The Boreal Ecosystem-Atmosphere Study (BOREAS): an overview and early results from the 1994 field year

Abstract

The Boreal Ecosystem Atmosphere Study (BOREAS) is a large-scale international field experiment that has the goal of improving our understanding of the exchanges of radiative energy, heat, water, CO2, and trace gases between the boreal forest and the lower atmosphere. From August 1993 through September 1994, a continuous set of monitoring measurements- meteorology, hydrology, and satellite remote sensing - were gathering over the 1000 × 1000 km BOREAS study region that covers most of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada. Preliminary analyses of the data indicate that the area-averaged photosynthetic capacity of the boreal forest is much less than that of the temperate forests to the south. The strong sensible fluxes generated as a result of this often lead to the development of a deep dry planetary boundary layer over the forest, particularly during the spring and early summer. -from Authors