FluxPro as a realtime monitoring and surveilling system for eddy covariance flux measurement

Abstract

To understand how terrestrial ecosystems respond to global climate change, researchers have globally measured the energy, water and carbon dioxide flux densities (F) globally over various types of vegetation by the eddy covariance (EC) method. However, the process of F calculation and the method of quality control and quality assurance (QCQA) are complex and site specific. Moreover, instantly maintaining remote EC flux measurement sites against instrumentation problems and administrative difficulties is laborious. To overcome these issues, particularly those of realtime F monitoring and prompt site management, FluxPro was created. FluxPro consists of three functional systems: 1) a gathering system that transports EC measurements from various sites to the FluxPro management server; 2) a cooking system that computes F and its frictional uncertainty (ε) together with micrometeorological variables (V); and 3) a serving system that presents the results of the gathering and cooking systems as charts to be distributed over the internet in realtime. Consequently, FluxPro could become an appropriate system for realtime-multi-site management, since it not only automatically monitors F with ε and V but also continuously surveils EC sites, including copious information and an email alert system.