CARBOEUROPE-IP
"Assessment of the European Terrestrial Carbon Balance"
Component 1. Ecosystems
Activities 1.4 Forests
Minimum datasets for Forest Sites
th
Version 1.1 (February, 18 2006)
1) Site Description
2) Fluxes & Meteorology
3) Structural, biomass, NPP : Soil, Species composition
4) Biology and Physiology
5) Management
6) Miscellaneous
The following tables reflect the different status of the sites (soil verification, main, associated) and
contain the indication of :
M = Mandatory parameters
O = Optional parameters
that a specific site type has to measure & deliver.
The last column contains the ecosystem type code indicating for which ecosystems a certain
measurements has to be collected :
D = Deciduous
C = Coniferous
d = disturbed profoundly
Reminder :
Main site = Site that must follow the completed CarboEurope mandatory protocols
Associated site = minimum of 12 months’ flux data
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1. Site description
Parameters
Units
Comment
Verificat
. Sites
Main
Sites
Associat.
Sites
Ecosyst.
type
Slope
Degrees
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
Exposure
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
Elevation
Degrees
from N
m AMSL
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
Latitude
‘°N
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
Longitude
‘°E
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
Annual temperature (climatic)
°C
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
Annual rainfall (climatic)
mm
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
Mean wind speed
m s-1
Full site description including map of
site showing dimensions, masts
location, plus photos
-
-
M
M
M
D-C-d
M
M
M
D-C-d
M
M
M
D-C-d
Species list including ground flora and
vertebrate animal species
Topography : a map is required to draw
the general topography (flat, sloping,
undulating…)
-
Map and description of the
surroundings & borders of the site, as
detailed as possible (coniferous forest
and age of the trees, grasslands,
croplands, roads, farms, villages…)
-
Essential to
interpret the
fluxes in
combination
with footprint
analyses
M
M
M
D-C-d
Site history
(previous land use, management and
felling history)
text
Less than one
page
M
M
M
D-C-d
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2. Fluxes & Meteorology
Parameter
Class / Type
Parameter measured
Symbol
Canopy flux
densities
CO2
Fc
μmol m s
Sensible Heat
H
Wm
Latent Heat
LE
Wm
Water vapor
E
Momentum

Kg m-1 s
Soil heat flux density
(corrected by profile
measurements)
CO2 emission
G
Wm
FSsoil
μmol m s
N2 O
μmol m
CH4 emissions
CH4
μmol m s
Global radiation (SW
incoming/ outgoing)
LW incoming/ outgoing
Rg, Rr
W
m-2
Lg, Lr
W
Net radiation
Rn
Photosynthetically active
radiation, PAR (both
directions), direct &
diffuse
Light interception
PARdir
PARdif
APAR
μmol m s
Air temperature
Ta
Soil fluxes
*
N2O emissions
*
Meteorology
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Units
Method
Step
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Associated
Sites
Ecosyst.
type
-2 -1
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
-2
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
-2
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
mmol m s
-2 -1
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
-2
Eddy cov.
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
Sensors
30 min
M
M
O
D-C-d
Cuvette or
estimates
Cuvette or
estimates
Cuvette or
estimates
Sensor
Min monthly,
campaigns on events
Campaigns on event
mode
Campaigns on event
mode
30 min
M
O
O
D-C-d
O
O
O
D-C-d
O
O
O
D-C-d
M
M
M
D-C-d
m-2
Sensor
30 min
O
O
O
D-C-d
-2
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
μmol photons
-2 -1
m s
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
-2 -1
Sensor
30 min
O
O
O
C
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
-2
-2 -1
-2 s-1
-2 -1
Wm
°C
3
Hydrology
N-fluxes
Pressure
Pa
Kpa
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
Precipitation
P
mm
Rain guage
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
Throughfall
Pgap
mm
week
O
O
O
Stemflow
Pstem
mm
week
O
O
O
Canopy radiative
temperature
Soil temperature profile
Tc
°C
Infra-red sensor
30 min
O
O
O
D-C-d
Ts
°C
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
Relative humidity
RH
%
Sensor
30 min
M
M
M
D-C-d
Snow depth
SNOWD
mm
Sensor / Pole
15 days (30 min)
M
M
M
D-C-d
Soil water content profile
SWC
% by volume
TDR or others
M
M
M
D-C-d
Soil water table
SWD
Diver
M
M
M
D-C-d
NH3 dry deposition
NH3
cm from
ground
-1
-1
kg ha month
30 min surface layer,
periodic for profiles
Seasonal
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
D-C-d
+
+
kg ha month
-
kg ha month
NOx dry deposition
NOx
kg ha month
Total Atmospheric N input
(wet and dry)
TNatm
kg ha month
NH4 wet deposition
NH4
Nitrate wet deposition
NO3
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-1
-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
D-C-d
-1
-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
D-C-d
-1
-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
D-C-d
-1
-1
Passive sampler
1 month / Annual
O
O
O
D-C-d
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3. Structural, biomass, NPP : Soil, productivity
Parameter
Class / Type
Parameter measured
Symbol
Units
Method
Frequency
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Associated
Sites
Ecosyst.
