FLUXNET Site Metadata with Investigator and Bibliography

2016 data from the FLUXNET global network of micrometeorological tower sites, which measured exchanges of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy between ecosystems and the atmosphere. This archived dataset from the ORNL DAAC provides site characteristics, investigator lists, and a bibliography of related research. The network is foundational for studying terrestrial biosphere-atmosphere interactions.

Use Cases

• Mapping global flux tower site locations and environmental characteristics for spatial analysis.
• Identifying investigators and research teams associated with specific FLUXNET monitoring sites.
• Reviewing the bibliography of published papers that utilized FLUXNET data for literature surveys.
• Studying historical site metadata to support the interpretation of older eddy covariance time-series data.

Strengths

• Provides metadata from a foundational, globally-distributed network of over 500 tower sites (inferred from FLUXNET's scale).
• Includes a curated bibliography linking site data to published scientific literature.
• Archived by a authoritative source, the ORNL DAAC, ensuring long-term preservation.

Limitations

• The core site database was discontinued in 2016 and is not updated; users are directed to fluxdata.org for current information.
• Specific row counts, column names, and dataset size are not provided by any source.
• Conflicting 'last updated' dates exist: one source states 2016-12-31, while others list 2026-03-13, which may reflect a metadata refresh rather than data update.

Provenance

Source

ORNL DAAC (Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center).

Collection Method

Collected via eddy covariance methods at a global network of micrometeorological tower sites.

Time Range

2016

Freshness

Data is from 2016, though metadata records show a platform update as recent as 2026-03 13.

Geography

Global (terrestrial ecosystems worldwide).