Variables

ICOS Class1 and Class2 stations

The list of the variables collected at the ICOS Stations is function of the station class. Class1 and Class2 stations follows the same protocols and the data have the same quality but Class1 stations have a larger set of variables collected. There are also variables facultative that can be collected by all the stations but still following protocols and standard applied in the ICOS network. In this table is summarized the list of the variables collected in the different ecosystems and for the two station Classes.

Class1 and Class 2 stations submit raw data to the ETC and Carbon Portal and the data are processed centrally. The protocols for the setup, collection, formatting and submission of the variables are described in the Instruction documents

Go to Associated Stations

List of variables collected at Class 1 and 2 ICOS stations in different ecosystem

Updated: 20171105

Variable Forest Grassland Cropland Wetland** Marine* Lakes*
CO2, H2O and H fluxes (eddy covariance, including profile for storage) 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2
CH4 and N2O fluxes (eddy covariance, including profile for storage) 1 1 1 1 1 1
Air H2O concentration 1 1 1 1 1 1
Incoming, Outgoing and Net SW and LW radiations 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 1
Incoming SW radiation (high quality) Fac Fac Fac Fac Fac Fac
Incoming PPFD 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2
PPFD below canopy + ground reflected Fac Fac Fac N.R. N.R. N.R.
Outgoing PPFD 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 Fac Fac
Diffuse PPFD and/or SW radiation 1 1 1 1 Fac Fac
Spectral reflectance Fac Fac Fac Fac Fac Fac
Soil Heat flux 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Air Temperature and Humidity profile 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 Fac Fac
Backup meteo station (TA, RH, SW_IN, Precipitation) 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2
Total high accuracy precipitation 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2
Snow height 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 Fac Fac
Soil Water Content profile 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Soil Temperature profile 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Air Pressure 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2
Trunk and branches temperature Fac N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R.
Water Table Depth 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Tree diameter (continuous) 1 N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R.
Phenology-Camera 1 1 1 1 N.R. N.R.
Soil CO2 automatic chambers 1 1 1 1 1 1
CH4 and N2O fluxes by automatic chambers 1 1 1 1 1 1
Wind speed and wind direction (additional to 3D sonic) 1 1 1 1 1 1
GAI 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Above Ground Biomass 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Soil carbon content 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Litterfall 1 1 1 1 N.R. N.R.
Leaf nutrients content 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Soil water N content Fac Fac Fac Fac N.R. N.R.
DOC concentration Fac Fac Fac Fac N.R. N.R.
C and N import/export by management 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 N.R. N.R.
Oxygen and pCO2 surface concentration N.R. N.R. N.R. Fac 2 2
Oxygen, pCO2 and pN2O concentration profile N.R. N.R. N.R. Fac 1 1
Salinity N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. 1 & 2 N.R.
Wave properties N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. Fac Fac
Water temperature profile N.R. N.R. N.R. N.R. 1 1
Management and distrurbances information 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2 1 & 2

Fac = Facultative variable; N.R. = Not Relevant for the ecosystem

* = list of variables for Lake, Marine and Urban sites under discussion

** = Wetland includes all different water inundated or saturated ecosystems according to Joosten and Clark 2002



ICOS Associated stations

Associates stations in ICOS have a minimum basic list of variables that must be collected and submitted (eddy covariance fluxes of one GHG, one incoming radiation variable, air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction, maximum LAI, Above Ground Biomass, soil texture and disturbances/management information) but additional variables are also possible.

The information about how to prepare and submit the data are reported in the Instruction on Associated Station Data. The list of the possible variables and their codes (to be used in the data file) and units are available here.