type
Structure and
Biomass
Aboveground biomass
(dry matter)
BAG
Kg m-2
Annual
M
M
M
D-C-d
Harvested biomass (dry
matter)
BH
Kg m
Annual
M
M
M
D-C-d
Aboveground residue
after management practice
(dry matter)
Dendrometer bands for
tree growth
Annual increments from
growth rings starting 1990
Fine root biomass and
turnover
Res
Kg m
Estimate from
allometry (Zianis
et al. 2005)
Estimate from
allometry (Zianis
et al. 2005)
Sampling
At harvested when
relevant
M
M
M
D-C-d
-2
-2
Δ
mm month-1
Sampling
monthly
O
O
O
Δyear
mm year-1
Take cores
Once, Jan 2007
M
M
O
D-C-d
Rhizotron
preferred
(Hendricks et al.
2005)
Estimate from
allometry,
harvesting where
possible
Analysis
campaigns on events
M
M
O
D-C-d
campaigns on events
M
O
O
D-C-d
campaigns on events
O
O
O
D-C-d
See section 6.2
M
M
M
D-C-d
Inventory
Min. monthly and
more frequent during
phenological events
Annual
M
M
M
D-C-d
Inventory
once
M
M
M
D-C-d
sampling
Once, then after any
management
intervention
M
M
M
D-C-d
-2
WR
Kg m
Coarse root biomass
CWR
Kg m
Litter and Leaf C/N
C/N
Leaf area index
LAI
Tree height
h
-2
-2
m² m
m
Age class distribution
Stems per ha
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m-2
5
Soil
Wood density

g cm-3
sampling
Once
M
M
M
Carbon content of wood
C
%
sampling
Once
M
M
O
D-C-d
Net Primary Production
Pnet
tC ha-1 year-1
See Section 6
Annual
M
M
M
D-C-d
Lichens found in canopy
(pollution indication)
Soil organic carbon stocks
(profile)
Soil description (FAO)
Species list
M
M
M
D-C-d
SDESC
Depth of main
rooting zone
Bulk density (in each
layer, horizon or
combination of methods)
Soil Texture
(in each layer)
pH in water
(in each layer)
CEC Total
2+
-2
SOC
Sampling
At start of the season
M
M
O
D-C-d
-
Survey
once
M
M
M
D-C-d
DEPTHMRZ
m
Once, before harvest
M
M
O
G-C
BD
G soil m dry
soil
Visual
Observation
Soil cylinders
Once
M
M
M
D-C-d
T
Without
decarbonatation
Once
M
M
M
D-C-d
pH
(Cl:Sa:Si)
g/kg
-
Once
M
M
M
D-C-d
CEC
molC+/kg
Metson
Once
M
O
O
D-C-d
M
O
O
D-C-d
M
O
O
D-C-d
O
O
O
D-C-d
O
O
O
D-C-d
Exchangeable ions Ca ,
2+
+
+
Mg , K , Na , P2O5
+
NH4 and NO3
NH4 , NO3
Microbial biomass
MB
EOM (extractable organic
matter)
POM (particular organic
matter)
Advanced SOM
measurements
Net Mineralisation rate
under laboratory
conditions
EOM
Kg m
-3
-1
X ech.
