Performance Evaluation of an Integrated Open-Path Eddy Covariance System in a Cold Desert Environment

Wei Wang Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Jiaping Xu Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Yunqiu Gao Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Ivan Bogoev Research and Development, Campbell Scientific, Inc., Logan, Utah

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Jian Cui Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Lichen Deng Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Cheng Hu Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Cheng Liu Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Shoudong Liu Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Jing Shen Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Xiaomin Sun Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

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Wei Xiao Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China

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Guofu Yuan Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

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Xuhui Lee Yale–NUIST Center on Atmospheric Environment, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut

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Abstract

Performance evaluation of an integrated eddy covariance (EC) instrument called the IRGASON, with a separated EC for reference, was conducted in a desert riparian Populus euphratica stand in the lower Tarim River basin in northwestern China. The separated EC consisted of an open-path gas analyzer and a sonic anemometer separated by 20 cm. The IRGASON integrates an open-path gas analyzer and a sonic anemometer into the same sensing volume, thus eliminating sensor separation in comparison to the traditional open-path EC setup. Integrating the infrared gas analyzer’s sensing head into the sensing volume of the sonic anemometer had negligible effects on wind speed and friction velocity observations of the IRGASON. Physiologically unreasonable daytime CO2 uptake was observed by both systems during the cold winter season (mean air temperature of −6.7°C), when the trees were dormant without any photosynthetic activities. The mean midday CO2 flux was −1.65 and −1.61 μmol m−2 s−1 for the IRGASON and the separated EC setup, respectively. No evidence was found for sensor self-heating as the cause of the apparent uptake CO2 flux. Instead, the uptake CO2 flux appeared to be an artifact of the spectroscopic effect of the IRGASON’s gas analyzer. After adjusting for this spectroscopic effect using a relationship with the sensible heat flux, the wintertime IRGASON CO2 flux became physiologically reasonable (mean value of −0.04 μmol m−2 s−1).

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0149.s1.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Xuhui Lee, Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Meteorology, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, Kroon Hall, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511. E-mail: xuhui.lee@yale.edu

Abstract

Performance evaluation of an integrated eddy covariance (EC) instrument called the IRGASON, with a separated EC for reference, was conducted in a desert riparian Populus euphratica stand in the lower Tarim River basin in northwestern China. The separated EC consisted of an open-path gas analyzer and a sonic anemometer separated by 20 cm. The IRGASON integrates an open-path gas analyzer and a sonic anemometer into the same sensing volume, thus eliminating sensor separation in comparison to the traditional open-path EC setup. Integrating the infrared gas analyzer’s sensing head into the sensing volume of the sonic anemometer had negligible effects on wind speed and friction velocity observations of the IRGASON. Physiologically unreasonable daytime CO2 uptake was observed by both systems during the cold winter season (mean air temperature of −6.7°C), when the trees were dormant without any photosynthetic activities. The mean midday CO2 flux was −1.65 and −1.61 μmol m−2 s−1 for the IRGASON and the separated EC setup, respectively. No evidence was found for sensor self-heating as the cause of the apparent uptake CO2 flux. Instead, the uptake CO2 flux appeared to be an artifact of the spectroscopic effect of the IRGASON’s gas analyzer. After adjusting for this spectroscopic effect using a relationship with the sensible heat flux, the wintertime IRGASON CO2 flux became physiologically reasonable (mean value of −0.04 μmol m−2 s−1).

Supplemental information related to this paper is available at the Journals Online website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JTECH-D-15-0149.s1.

Corresponding author address: Dr. Xuhui Lee, Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor of Meteorology, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, Kroon Hall, 195 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511. E-mail: xuhui.lee@yale.edu
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