A dataset of carbon and water fluxes of the temperate desert steppe in Damao Banner, Inner Mongolia (2015–2018)

Eddy correlation technology is an important observation method for the precise and long-term continuous measurement of carbon-water flux in ecosystems. The observations can provide important data support for studying carbon and water cycle processes and mechanisms in terrestrial ecosystems and evaluating ecosystem carbon income and expenditure. Damao Desert Steppe Station (Damao Station) is one of the member stations of the Chinese FLUX Observation and Research Network, located in Baotou City, central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The vegetation in the station area is a typical example of warm desert grassland in China, primarily composed of needlegrass communities. Based on the eddy covariance method, Damao station has been carrying out integrated observations of ecosystem carbon and water fluxes for a long term. This dataset compiles the observation data from Damao Station from 2015 to 2018 pursuant to the strict data processing system of ChinaFLUX. It is a standardized dataset of ecosystem CO2 flux, water and heat flux, and corresponding meteorological elements, including the data products at half-hourly, daily, monthly, and yearly scales.