Eddy Covariance (EC) measurements in a restored floodplain area at the Morava River in Austria within the EU funded REWET project

Although occupying only 7% of the earth's surface, wetlands store 33% of the world's terrestrial carbon. When these ecosystems are drained to be converted into agricultural, forestry or mining exploitations, they release greenhouse gases contributing to climate change. While bringing together 18 partners from 9 countries, the REWET (REstoration of WETlands to minimise emissions and maximise carbon uptake – a strategy for long term climate mitigation) project focuses on determining how the restoration and management of wetlands can be optimised to maximise their carbon uptake while in balance with type-specific natural processes and biodiversity.

The REWET project draws upon a network of seven Open Labs (OLs) located in different geographical areas of Europe and covers different types of terrestrial wetlands: freshwater wetlands, peatlands and floodplains. The heterogeneity of the Open labs allows the application of different restoration methodologies while following the same monitoring plan to provide replicable knowledge.

This paper presents the measurements and the first result of the OL in Austria within the REWET project. The site is a restored and now protected floodplain area at the Morava River. EC measurements are used to calculate the CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes and the seasonal as well as annual carbon balance of the ecosystem. Furthermore, the effect of floodplain water levels and grazing in this area is investigated. The EC instruments have been set up on a floating platform to allow measurements also during flood events, when understudied, critical transition of GHG fluxes may occur. The CO₂/H₂O analyser started collecting the first data in the middle of October 2023 whereas the CH₄ analyser was added in end of December 2023. Since the CO₂ analyser was put on site first flood events occurred end of December, which is the first data to be processed and analysed. Additional to the results the challenges in setting up an EC tower in a floodplain area will be presented.

 

 

 

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