Agriculture is directly linked to atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) through basic processes that occur in the soil-plant system. Agricultural soils can act as a source or sink of GHG depending on the management practices adopted. The objective of this research was to evaluate the GHG flux in different soil management systems. This project was constituted by two studies, conducted in long-term (22 years) experiment in a Rhodic Hapludox located in FUNDACEP research center, Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil. A study was conducted during 2006-2007 to evaluate the C-CO2 flux in a no-till soybean cropping system. Data were collected by an automatic meteorological station mounted in micrometeorological tower two meters above the ground. Turbulent variables were measured by a three-dimensional sonic anemometer Campbell-3D (wind and temperature components) and by an infrared gas analyzer Licor 7500 (H2O e CO2). Eddy covariance method was employed to measure the C-CO2 exchange that resulted of the interaction between atmosphere and the soybean cropping system. Soil temperature was measured using two sensors (thermopar) installed in the soil and for moisture measurement were used two sensors ECH2O. Results confirmed the high photosynthetic activity during daylight, with high values of C-CO2 influx. Low values of total C-CO2 influx were verified, with the culture responding to environmental conditions and to phenologic stage. Soybean cropping system liquid C-CO2 balance was estimated in -7,1 g C m-2. This result suggests a low soybean potential in increasing soil organic matter, even under no-till system. A second study was conducted during winter soil tillage operations (May 2007), using the closed camera method, to evaluate N2O, CH4 and CO2 flux in different soil management systems (conventional tillage, no-till system with soybean and maize residues). The analysis was made through gaseous chromatography. GHG emissions were affected by cropping system and were not affected by soil tillage. Highest N2O emissions occurred in the no-till system with soybean residues. The no-till system with maize residues had similar N2O emissions to conventional tillage system, this result was explained due to low nitrate soil content. The three systems evaluated acted as a CH4 sink. CO2 emissions were higher in the no-till system. / A agricultura está diretamente relacionada à concentração atmosférica de gases de efeito estufa (GEE) através dos processos básicos que ocorrem no sistema solo-planta. Os solos agrícolas podem atuar como fonte ou dreno destes gases dependendo das práticas de manejo utilizadas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o fluxo de GEE em diferentes sistemas de manejo de solo. O projeto foi constituído de dois estudos, desenvolvidos em experimento de longa duração (22 anos) sob Latossolo Vermelho distrófico típico situado na Fundação Centro de Experimentação e Pesquisa Fecotrigo (FUNDACEP), Cruz Alta, RS. Com o objetivo de avaliar o fluxo de C-CO2 no sistema solo-soja sob plantio direto (PD), desenvolveu-se um estudo durante a safra agrícola de 2006/2007. Os dados foram coletados por uma estação meteorológica automática montada em torre micrometeorológica de dois metros de altura. Variáveis turbulentas foram medidas por um anemômetro sônico tridimensional Campbell-3D (componentes de vento e temperatura) e por um analisador de gás infravermelho Licor 7500 (H2O e CO2). O método da covariância dos vórtices ( eddy covariance ) foi utilizado para medir o fluxo de C-CO2 que é resultante da interação entre a atmosfera e a cultura de soja. A temperatura do solo foi avaliada utilizando-se dois sensores de temperatura (termopares) inseridos no interior do solo e para a medição da umidade do solo foram utilizados dois sensores ECH2O (Decagon Devices, Inc, USA). Os resultados confirmaram a elevada atividade fotossintética durante o período diurno, com elevados valores de influxo de C-CO2. Foram verificados baixos valores de influxo de C-CO2 total, com a cultura respondendo às condições ambientais e ao estádio fenológico. O balanço de C líquido da cultura da soja indicou baixo potencial em proporcionar incrementos nos teores de matéria orgânica do solo mesmo sob PD. Com o objetivo de avaliar o fluxo de N2O, CH4 e CO2 em diferentes sistemas de manejo de solo (preparo convencional, plantio direto com resíduos de soja e milho) desenvolveu-se um estudo durante os preparos de inverno (maio de 2007) usando o método da câmara fechada. A análise foi realizada por cromatografia gasosa (cromatógrafo Shimadzu GC 2014). As emissões de GEE foram pouco influenciadas pelo preparo do solo no período outono-inverno. As maiores emissões de N2O ocorreram no PD quando na presença de resíduos de soja. Os três sistemas avaliados atuaram como dreno de CH4. As emissões de CO2 foram maiores sob PD do que sob PC.