Carbon, Water and Energy Fluxes at Young Post-Fire Sites in Central Saskatchewan
Dr. Brian Amiro
Our research on young post-fire sites in the BERMS (Boreal Ecosystem Research and Monitoring Sites) in central Saskatchewan began in 1998 when the Canadian Forest Service (Northern Forestry Centre) started eddy covariance measurements following fire. Field campaign measurements eventually turned into continuous flux towers at three sites, burned in 1998, 1989 and 1977. These sites became part of the Fluxnet Canada Research Network and were decommissioned in 2006/07. The Data are archived in the Data Information System maintained by the Fluxnet Canada Research Network/Canadian Carbon Program at: http://www.fluxnet-canada.ca
Long-Term Measurements of Carbon Dioxide Exchange Between a Mature Boreal Forest and the Atmosphere
Dr. Brian Amiro
The Northern Old Black Spruce (NOBS) site started in 1994 as part of BOREAS to measure the exchange of carbon dioxide between northern boreal forests and the atmosphere. Dr. Steve Wofsy from Harvard University ran the site until 2005, at which time we took over the site as part of the Fluxnet Canada Research Network/Canadian Carbon Program. This site was shut down near the end of 2008 and decommissioned in 2009. Data can be downloaded from the Harvard website for the 1994 to 2006 period at: http://atmos.seas.harvard.edu/lab/boreas/index.html
Effects of Wildfire Disturbance on Water Budgets of Boreal Black Spruce Forests
Dr. Brian Amiro
This project ran from 2005 to 2010 where we made measurements of the water budgets at boreal black spruce forests sites at various ages following wildfire. The project was a collaboration with Dr. Brent Ewers at the University of Wyoming and Dr. Tom Gower at the University of Wisconsin funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Canadian Carbon Program. Whole forest evapotranspiration was measured using an energy balance residual method, tree transpiration was measured with heat-pulse sensors, and supporting data on climate were collected at forests burned in 1989, 1964, 1930 and about 1850 (NOBS).
Forest Fires and Climate Change
Dr. Brian Amiro
Our research on forest fires includes estimates of the potential fire regime in a future warming climate and estimates of the greenhouse gases that fires emit during combustion for Canadian forests. We are also developing a research project on the micrometeorology of the drying of forest fuels, especially related to manipulations of the fuel complex to change fire behaviour. This work is in collaboration with the Canadian Forest Service. Funding has also come from NSERC.
Greenhouse Gas Implications of Forage-Crop Conversions
Dr. Brian Amiro
Our research on greenhouse gas exchange in agronomic ecosystems has recently concentrated on the consequences of changing cropping systems. This includes the effect of annual crop rotations as well as changing from annual to perennial crops, or from perennial to annual crops. We have two main field sites at Glenlea and Woodlands Manitoba. The research is part of the National Centre for Livestock and Environment (NCLE: http://www.umanitoba.ca/afs/ncle/index.html) and is in collaboration with Dr. Mario Tenuta, the CRC Chair in Soil Ecology at the University of Manitoba. Our measurements use both the eddy covariance technique and the flux-gradient technique to measure carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide whole-ecosystem fluxes. The research has been supported by NSERC and the Manitoba Sustainable Agricultural Practice Program (Government of Manitoba).
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