal conifers>tundra ecosystems. Due to data restrictions, our analysis centered mainly on Northern Hemisphere temperate and boreal forest ecosystems. Grasslands, crops, Mediterranean ecosystems, and rainforests are under-represented, as are savanna systems, wooded grassland, shrubland, or year-round measurements in tundra systems. For regional or global estimates of carbon sequestration potentials, future investigations of eddy covariance should expand in these systems.

Annual patterns and budget of CO2 flux in an Arctic tussock tundra ecosystem

The functioning of Arctic ecosystems is not only critically affected by climate change, but it also has the potential for major positive feedback on climate. There is, however, relatively little information on the role, patterns, and vulnerabilities of CO2 fluxes during the nonsummer seasons in Arctic ecosystems. Presented here is a year-round study of CO2 fluxes in an Alaskan Arctic tussock tundra ecosystem, and key environmental controls on these fluxes. Important controls on fluxes vary by season. This paper also presents a new empirical quantification of seasons in the Arctic based on net radiation. The fluxes were computed using standard FluxNet methodology and corrected using standard Webb-Pearman-Leuning density terms adjusted for influences of open-path instrument surface heating. The results showed that the nonsummer season comprises a significant source of carbon to the atmosphere. The summer period was a net sink of 24.3 g C m−2, while the nonsummer seasons released 37.9 g C m−2. This release is 1.6 times the summer uptake, resulting in a net annual source of +13.6 g C m−2 to the atmosphere. These findings support early observations of a change in this particular region of the Arctic from a long-term annual sink of CO2 to an annual source from the terrestrial ecosystem and soils to the atmosphere. The results presented here demonstrate that nearly continuous observations may be required in order to accurately calculate the annual net ecosystem CO2 exchange of Arctic ecosystems and to build predictive understanding that can be used to estimate, with confidence, Arctic fluxes under future conditions.

A comparative study of surface energy fluxes of three communities (Phragmites australis, Scirpus acutus, and open water) in a prairie wetland ecosystem

Components of the surface energy balance were measured using the Bowen ratio-energy balance method in three different communities (Phragmites australis, Scirpus acutus, and open water) in a wetland located in north-central Nebraska during the growing season of 1994. During daytime, the heat storage term (S) was a considerably larger sink of energy in open water as compared to the vegetated communities (Phragmites andScirpus). During nighttime, S was a significant source of energy in all three communities. As compared to the evapotranspiration (ET) fromPhragmites andScirpus, the evaporation (E) from open water (averaged over the measurement period) was about 25% smaller during daytime and three times larger during the night. The diurnal pattern of ET inPhragmites andScirpus generally followed that of Rn. The diurnal pattern of the open water E, however, did not follow Rn; rather, it seemed to depend on thermal stability conditions and air dryness. For the overall measurement period, the daily integrated (24-hour) evaporation from the open water area was 8% more than the evapotranspiration from thePhragmites-dominated part of the wetland and 17% more than the evapotranspiration from theScirpus-dominated part of the wetland.

Novel design of an enclosed CO2/H2O gas analyser for eddy covariance flux measurements

This study describes design and field performance of a new enclosed CO2/H2O gas analyser, LI-7200. Unlike present closed-path analysers, this new instrument is designed for operation with short intake tubes, with the intention to maximize strengths and to minimize weaknesses of both traditional open-path and closed-path approaches. The study provides description of the instrument, shows the principles of its operation, and explains advantages of a new design. Field results are provided from three field experiments with the prototypes, and cover such parameters as high frequency air temperature and pressure fluctuations inside the sampling cell versus ambient conditions, instantaneous concentrations and cospectra for CO2 and H2O in comparison with open-path instrument, and eddy covariance hourly CO2 and H2O fluxes in comparison with both open-path and closed-path instruments. Field data loss inventory is also provided in comparison with open-path and closed-path gas analysers. The new enclosed design results in little data loss during precipitation and icing, similar to the closed-path design, but with a low power consumption and high field stability comparable to open-path instruments.

Energy Fluxes of an Open Water Area in a mid-Latitude Prairie Wetland

Concurrent measurements of the surface energy balance components (net radiation, heat storage, and sensible and latent heat fluxes) were made in three communities (open water, Phragmites australis, Scirpus acutus) in a wetland in north-central Nebraska, U.S.A., during May-October, 1994. The Bowen ratio – energy balance method was used to calculate latent and sensible heat fluxes. This paper presents results from the open water area. The heat stored in water (G) was found to play a major role in the energy exchange over the water surface. During daytime, G consumed 45–60% of Rn, the net radiation (seasonally averaged daytime G was about 127 W m−2). At night, G was a significant source of energy (seasonally averaged nighttime G was about -135 Wm−). The diurnal pattern of latent heat flux (λ E) did not follow that of Rn. On some days, λ E was near zero during midday periods with large Rn. The diurnal variability in λ E seemed to be significantly affected by temperature inversions formed over the cool water surface. The daily evaporation rate (E) ranged from 2 to 8 mm during the measurement period, and was generally between 70 and 135% of the equilibrium rate.