THE CARBON CYCLE AREA

The main objective of the carbon cycle area is to study carbon balance dynamics in Mediterranean ecosystems based on the continuous measurements of CO₂ and H₂O fluxes by micro-meteorological methods (eddy covariance). These systematic observation activities are carried out in four flux-tower stations that are representative of various Mediterranean ecosystem types in Spain: a schrubland (Cortes de Pallas, Valencia), a paddy rice field (Sueca, Valencia), a high mountain pasture (Vall d´Alinya, Lleida) and a “dehesa” / Holm oak open woodland (Majadas del Tietar, Cáceres). These measurements allow to quantify the carbon and water balance of ecosystems, and to analyse their dependence on natural drivers (climate, etc.) and anthropogenic drivers (e.g. management, land-use type etc.), and their vulnerability to extreme events like heat waves and drought.

Flux-towers stations are integrated into European and global networks (FLUXNET, CARBOEUROPE) which follow standardized methodologies and protocols for both measurements and data processing, contributing to and include them in common databases (www.europe-fluxdata.eu). CEAM also participates in the ICOS preparatory phase (Integrated Carbon Observing System, www.icos-infrastructure.eu) Network, a Pan-European systematic observing infrastructure classified as “high priority” in 2010 by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. CEAM also contribute to international networks (SpecNet and Eurospec) aiming at the integration of flux data at ecosystem scale with spectral measurements from proximal remote sensing (in-situ, airborne) models to improve, calibrate or validate remote sensing products related with the terrestrial carbon cycle (e.g. MODIS).