+
g kg
-
-1
mg kg
Ammonium
Once
acetate
Extract 1/10 KCl Before fertilization and
0.5 mol/l
after harvest
fumigationAnnual
extraction
method
once
POM
once
O
O
O
D-C-d
ASOM
once
O
O
O
D-C-d
once
O
O
O
D-C-d
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-1
mg kg
6
End product of
denitrification
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-1
mg kg
once
O
O
O
D-C-d
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4. Biology and Physiology
Parameter
Class / Type
Parameter measured
Symbol
Biology &
Physiology
Photosyntetic max.
capacity
P max
mol m s
Leaf stomatal
conductance
Gs
cm s
Leaf dark respiration
RLD
mol m s
Nutrient content in
component with rapid
turnover (foliage, fine
roots…)
Pre-dawn water potential
N, P, K, C
mg g
Phenology
(50% shoots budbreak,
flowering)
Sap flow
Ø
Fsap
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Units
-2 -1
-1
-2 -1
-1
-
mm day-1
Method
Frequency
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Associated
Sites
Ecosyst.
type
Gas exchange
under T/RH/CO2
control
Gas exchange
O
O
O
D-C-d
O
O
O
D-C-d
O
O
O
D-C-d
Analysis
Campaign to
characterise the
vegetation
Campaign to
characterise the
vegetation
Campaign to
characterise the
vegetation
Campaign
O
O
O
D-C-d
Pressure chamber
Campaign
O
O
O
D-C-d
Photos & web
cam if possible
For all relevant stages
M
M
M
D-C-d
gauges
hourly
O
O
O
D-C-d
Gas exchange
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5. Forest management
Information required
Units
Verificat.
Sites
Main
Sites
Associated
Sites
Ecosyst.
type
Brief description of management
system
Write text
M
M
M
D-C-d
List any non-timber products
Write text
M
M
M
D-C-d
How long has site been forested
years
M
M
M
D-C-d
Date of known harvests
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
D-C-d
Date and estimated quantity of
thinnings
Expected fate of the harvest (paper,
furniture etc)
Dates of known drainage
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
D-C-d
year
M
M
M
D-C-d
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
D-C-d
Dates of any fertilisation
DD/MM/YY
M
M
M
D-C-d
Amount of N applied at each fertiliser
event
Amount of phosphorus applied at each
fertiliser event
Amount of potassium applied at each
fertiliser event
Dates and description of windthrow,
fire and insect devastation of
(kg N ha )
-1
M
M
M
D-C-d
-1
M
M
M
D-C-d
(kg K ha )
-1
M
M
M
D-C-d
Dates and notes
M
M
M
D-C-d
(kg P ha )
ANY OTHER EVENTS
(e.g. flooding, storm, fire, defoliation…)
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6. Miscellaneous
6.1 Estimation of NPP
Measure the diameter, annual increment at 1.3 m on the stems, and trees per hectare; then using
the allometric equations provided by Zianis et al. (2005), and the wood density find the
increment stems, branches and coarse roots in tons DW ha-1 year-1. Add the annual litter fall.
Add the estimate of fine root production obtained from the rhizotrons (Metcalfe 2006). Attempt
uncertainty analysis taking into account the statistical sampling and measurement error.
6.2 Estimation of LAI
Measure the apparent Leaf Area Index using either hemispherical photographs or the LiCor
canopy analyser. A recent review of the methodology is provided by Bréda (2005). If both
methods can be used for at least some of the measurements, that would be good. Hemispherical
photographs have the advantage that they may be returned to for further analysis and they give
additional structural information (stems, clumping, canopy gaps). We hope to organise a
comparison of analysis of these photographs.
In both cases, make sufficient samples to provide a mean with uncertainty less than plus or
minus 0.5 m2 leaf m-2 ground. Make seasonal measurements to track the phenological changes in
the canopy.
7. References
Bréda NJJ (2005) Ground-based measurements of leaf area index: a review of methods,
instruments and current controversies. Journal of Experimental Botany 54, 2403-2417
Hendricks JJ, Hendrick RL, Wilson CA, Mitchell RJ, Pecot SD & Guo D (2005) Assessing patterns and
controls of fine root dynamics an empirical test and methodological review. Journal of Ecology 94, 4057.
Keeland BD & Young PJ (2005) Construction and Installation of Dendrometer Bands for Periodic
Tree-Growth Measurements. http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/Dendrometer/#6
Metcalfe D (2006) Measuring root dynamics in tropical ecosystems_ a field manual.
http://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/projects/panamazonia/res-documents.html#w2004m
Zianis D, Muukkonen P, Mäkipää & Mencuccini M (2005). Biomass and Stem Volume Equations for
tree Species in Europe. Silva Fennica 4, 1-63.
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