Overview of ChinaFLUX and evaluation of its eddy covariance measurement

The Chinese Terrestrial Ecosystem Flux Research Network (ChinaFLUX) is a long-term national network of micrometeorological flux measurement sites that measure the net exchange of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and energy between the biosphere and atmosphere. The ChinaFLUX network includes 8 observation sites (10 ecosystem types) and encompasses a large range of latitudes (21°57′N to 44°30′N), altitudes, climates and species. It relies on the existing Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN), fills an important regional gap and increases the number of ecosystem types in FLUXNET. Data and site information are available online at the ChinaFLUX web sites (http://www.chinaflux.org/). Expanding the scope of the FLUXNET database, ChinaFLUX offers new opportunities to quantify and compare the magnitudes and dynamics of annual ecosystem carbon and water balance and to explore the biotic and abiotic effects on ecosystem processes of carbon dioxide and water vapor exchange that are unique to ecosystems in China, such as the vegetation communities on the Qinghai–Tibet plateau. Besides, ChinaFLUX also provides more insights to help define the current status and enable future prediction of the global biogeochemical cycles of carbon, water and trace gases. Recent findings from the ChinaFLUX network are summarized in both micrometeorological and ecological aspects. This paper also summarizes these results and makes recommendations for the research priorities in ChinaFLUX.