Maintaining High Quality Data and Consistency Across a Diverse Flux Network: The Ameriflux QA/QC Technical Team

Stephen Chan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, United States, David P Billesbach, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States, Chad V Hanson, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, United States and Sebastien Biraud, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Earth and Environmental Sciences Area, Berkeley, United States
Abstract:
The AmeriFlux quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) technical team conducts short term (<2 weeks) intercomparisons using a portable eddy covariance system (PECS) to maintain high quality data observations and data consistency across the AmeriFlux network (http://ameriflux.lbl.gov/). Site intercomparisons identify discrepancies between the in situ and portable measurements and calculated fluxes. Findings are jointly discussed by the site staff and the QA/QC team to improve in the situ observations. Despite the relatively short duration of an individual site intercomparison, the accumulated record of all site visits (numbering over 100 since 2002) is a unique dataset. The ability to deploy redundant sensors provides a rare opportunity to identify, quantify, and understand uncertainties in eddy covariance and ancillary measurements. We present a few specific case studies from QA/QC site visits to highlight and share new and relevant findings related to eddy covariance instrumentation and operation.
Back to: Advances in Observing and Scaling Surface-Atmosphere Exchange for Enhancing Long-Term Flux Networks III Posters