Biogenic fluxes of carbon dioxide in the old-growth spruce forest in the middle taiga: Results of eddy covariance measurements

Abstract

Fluxes of carbon dioxide in the old-growth bilberry spruce forest in the European Taiga are measured by the eddy covariance technique. A carbon dioxide sink to the ecosystem was observed from April until September; the maximum net-exchange rate of carbon dioxide was recorded in July. During the cold period of the year from October to March, the biogenic flux of CO₂ was directed from the forest canopy to the atmosphere. According to measurements at u* > 0.2, the total annual NEE was 219 g C m^–2; the annual values of the ecosystem respiration R_eco and the gross photosynthesis P_gross were 483 and 966 g C m^–2, respectively. The conclusion is that the old-growth bilberry spruce forest in the middle taiga subzone was the sink of carbon from the atmosphere during the year of observation.