Arcturus Emerald Flux Data Release 2024_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 (v3.4.17) 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 Arcturus greenhouse gas (GHG) monitoring station was established in July 2010, 48 km southeast of Emerald, Queensland. Flux tower measurements were carried out from June 2011 to early 2014. The station was part of a collaborative project between Geoscience Australia (GA) and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (CMAR). The elevation of the site is approximately 170 m asl and mean annual precipitation is 572 mm. The tower bordered 2 land use types to the west lightly forested tussock grasslands; to the east crop lands, cycling through fallow periods. The instruments were installed on a square lattice tower with an adjustable pulley lever system to raise and lower the instrument arm. The tower was 5.6 m tall with the instrument mast extending a further 1.1 m above, totalling a height of 6.7 m. Fluxes of heat, water vapour, methane and carbon dioxide were measured using the open-path eddy flux technique. Supplementary measurements above the canopy included temperature, humidity, windspeed, wind direction, rainfall, and the four components of net radiation. Soil heat flux, soil moisture and soil temperature measurements were also collected. 

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.
Arcturus Emerald flux station was managed by Geoscience Australia. It was supported largely by CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research and was a voluntary member to TERN. 

The purpose of the Arcturus Emerald flux station was to:

• gain an understanding of natural background carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in the region prior to carbon sequestration and coal seam gas activities take place
• couple natural flux results with high precision greenhouse gas monitoring instruments (including isotope analysis) to be used for atmospheric dispersion modelling
• assess the feasibility of using this type of instrumentation for baseline studies prior to industry activities that will be required to monitor and assess CO₂ or CH₄ leakage to atmosphere in the future.

 

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).