Eddy Correlations Surface Flux: GSFC (FIFE)

Surface flux measurements from a single upland site during the 1987 FIFE study. Data were collected daily from June 26 to October 17, 1987, using eddy correlation and Bowen ratio techniques to determine sensible heat, latent heat, and carbon dioxide fluxes. The dataset provides direct observations of turbulent diffusive fluxes above a grazed prairie surface.

Use Cases

• Validating land surface models using direct measurements of sensible and latent heat flux.
• Studying diurnal and seasonal carbon dioxide exchange over a grazed prairie ecosystem.
• Analyzing the covariance between vertical wind velocity and temperature/vapor density fluctuations.
• Comparing eddy correlation and Bowen ratio techniques for flux determination.

Strengths

• Provides direct, physically-based flux measurements using the established eddy correlation technique.
• Covers a defined intensive field campaign period from June 26 to October 17, 1987.
• Hosted by NASA, indicating a level of institutional credibility and scientific curation.

Limitations

• Data coverage is limited to specific campaign dates with no data available between intensive field campaigns.
• Critical metadata such as column names, row counts, and specific license terms are missing from all platform entries.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates (2026 vs. 1987) across platforms create uncertainty about metadata maintenance.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Collection Method

Field measurements using eddy correlation and Bowen ratio micrometeorological techniques.

Time Range

1987-06-26 to 1987-10-17

Freshness

2026-04-10 03:29:01.816159 (datagov), but the underlying data is from 1987.

Geography

Southwest quadrant of the FIFE study area, an upland, grazed prairie site.