Ecosystem structure data sets of an open canopy black spruce forest in Interior Alaska for ecosystem modeling

Recent warming trends in the Arctic and boreal regions overwhelm the global average and this trend is likely to continue in the future. The detailed and well-described forest ecosystem structures including understory plant communities are necessary to test and evaluate the current ecosystem models. In this data paper, we presented a synthesis data set of the above-ground forest structural characteristics. Field campaigns were conducted from 2010 to 2018 in the Poker Flat Research Range of the Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska, Fairbanks located outskirts of the city of Fairbanks, AK, USA. The forest is a sparse evergreen needle-leaf forest (see section 2). The field campaigns include (1) tree census surveys in the years 2010 and 2014, (2) direct measurement of tree above-ground biomass profile in the year 2012, (3) tree leaf area index (LAI) measurements by the non-destructive method in the year 2018, and (4) biomass and LAI survey of forest floor vegetation by the direct sampling method in the year 2018. The ecosystem structure data sets described in this paper are useful for the development, improvement, and validation of the ecosystem and land surface models. The data are also useful to understand the relationship between greenhouse gas fluxes and the ecosystem structure and functioning.

北极及寒温带针叶林区域的升温幅度远超全球平均水平，且该趋势未来仍将延续。详尽且经规范表征的森林生态系统结构（包括林下植物群落），是检验与评估现有生态系统模型的必要前提。本数据论文整合发布了一套森林地上结构特征合成数据集。野外调查工作于2010至2018年间，在美国阿拉斯加州费尔班克斯市近郊的阿拉斯加大学费尔班克斯分校地球物理研究所波弗拉特研究基地（Poker Flat Research Range）开展。该研究区域的森林为稀疏常绿针叶林（详见第2章节）。本次野外调查包含四项内容：(1) 2010年与2014年开展的林木普查；(2) 2012年完成的林木地上生物量剖面直接测量；(3) 2018年采用非破坏性方法测定的林木叶面积指数（Leaf Area Index, LAI）；(4) 2018年通过直接采样法开展的林下植被生物量与叶面积指数调查。本文所述的生态系统结构数据集，可用于生态系统模型与陆面模型的开发、优化与验证。该数据集亦有助于厘清温室气体通量与生态系统结构及功能之间的关联。