Alice Springs Mulga Flux Data Release 2024_v1

<p>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). <br />/The Alice Springs Mulga flux station is located on Pine Hill cattle station, approx. 170&nbsp;km north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The woodland is characterised by a mixed <em>Acacia aneura</em> and <em>Acacia aptaneura</em> canopy, with a total standing biomass of 32.5 t/ha and median canopy height of 4.3&nbsp;m (tallest trees reach 8.9&nbsp;m height). Elevation of the site is 602&nbsp;m above sea level, and the terrain is flat. Mean annual precipitation at the nearby (45&nbsp;km distant) Bureau of Meteorology station is 311&nbsp;mm - 140&nbsp;mm (1986-2025), but has ranged between 33&nbsp;mm in the hydrological years of 2018/2019 to 712&nbsp;mm in 2016/2017 since the tower is operational. Predominant wind directions are from the southeast and east. The extent of the woodland is 11&nbsp;km to the east of the flux station and 16&nbsp;km to the south. The soil is characterised as a red kandosol (74:11:15 sand:silt:clay) overlying an approx. 50&nbsp;m deep water table. Pine Hill Station is a functioning cattle station that has been in operation for longer than 50 years. Fluxes of heat, water vapour and carbon are measured using the open-path eddy covariance technique at 11.6&nbsp;m. Supplementary measurements above the canopy include temperature and humidity (11.6&nbsp;m), downwelling and upwelling shortwave and longwave radiation (12.2&nbsp;m). Precipitation is monitored in a canopy gap near the tower (2&nbsp;m). Supplementary measurements below the canopy include barometric pressure (1&nbsp;m) and temperature and humidity (2&nbsp;m). Below ground soil measurements are made in bare soil, mulga, and understory habitats and include ground heat flux (0.08&nbsp;m), soil temperature (0.02&nbsp;m &ndash; 0.06&nbsp;m) and soil moisture (0 &ndash; 0.1&nbsp;m, 0.1 &ndash; 0.3&nbsp;m, 0.6 &ndash; 0.8&nbsp;m and 1.0 &ndash; 1.2&nbsp;m).</p>