Baltimore LTER / AmeriFlux Tower

Long Term Ecological Research / CO₂ exchange between terrestrial systems and the atmosphere.

NGCRP Contribution to the Project

Studies on carbon dioxide concentration, CO₂ and H₂O flux, and the effects of multiple air pollutants on the urban forests are being conducted in Baltimore. Urban conditions may represent possible future scenarios: elevated carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen deposition and elevated temperatures. A 40 m Forest Service lookout tower near Baltimore is used to conduct air quality and meteorological flux research. This is the first permanent tower to estimate carbon flux and carbon sequestration in an urban/suburban forest ecosystem.

A CO₂ and H₂O profile system and eddy flux system was installed in the winter/spring of 2001 and has been running continuously. The initial results of our profile system shows an elevated daily CO₂ cycle associated with energy use and rush hour traffic. The weekly CO₂ cycle appears to have higher overall CO₂ emissions for the weekdays (work week) than that of the weekend.

Estimates of suburban forest area are considered "non-forest" by definition, and the amount of carbon stored is not well known, as they fall between the inventories of rural and urban forests. Metropolitan areas have an average tree cover of 33.4%, (urban counties) and support 25% of the USA's total tree canopy cover. This study will improve our understanding for carbon flux and carbon sequestration in areas traditionally classified as non-forest lands.

Links

View Quick Time movies of the FLUX Tower (bes_010003 & bes_010004)).

Poster: CO₂ and Heat Flux Observations in Suburban Baltimore (Cub Hill) (.pdf)

Poster: Studies in Carbon & Meteorological Flux & Air Quality Concentration Measurements in the Baltimore Ecosystem Study (.pdf)

First Year Results Show Tree's Effects On Baltimore Air Quality.

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