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The dynamics process of the atmosphere near Earth ground is controled by two main forcings, termical and machanics. These process are reponsible for the atmospheric flow variability in this layer, and this variability characterizes the atmospheric turbulence. The presence of turbulence phenomena drives to distinguish it from the rest of atmosphere, such layer is commom called Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL). So, the importance of studying ABL is the fact of that turbulence represents an effective transport process near the ground surface. Adequate treating of the experimental data gives more truthful so qualitative as quantitavie when we are interpreting and understading these transports. This is very impportant for suitable trustful charaterizing the turbulent fluxes. This dissertation shows an overview about some basics turbulent data treatment techics. The dataset, colected experimentaly and separed into 27 minutes window samples, were subjected to simple mean, running mean through digital recursive filter e and linear detrending. Our focus are the implications of applying this technics and how each of this acts in turbulent time series of temperature and vertical velocity of the wind data, showing and discussing about the results in the estimating fluxes of sensible heat by Eddy Covariance method and also spectral densities estimates of temperature and vertical wind velocity. The main goal of the study done in this dissertation, was identifying that applying corrections on fase lag, not considered in older digital recursive filter (FDR as proposed by McMillen 1988) and, present into the model (FFDR proposed by Franceschi e Zardi 2003) leads for trusties estimatives, mainly for turbulent temperature spectra, which are the hardest ones for minimizing the non statinarity effects. Clearly, observing the graphical results of temperature spectra, we see that those low frequencies were better removed than the others technics, giving to spectral shape the classics espected shape. / A dinâmica da atmosfera próxima á superfície é regida por dois forçantes principais, um mecânico e outro térmico. Esses processos são responsáveis pela variabilidade dos escoamentos na baixa atmosfera e, é essa variabilidade que caracteriza a turbulência atmosférica. A presença do fenômeno de turbulência, permite distinguir uma camada do restante da atmosfera, esta é chamada de Camada Limite Atmosférica ( CLA). A importância de estudos nessa camada, está relacionada com o fato da turbulência representar um processo efetivo de transporte próximo à superfície. O tratamento adequado dos dados experimentais permite maior contabilidade, tanto qualitativa quanto quantitativas, na interpretação e entendimento desse transporte, ou seja, é necessário para uma adequada caracterização dos fluxos turbulentos. Nesta dissertação são investigadas algumas, das principais técnicas básicas, no tratamento de dados e condicionamento em séries temporais turbulentas. Os dados, experimentalmente coletados e separados em conjuntos de amostras com 27 minutos, são submetidos aos tratamentos com técnicas de média simples, média instantânea através de filtros digitais recursivos e remoção linear de tendência. Obeserva-se as implicações da aplicação destas técnicas, como cada uma delas age nas séries temporais turbulentas de temperatura e velocidade vertical do vento, apresentando e discutindo os resultados dessa aplicação, nas estimativas dos fluxos turbulentos de calor sensível através do método de Covariância dos Vórtices (MCV), e também das densidades espectrais de temperatura e velocidade vertical. Um dos grandes benefícios do estudo feito nessa dissertação, foi identificar que a correção do atraso de fase, que não era levada em consideração nos modelos de filtros digitais anteriores (FDR proposto por McMillen 1988) e, presente no modelo (FFDR Franceschi e Zardi 2003) conduz à estimativas satisfatórias, principalmente para espectros de temperatura turbulenta, que são os mais difíceis de se minimizar os efeitos de não estacionariedade. Ficou claro, observando nos resultados gráficos dos espectros, que a remoção de baixas freqüências nos espectros de temperatura, os deixou com o perfil típico de especros clássicamente esperados.

