Eddy-covariance flux stations in the Big Cypress National Preserve empirically measure water, energy, and carbon cycling. The project quantifies variables like latent heat flux, sensible heat flux, net ecosystem production, and gross ecosystem production across plant communities including Pine Upland, Marsh, Cypress Swamp, and Dwarf Cypress. Data collection was initiated by the U.S. Geological Survey and South Florida Water Management District in 2006, with carbon cycling measurements planned for 2012-2013.
Use Cases
- Model net ecosystem production (NEP) and gross ecosystem production (GEP) using flux tower measurements of CO2 exchange.
- Analyze the impact of hydrology changes on latent heat flux (evapotranspiration) and sensible heat flux across different plant communities.
- Study ecosystem respiration rates in response to factors like salinity or forest fires within subtropical wetlands.
- Calculate albedo and Bowen ratios from incoming solar radiation and net radiation data to understand surface energy partitioning.
- Correlate freshwater discharge events with changes in stored heat energy and carbon cycling metrics.
Strengths
- Long-term monitoring initiated in 2006, providing a multi-year baseline.
- Covers four distinct, spatially extensive plant communities (Pine Upland, Marsh, Cypress Swamp, Dwarf Cypress).
- Measures a suite of interlinked physical variables (water, energy, carbon fluxes) empirically.
Limitations
- Measurements are sparse and limited to specific sites within the Big Cypress National Preserve.
- Carbon cycling data collection was contingent on time and funding, potentially creating gaps post-2012.
- The dataset's last update was in 2013, limiting analysis of recent climatic trends.
Provenance
- Source
- U.S. Geological Survey and South Florida Water Management District, via NASA Earthdata.
- Collection Method
- Empirical measurements from eddy-covariance flux stations.
- Time Range
- Flux station construction in 2006; carbon measurements targeted for 2012-2013.
- Freshness
- Last updated in 2013; static baseline dataset.
- Geography
- Big Cypress National Preserve, south Florida, United States.