CO2 Profile at Harvard Forest HEM and LPH Towers since 2009

Carbon dioxide profile measurements are designed to supplement eddy flux measurements in calculating the carbon exchange of a forest. In the case of the Harvard Forest flux towers, the change in CO2 storage between the ground and the height of the eddy flux system during each half hour must be added to the eddy flux measured above the forest to determine the total carbon exchange. The profile measurements are also necessary in order to calculate CO2 movement by advection, or horizontal air transport. The amount of CO2 removed from a particular site by advection is the product of the total CO2 within the air a given range of height above the ground, and the average velocity of airflow parallel to the ground surface within that height range.