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<p><h1>This study discusses energy and water balance in an 80-year-old deciduous Carolinian forest in the Great Lakes region in southern Ontario, Canada. The eddy covariance technique and associated meteorological and soil variables were used to make a year-round measurements of energy and water vapour fluxes from January-December,2012. This site is part of the Turkey Point Flux Station and global Fluxnet. The linear relationship between daily turbulent (sensible heat (H), latent heat (LE)) and radiative fluxes (net radiation (Rn),soil heat (G) and canopy heat storage ( S)) has a the slope of 0.75 (intercept of -15.8 Wm^-2, and a correlation coefficient, r² of 0.93) indicating a 25% deficiency in energy balance closure. The mean value of canopy albedo was 0.16 during the growing season. Maximum daily evapotranspiration (E) rate was 3.8 mm day^-1 in June, when growing is at its peak in the region. Total annual E was 400 mm, which accounted for 42% of the total annual precipitation of 950 mm. The water storage in upper soil column (1.0 m depth) was approximately 100 mm, indicating that about 450 mm of water was lost from the forest as runoff. Apart from radiation, vapour pressure deficit (D) was the dominant control on E. Maximum value of bulk surface conductance (Gs) was about 18.5 mm s^-1. Gs linearly decreased in response to increase in D. The minimum Gs values were recorded when D was maximum, i.e. 3 to 3.5 kPa. Gs also showed high sensitivity to the volumetric soil water content (ϴ), during dry periods, for example the drought event in 2012. In the growing season, the typical value of Priestley-Taylor α ranged between 0.8 to 1.2 with a maximum of 1.8, indicating a wet deciduous forest. However, the LE/Rn relationship showed a linear increase with increasing D with a low (0.26) slope, indicating a conservative response of forest E to atmospheric demand. This study provides insight into energy partitioning, the water balance and their controls in this Carolinian deciduous forest. A better understanding of evapotranspiration processes and their controls in these forests would help to better quantify water availability at local and regional scales and to evaluate the impacts of future climate change on water resources in the region.</h1></p> / Master of Science (MSc)

<p>Continuous measurements of carbon fluxes and meteorological variables were made at a newly initiated flux tower site at an oak-dominant temperate deciduous forest in Southern Ontario, Canada from January to December 2012. Results indicate this forest was a moderate carbon sink in 2012. Annual values of net ecosystem productivity (NEP), gross ecosystem productivity (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (R) were 263 ± 30, 1192 and 922 g C m^-2, respectively. An unusual warm period in March caused a strong increase in R. Erratic peaks of daily air temperature in April also increased R. A drought in July and early August reduced NEP rates when soil moisture values reached the lowest point of the year in late July and early August (minimum 0.023 m³ m^-3). This decrease in NEP was mostly caused by a decrease in GEP, rather than increased R. Water use efficiency at this deciduous forest was 2.86 g C kg^-1 H₂O, indicating conservative water use by the forest. Downwelling photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was a dominant environmental control on photosynthesis, followed by air temperature and vapour pressure deficit, except in extreme dry periods when soil water stress affected carbon uptake. Extremely cloudy days in the growing season resulted in net carbon release due to low photosynthetic uptake values. Results indicate that large climatic fluctuations in this region may cause high instability in photosynthetic carbon uptake and release from soil carbon pools. This study helps to evaluate and quantify the responses of deciduous forests in the Great Lakes region to future climate change and extreme weather events.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

According to the World Health Organization, urban air pollution is a high public health priority due its linkage to cardio-pulmonary disease and association with increased mortality and morbidity (1, 2). Additionally, air pollution impacts climate change, visibility, and ecosystem health. The development of effective strategies for improving air quality requires accurate estimates of air pollutant emissions. In response to the need for new approaches to measuring emissions, we have designed a mobile Flux Lab for the Atmospheric Measurement of Emissions (FLAME) that applies a proven, science-based method known as eddy covariance for the direct quantification of anthropogenic emissions to the atmosphere. The mobile flux lab is a tool with novel, multifaceted abilities to assess air quality and improve the fidelity of emission inventories. Measurements of air pollutant concentrations in multiple locations at the neighborhood scale can provide much greater spatial resolution for population exposure assessments. The lab's mobility allows it to target specific sources, and plumes from these can be analyzed to determine emission factors. Through eddy covariance, the