Ecosystem Evapotranspiration and Photosynthesis from Eddy Covariance.

Studying the carbon and energy exchange processes between land cover and the atmosphere is important in understanding the feedbacks between vegetation and climate. Ecosystem-level carbon and evapotranspiration fluxes can be quantified with fast-response instruments using the eddy covariance method. This method has been widely used around the world for studying the energy exchange processes, carbon, and hydrological cycles of different ecosystems. Although it has been most commonly used for studying natural ecosystems, the eddy covariance method has been successfully applied to agricultural fields.  Using eddy covariance, the CO₂ and evapotranspiration fluxes are determined as the covariance between vertical wind velocity and CO₂  and water vapor concentrations respectively.  Details of this methodology and data analysis will be presented.