Global Ecosystem Carbon and Water Fluxes from 133 Studies

1969-1998 data compiles maximum net surface carbon assimilation, respiration, and evapotranspiration rates from 133 published studies across global terrestrial ecosystems. This NASA dataset synthesizes research primarily on forests and C3 crops, comparing micrometeorological and enclosure measurement techniques. It was compiled to analyze variability among vegetation types and the effects of stand age and leaf area index.

Use Cases

• Comparing maximum carbon assimilation (Asmax) rates across vegetation types like forests, C3 crops, and wetlands.
• Analyzing the relationship between leaf area index (LAI) and net ecosystem gas exchange.
• Investigating methodological differences in flux measurements between enclosure and micrometeorological settings.
• Assessing spatial and temporal gaps in knowledge for ecosystem respiration (Rsmax) and evapotranspiration (Etsmax).
• Modeling the effect of stand age on carbon dioxide and water vapor fluxes.

Strengths

• Synthesizes data from 133 individual studies, providing a broad comparative view.
• Covers a 30-year period (1969-1998) of scientific literature on ecosystem fluxes.
• Includes diverse vegetation types such as tropical forests, C4 grasslands, and wetlands beyond common temperate studies.
• Explicitly documents the analysis of stand age and leaf area index effects on gas exchange.

Limitations

• Row count and specific column names are not provided by any source platform.
• Sources conflict on the last updated date: one platform lists 2026-03-12 (likely an error), while the authoritative source indicates 1998.
• Individual studies within the compilation may not contain measurements for all three key flux variables.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), compiled from 133 published studies.

Collection Method

Literature review and synthesis of studies using micrometeorological or enclosure techniques.

Time Range

1969-1998

Freshness

1998-01-01

Geography

Global, with a noted emphasis on studies from the northern hemisphere.