lab provides the new ability to directly measure emissions of a suite of air pollutants. We have deployed the FLAME to three different settings: a rural Appalachian town where coal transport is the dominant industry; schools in the medium-sized city of Roanoke, Virginia; and the large urban areas around Norfolk, Virginia, to measure neighborhood-scale emissions of air pollution. These areas routinely experience high ozone and particulate matter concentrations and include a diverse array of residential neighborhoods and industries. The FLAME is able to capture emissions from all ground-based sources, such as motor vehicles, rail and barge traffic, refuse fires and refueling stations, for which no direct measurement method has been available previously. Experiments focus on carbon dioxide (CO₂), the principal greenhouse gas responsible for climate change; nitrogen oxides (NOx), a key ingredient in ground-level ozone and acid rain; volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a second key ingredient in ozone and many of which are air toxics; and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a cause of mortality, decreased visibility, and climate change. This research provides some of the first measurements of neighborhood-scale anthropogenic emissions of CO₂, NOx, VOCs and PM2.5 and as a result, the first opportunity to validate official emission inventories directly. The results indicate that a mobile eddy covariance system can be used successfully to measure fluxes of multiple pollutants in a variety of urban settings. With certain pollutants in certain locations, flux measurements confirmed inventories, but in others, they disagreed by factors of up to five, suggesting that parts of the inventory may be severely over- or underestimated. Over the scale of a few kilometers within a city, emissions were highly heterogeneous in both space and time. FLAME-based measurements also confirmed published emission factors from coal barges and showed that idling vehicles are the dominant source of emissions of air toxics around seven schools in southwest Virginia. Measurements from this study corroborate existing emission inventories of CO₂ and NOx and suggest that inventories of PM2.5 may be overestimated. Despite the tremendous spatial and temporal variability in emissions found in dense urban areas, CO₂ fluxes on average are very similar across the areas in this study and other urban areas in the developed world. Nevertheless, the high level of variability in spatial and temporal patterns of emissions presents a challenge to air quality modelers. The finding that emissions from idling vehicles at schools are likely responsible for creating hot spots of air toxics adds to the urgency of implementing no-idling and other rules to reduce the exposure of children to such pollutants. Ultimately, the results of this study can be used in combination with knowledge from existing emission inventories to improve the science and policies surrounding air pollution. / Ph. D.

In the southwest United States, the current prolonged warm drought is similar to the predicted future climate change scenarios for the region. This study aimed to determine patterns in vegetation response to the early 21st century drought across multiple biomes. We hypothesized that different biomes (forests, shrublands, and grasslands) would have different relative sensitivities to both climate drivers (precipitation and temperature) and legacy effects (previous-year's productivity). We tested this hypothesis at eight Ameriflux sites in various Southwest biomes using NASA Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from 2001 to 2013. All sites experienced prolonged dry conditions during the study period. The impact of combined precipitation and temperature on Southwest ecosystems at both annual and sub-annual timescales was tested using Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). All biomes studied had critical sub-annual climate periods during which precipitation and temperature influenced production. In forests, annual peak greenness (EVImax) was best predicted by 9-month SPEI calculated in July (i.e., January-July). In shrublands and grasslands, EVImax was best predicted by SPEI in July through September, with little effect of the previous year's EVImax. Daily gross ecosystem production (GEP) derived from flux tower data yielded further insights into the complex interplay between precipitation and temperature. In forests, GEP was driven by cool-season precipitation and constrained by warm-season maximum temperature. GEP in both shrublands and grasslands was driven by summer precipitation and constrained by high daily summer maximum temperatures. In grasslands, there was a negative relationship between temperature and GEP in July, but no relationship in August and September. Consideration of sub-annual climate conditions and the inclusion of the effect of temperature on the water balance allowed us to generalize the functional responses of vegetation to predicted future climate conditions. We conclude that across biomes, drought conditions during critical sub-annual climate periods could have a strong negative impact on vegetation production in the southwestern United States.

