Direct Real-Time GHG and ET Measurements for Immediate Societal Benefits: Getting to an AWS-Like Approach with Simple Explanations and CarbonDew

Continental-scale research infrastructures and flux networks (e.g., AmeriFlux, AsiaFlux, ChinaFlux, ICOS, NEON, OzFlux), as well as numerous smaller GHG flux networks, and individual sites, measure CO₂, CH₄, and other GHG exchange, as well as water vapor fluxes (evapotranspiration, ET) between ecosystem and atmosphere.

After four decades of academic use, the flux stations covered over 2100 stationary measurement locations, and numerous campaigns’ locations. Most measurements were used for process-level ecological and hydrological studies and long-term climate and ecosystem modeling.

Such measurements use ultra-high-resolution methodology and state-of-the-art hardware vastly superior to typical monitoring-grade methods and equipment deployed outside academia for a wide range of non-academic decision-making applications. However, despite providing exceptional ways to measure GHG emissions and ET, these are very rarely utilized outside academia.

The key reasons for such lack of utilization are:

• The perceived complexity of the method - can be resolved via simple-language explanations and a detailed guide described in the presentation
• The lack of data in the specific ecosystem or area and the associated expenses required to establish a new station - can be significantly reduced and often resolved by a peer-to-peer cross-sharing concept outlined in the presentation
• The absence of a robust overall approach to using flux measurements for immediate societal benefits - can be resolved by adopting an approach currently used by automated weather stations (AWS) feeding and tuning remotes sensing products and resulting in weather modeling and forecasting (see Figure below)

The ultimate goal of this presentation is to ignite and provide a base for a discussion regarding the latest needs, ideas, and examples of the use of flux measurements for practical ‘everyday’ decision-making applications benefiting society. The new Community of Practice “Carbon Dew” is also introduced to address some of these pressing needs.