Carbon dioxide and energy fluxes from a boreal mixedwood forest ecosystem in Ontario, Canada

A long-term flux measurement station has been established in a 74-year-old mixedwood forest ecosystem, located approximately 80 km west of Timmins in northern Ontario, as part of the Fluxnet-Canada Research Network (FCRN). Measurements of energy, water vapour, and carbon dioxide fluxes have been made continuously since August 2003 using the eddy covariance technique, along with ancillary meteorological variables. The spatial structure of the site was evaluated using a variety of sources and techniques, including remote sensing, showing that this forest is mixed but relatively homogeneous. The canopy top height is remarkably constant at between 30 and 32 m. The basal area varies from 18 to 27 m2 ha−1, and the aboveground biomass ranges from 82 to 122 Mg ha−1. In this paper, we summarize the diurnal and seasonal patters of carbon dioxide exchange and water loss from September 1, 2003 to August 31, 2004. Net ecosystem productivity (NEP) is strongly related to temperature. Atmospheric vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in this ecosystem exerted strong biophysical control on the daily gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and evapotranspiration. Seasonal change in shortwave albedo, as a result of the presence of mixed deciduous and coniferous species, was clearly evident. Albedo changes were comparable to the seasonal pattern of NEP. The dormant season lasts more than 6 months of the year at this station. This forest was a moderate sink of carbon over the measurement period. Annual values of GEP, ecosystem respiration (R), and NEP were 1075, 919, and 156 ± 35 g C m−2, respectively.