Geoscience

Major Step in Flux Measurement and Research in Terrestrial Ecosystems

Centered on the field of flux measurement and research in terrestrial ecosystem, a series of studies have been carried out since 2001 based mainly on eddy covariance technique directed by Prof. Yu Guirui from the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS. Now, 5-year continuous dynamic data of 10 typical terrestrial ecosystems in China had been obtained for the first time, including carbon and water fluxes, vegetation, litter fall, soil and micrometeorological elements. According to these data, the spatio-temporal patterns of carbon sink/source in typical forest and grassland ecosystems in China were evaluated quantitatively. Significant advancement had been made in explicating the driving mechanism of biological and environmental factors on the dynamics of carbon budget of different terrestrial ecosystem. At the same time, an information service system has been formed for data management and analysis of carbon flux measurement and research. All the above mentioned research has provided not only a vast quantity of data for validating carbon cycle model in China, but also reliable data and understanding for carbon management of terrestrial ecosystem to answer global change. Relevant outputs had been published in Science in China Series D: Earth Science (2005, Supp I, 2006 Supp II) and Agricultural and Forest Meteorology (2006, 137).