AmeriFlux (Long-term flux measurement network of the Americas) is the measurement and modeling of net ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes from major terrestrial biomes, using continuous, long-term flux measurements at the ecosystem scale. A full description of the program is contained in the Ameriflux Science Plan (http://www.esd.ornl.gov/programs/NIGEC/scif.htm), authored by Steve Wofsy [Director, Northeast Regional Center of the National Institute for Global Environmental Change (NIGEC), Harvard University] and David Hollinger (AmeriFlux Science Team Chair, USDA-Forest Service). AmeriFlux's was established to contribute critical new information to help define the current global carbon dioxide budget, to enable improved predictions of future carbon dioxide concentrations, and to enhance the understanding of net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and carbon sequestration
of the terrestrial biosphere.
CDIAC's commitment entails the integration of the long-term carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy flux measurements with meteorological and ecological data into consistent, quality assured, and documented data sets. The Science Plan lists the core and desired measurements for each site. Each site will have an eddy-covariance flux system mounted on a tower to measure the net carbon dioxide fluxes between the biosphere and atmosphere. A fundamental goal of AmeriFlux is to establish and maintain long-term comparability of results from the sites. This will be achieved by consistency in technique and software processing, strict attention to calibration,and comparison of the flux response systems to a roving standard. The Science Plan lists 15 participating sites with a minimum of one year of data. The AmeriFlux Web site (http://www.esd.ornl.gov/programs/NIGEC/) lists, in addition, the planned study sites. AmeriFlux is participating in FLUXNET, a world-wide effort with the same goals as AmeriFlux.
