FIFE: Eddy Correlation Surface Flux Measurements at UNL Site

Five Intensive Field Campaigns, four in 1987 and one in 1989, collected surface flux and micrometeorological data at a single site in the northwest quadrant of the FIFE study area. The station used an eddy correlation system to measure net radiation, sensible heat, and latent heat fluxes, alongside soil heat flux and other parameters. This dataset captures conditions at a site that was historically ungrazed but had recently been exposed to grazing.

Use Cases

• Validating land surface models based on measured fluxes of net radiation, sensible heat, and latent heat.
• Analyzing the impact of recent grazing on surface energy balance using data from a historically ungrazed site.
• Studying diurnal and seasonal variations in soil heat flux and micrometeorological parameters.
• Comparing eddy correlation flux measurements with other methodologies within the FIFE campaign.

Strengths

• Data collection spans five distinct field campaigns, providing temporal coverage from 1987 to 1989.
• Measurements are derived from an eddy correlation system, a direct method for measuring turbulent surface fluxes.
• Includes a specific suite of core energy balance components: net radiation, sensible heat, latent heat, and soil heat flux.

Limitations

• The dataset's exact size, row count, and specific column schema are not documented in the provided metadata.
• There is a conflict in the 'last updated' date between platforms (1989 vs. 2026), casting doubt on metadata maintenance.
• Spatial coverage is limited to a single measurement site within the larger FIFE study area.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Field measurements collected via an eddy correlation system and associated sensors at a ground station.

Time Range

1987 to 1989

Freshness

Last updated metadata dates conflict: 1989-08-13 (nasa_earthdata) and 2026-04-10 (datagov).

Geography

One site within the northwest quadrant near the center of the FIFE (First ISLSCP Field Experiment) study area.