Cow Bay Flux Data Release 2025_v1 

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 (v3.4.18) 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 Cow Bay flux station was established in December 2008 and managed by James Cook University. The forest is classified as complex mesophyll vine forest, there are 94 species in the core 1 Ha, and average tree height is 22 m. Elevation of the site is 90 m and mean annual precipitation is 3935 mm. The Daintree Rainforest is one of the most biodiverse forests in Australia. The instruments are mounted on a walk-up tourist tower at 35 m. Fluxes of heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide are measured using the open-path eddy flux technique. Supplementary measurements above the canopy include temperature, humidity, windspeed, wind direction, rainfall, incoming and reflected shortwave radiation and net radiation.The early years 2009 - 12 had several data gaps. Shadowing of the radiometric equipment continues to cause artifacts on the radiometers - these can be seen as reduction in downwelling radiation with solar inclination. The site is part of the FNQ Rainforest SuperSite - associated with the Daintree node, which is part of the TERN, Australia. 

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 Cow Bay flux station is managed by James Cook University in a collaboration with the Daintree Discovery Centre. The site was co-funded by the Daintree Discovery Centre and the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN).
Past support was from the Department of Environment and Heritage - Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility Project 5ii.2. Climate Change: Scaling from trees to ecosystems. 

The purpose of the Cow Bay flux station is to:

• measure exchanges of carbon dioxide, water vapour and energy between the tropical lowland rainforest in Far North Queensland and the atmosphere using micrometeorological techniques
• quantify the changes in carbon and water balances of an Australian tropical rainforest on a long term basis in the face of climate change
• present the results from the study in real time to the public and inform the public on what these results mean.

 

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).