Fogg Dam Flux Data Release 2023_v2 

This release consists of flux tower measurements of the exchange of energy and mass between the surface and the atmospheric boundary-layer using eddy covariance techniques. Data were processed using PyFluxPro (v3.4.15) as described by Isaac et al. (2017). PyFluxPro produces a final, gap-filled product with Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) partitioned into Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) and Ecosystem Respiration (ER).

The site is situated within a wetland that flooded seasonally. The principal vegetation is Oryza rufipogon, Pseudoraphis spinescens and Eleocharis dulcis. The elevation is approximately 4 m, with a neighbouring Bureau of Meteorology station recording 1411 mm mean annual precipitation. Maximum temperatures range from 31.3 °C (in June and July) to 35.6 °C (in October), while minimum temperatures range from 14.9 °C (in July) to 23.9 °C (in December and February). Maximum temperatures vary on a seasonal basis by approximately 4.3 °C and minimum temperatures by 9.0 °C.

The instrument mast is 15 m tall. Heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide measurements are taken using the open-path eddy flux technique. Temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, incoming and reflected shortwave radiation and net radiation are measured above the canopy. Soil heat fluxes are measured and soil moisture content is gathered using time domain reflectometry. Ancillary measurements being taken at the site include LAI, leaf-scale physiological properties (gas exchange, leaf isotope ratios, nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations), vegetation optical properties and soil physical properties. Airborne-based remote sensing (Lidar and hyperspectral measurements) was carried out across the site in September 2008. 

We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
The site was managed by Monash University and Charles Darwin University. The flux station was part of the Australia OzFlux Network and contributed to the international FLUXNET Network. 

The purpose of Fogg Dam flux station was to:

• provide information as part of a larger network of flux stations established along the North Australian Tropical Transect (NATT) gradient, which extends ~1000 km south from Darwin 12.5 °S
• examine spatial patterns and processes of land-surface-atmosphere exchanges (radiation, heat, moisture, CO₂ and other trace gasses) across scales from leaf to landscape scales within Australian savannas
• determine the climate and ecosystem characteristics (physical structure, species composition, physiological function) that drive spatial and temporal variations of carbon, water and energy fluxes from north Australian savanna
• determine if fluxes of carbon, water vapour and heat over the various ecosystems as derived from the various measurement techniques can be combined to form a comprehensive and consistent estimate of the regional fluxes and budgets across the landscape.

 

All flux raw data is subject to the quality control process OzFlux QA/QC to generate data from L1 to L6. Levels 3 to 6 are available for re-use. Datasets contain Quality Controls flags which will indicate when data quality is poor and has been filled from alternative sources. For more details, refer to Isaac et al. (2017).