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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Crops Pathology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284117
Title: A turnkey data logger program for field-scale energy flux density measurements using eddy covariance and surface renewal

Author
item SHAPLAND, THOMAS - University Of California
item McElrone, Andrew
item PAW U, K - University Of California
item SNYDER, RICHARD - University Of California

Submitted to: Italian Journal of Agrometeorology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2012
Publication Date: 4/15/2013
Citation: Shapland, T.M., Mcelrone, A.J., Paw U, K.T., Snyder, R.L. 2013. A turnkey data logger program for field-scale energy flux density measurements using eddy covariance and surface renewal. Italian Journal of Agrometeorology. 1:1-9.

Interpretive Summary: Methods to measure energy and mass (e.g. water or CO2) flux have become increasingly important in soil, agricultural, and environmental sciences. For many scientists without formal training in atmospheric science, these techniques are relatively inaccessible. These methods require an understanding of boundary layer meteorology and extensive training in instrumentation and multiple data processing programs. In this paper, we present an open-source turnkey program that performs data acquisition and post-processing, and provides the user with a simple data table with the corrected data output and quality control parameters.

Technical Abstract: Micrometeorological methods and ecosystem-scale energy and mass flux density measurements have become increasingly important in soil, agricultural, and environmental sciences. For many scientists without formal training in atmospheric science, these techniques are relatively inaccessible. Eddy covariance, surface renewal, and other flux measurement methods require an understanding of boundary layer meteorology and extensive training in instrumentation and multiple data processing programs. In this paper, we present an open-source turnkey data logger program that performs flux data acquisition and post-processing, returning to the user a simple data table with the corrected energy balance fluxes and quality control parameters. The underlying theory of the flux measurements is briefly discussed and the program design and execution are described line by line. Data were collected over a wheat canopy and the program results were tested against other flux processing software, including EdiRe and R. The energy balance fluxes appear reasonable for the fair weather conditions met during data collection period. The daily cumulative evapotranspiration values from the flux tower and logger program show strong agreement with measurements from a precision weighing lysimeter. The logger program can be accessed at www.github.com/tmshapland.