Le réchauffement climatique affecte fortement les régions nordiques du Canada où le dégel du pergélisol discontinu à sa limite sud est accompagné du mouvement de la limite des arbres vers le nord en zone de pergélisol continu. Ces altérations faites aux paysages de la Taïga des Plaines sont le point de départ de plusieurs rétroactions puisque les changements apportés aux caractéristiques de la surface (au niveau de l’albédo, l’humidité du sol et la rugosité de la surface) vont à leur tour entraîner des modifications biophysiques et éventuellement influencer l’augmentation ou la diminution subséquente des températures et de l’humidité de l’air. Seulement, il y a un nombre important de facteurs d’influence qu’il est difficile de projeter toutes les boucles rétroactives qui surviendront avec les présents changements climatiques en régions nordiques. Dans le but de caractériser les échanges d’eau et d’énergie entre la surface et l’atmosphère de trois sites des Territoires du Nord-Ouest subissant les conséquences de l’augmentation des températures de l’air, la méthode micro-météorologique de covariance des turbulences fut utilisée en 2013 aux sites de Scotty Creek (forêt boréale et tourbière nordique en zone de pergélisol sporadique-discontinu), de Havikpak Creek (forêt boréale nordique en zone de pergélisol continu) et de Trail Valley Creek (toundra arctique en zone de pergélisol continu). En identifiant les procédés biotiques et abiotiques (ex. intensité lumineuse, disponibilité en eau, etc.) d’évapotranspiration aux trois sites, les contrôles par l’eau et l’énergie furent caractérisés et permirent ainsi de projeter une augmentation de la limitation en eau, mais surtout en énergie du site de Trail Valley Creek. La répartition de l’énergie projetée est semblable à celle de Havikpak Creek, avec une augmentation de la proportion du flux de chaleur sensible au détriment de celui latent suite aux modifications des caractéristiques de la surface (albédo, rugosité et humidité du sol). L’augmentation relative du flux d’énergie sensible laisse présager une boucle rétroactive positive de l’augmentation des températures de l’air à ce site. Ensuite, en comparant des données modelées de la hauteur de la couche limite planétaire et des données provenant de profils atmosphériques d’Environnement Canada entre les trois sites, les changements de hauteur de cette couche atmosphérique furent aussi projetés. Trail Valley Creek pourrait connaître une hausse de la hauteur de sa couche limite planétaire avec le temps alors que Scotty Creek connaîtrait une diminution de celle-ci. Ces changements au niveau des couches atmosphériques liés à la répartition des flux d’énergie dans les écosystèmes se répercuteraient alors sur le climat régional de façon difficile à déterminer pour l’instant. Les changements apportés désignent une boucle rétroactive positive des températures de l’air à Trail Valley Creek et l’inverse à Scotty Creek. Les deux axes d’analyse arrivent donc aux mêmes conclusions et soulignent aussi l’importance de l’influence mutuelle entre le climat et les caractéristiques spécifiques des écosystèmes à la surface. / Along the southern margin of permafrost, the boreal forest is underlain by ice-rich and relatively warm permafrost which is converted into permafrost-free peatlands and lake ecosystems due to warmer temperatures and increased thaw rates. At the same time, in the continuous permafrost zone the tree-line of the boreal forest is advancing northward into what is currently Arctic tundra. Both land cover changes in the Taiga Plains ecozone are affecting the magnitude of complex feedback loops, including regional biophysical feedbacks through altered net water vapor and heat exchanges caused by changes in land surface albedo, hydrology and surface roughness. Changes affecting the ecosystems are numerous and it is currently hard to estimate the direction (positive or negative) and magnitude of the resulting biophysical feedbacks. To improve our understanding of implications arising from land cover changes, the energy and water exchanges between surface and atmosphere at three sites in the Northwest Territories, Canada are characterized: Scotty Creek (boreal forest-peatland landscape with sporadic permafrost), Havikpak Creek (boreal forest with continuous permafrost) and