The ExpeER call for Transnational Access (TA) proposals provides a unique opportunity for research teams and individuals to access some of Europe's major research infrastructures focused on ecosystem research. Each month, we will focus on one or two of these sites.
Focus on the Hesse experimental site (France)
INSTITUTE: INRA.
MAIN PURPOSE: Analysis of forest carbon sequestration.
ECOSYSTEM TYPE: Beech forest.
EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENTS: Precipitation exclusion with a 20 m² roof.
MORE INFORMATION: Map - About access, available facilities, supports offered and possible accomodation.
CONTACT: Bernard Longdoz (+33 (0)3 83 39 73 03)
Hesse facilities
The Hesse site is beech forest plot equipped since 1996 with an eddy covariance system to measure continuously (half-hourly) the net fluxes of CO2, H2O and energy exchanged between ecosystem and atmosphere. Supplementary sensors provide the main meteorological data (temperature, humidity, radiation) and edaphic status (soil water content, soil temp.). Additional field campaigns give information about ecosystem characteristics evolution (Leaf Area Index, trees growth, fine roots biomass), carbon allocation to ecosystem compartments (soil and stem CO2 efflux, heterotrophic respiration) and their isotopic signature (13C).
New developments since the beginning of ExpeER
The scientific infrastructure of the Hesse site has been renewed during the winter 2012-2013 to claim to the incorporation in the ICOS network (Integrated Carbon Observatory System) and obtain the upper level label (ICOS level 1). This site improvement includes first the construction of a new 35m height tower overhanging the forest canopy on which a new set of eddy covariance and meteorological sensors have been installed; secondly a new set of pedo-climatic sensors with a more important number of instruments to have a better representativeness of the spatial variability of the soil characteristics. The complete system will provide measurements with a higher accuracy and reliability. A regular leaf, wood, soil and soil water sampling will be performed (few times per year) to dispose of the carbon, nitrogen and mean nutriment concentrations and to archive organic matter in view of future studies.
Recent publications
Zapater M.; Breda N.; Bonal D.; Pardonnet S.; Granier A. (2013) Differential response to soil drought among co-occurring broad-leaved tree species growing in a 15-to-25-year-old mixed stand. Annals of Forest Science, 70, 31-39 - pdf.
Ngao J.; Epron D.; Delpierre N.; Bréda N.; Granier A.; Longdoz B. (2012) Spatial variability of soil CO2 efflux linked to soil parameters and ecosystem characteristics in a temperate beech forest. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 154-155, 136-146 - pdf.
Marron N.; Plain C .; Longdoz B.; Epron D. (2009) Seasonal and daily time course of the carbon isotope composition of soil CO2 efflux measured with a tunable diode laser spectrophotometer. Plant and Soil, 318 (1-2), 137-151 - pdf.
Granier A.; Bréda N.; Longdoz B.; Gross P.; Ngao J. (2008) Ten years of fluxes and stand growth in a young beech forest in North Easthern France (Hesse Forest). Annales of Forest Sciences, 65 (7), 704 - pdf
Longdoz B.; Gross P.; Granier A. (2008) Multiple quality tests for analysing CO2 fluxes in a beech temperate forest. Biogeosciences, 5, 719–729 - pdf.