Trail Valley Creek (tundra with continuous permafrost). The results of this study are based on measurements of water vapor and heat fluxes obtained with the eddy covariance technique, in addition to supporting ancillary measurements (e.g., net radiation, ground heat flux). For the growing season of 2013, biotic and abiotic controls (ex. light intensity, water availability, etc.) of evapotranspiration at the three sites were identified and analyzed leading to a projected increase in water and energy limitation for Trail Valley Creek. This limitation can be explained by increased energy repartition to sensible heat than to latent heat, following alterations of the land surface as the treeline moves towards the arctic tundra landscape. The relative increase in the sensible heat flux is an indication for an amplified positive feedback of rising air temperature. A comparison of modeled planetary boundary layer heights with Environment Canada atmospheric profiles for the sites leads to the same projection of a positive air temperature feedback. As the treeline moves north, at Trail Valley Creek, an increase of its planetary boundary layer is expected and the opposite phenomenon is expected at Scotty Creek. Albedo, hydrology and surface roughness will be modified, affecting energy partitioning and atmospheric layers which in turn will influence climate. The two methods have led to the same conclusion and highlight the importance of mutual influence between climate and land surface characteristics.

Le bilan carboné d'une rotation culturale de quatre ans a été établi entre 2004 et 2008 sur le site expérimental de Lonzée, Belgique. La région se caractérise par un climat tempéré océanique avec une température moyenne de l'air de 10°C et des précipitations annuelles de l'ordre de 800 mm. Le sol de la parcelle est un Luvisol. Les cultures composant la rotation sont des cultures de betterave, froment dhiver, pomme de terre et froment dhiver. Dans le but détablir un bilan carboné, des mesures ont été effectuées à différentes échelles spatiales et temporelles. Un système de mesure par eddy covariance fournit une estimation par demiheure de l'échange net en CO2 de l'écosystème (NEE). La qualité des procédures de sélection et de traitement des flux de NEE a été contrôlée. A partir de ces mesures, la productivité primaire brute (GPP) et la respiration totale de l'écosystème (TER) sont déduites. Plusieurs procédures basées sur les mesures diurnes ou nocturnes de NEE sont comparées. L'intérêt d'utiliser un court pas de temps dans ces procédures et la température du sol comme température de référence a été mis en avant, ainsi que la nécessité de déterminer une valeur seuil de la vitesse de friction (u*) pour chaque culture et les longues inter-cultures. Pour la culture de froment d'hiver 2005, une estimation de la GPP déduite des mesures d'eddy covariance est comparée à une estimation basée sur une modélisation de mesures réalisées, une fois par semaine, à l'échelle de la feuille. La conception initiale de l'appareil de mesure a permis de réaliser les mesures sur les feuilles uniquement. Les évolutions des deux estimations sont proches à l'échelle de la saison et à l'échelle journalière. La mise en oeuvre de la méthode basée sur les mesures à léchelle de la feuille a apporté dimportantes informations en termes de réponse de la GPP aux facteurs climatiques et non climatiques et a permis une validation de lestimation basée sur les mesures deddy covariance. Toutefois, dans le cadre de létablissement dun bilan carboné, la méthode basée sur les mesures d'eddy covariance est préférée. Des mesures de la respiration de sol, réalisées à l'échelle de la miniparcelle de sol, et des mesures du contenu en carbone des plantes sont aussi réalisées. Combinées aux mesures d'eddy covariance, ces mesures permettent de déduire les parts autoet hétérotrophiques de la respiration. Sur l'ensemble de la rotation, la parcelle apparait être une source significative de carbone de 0.17 (+/- 0.14) kg C m-2. Cela suggère que, durant la rotation, le contenu en carbone du sol a diminué. Ceci peut sexpliquer par labsence dapport de fertilisation organique durant les 10 dernières années ainsi que par la récolte systématique des pailles des céréales.

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