Investigators and Partners

This project is the product of the combined efforts of many interdisciplinary researchers of various expertise and was initiated by:

• Prof. Jason Beringer (Micrometeorology)(UWA)
• Prof. Ross Thompson (Aquatic ecologist)(ACU)
• Dr. Timothy Cavagnaro (Soil ecologist)(Uni Adelaide)
• Prof. Ralph Mac Nally (Landscape ecologist)(ACU)
• Dr. Patrick Baker (Plant biology)(The Uni Melbourne)
• Mr Mark Eigenraam (DSE)
• Mr Leon Metzeling (EPA)

Project Overview

Farming carbon via tree plantings on pasture land is becoming increasingly common to address the effects of climate change. This activity is likely to produce dramatic changes in Australia's rural landscapes, but we have little knowledge of likely effects on crucial ecosystem services and attributes such as stream water yields and biodiversity. This project investigates the relationship between tree cover, carbon uptake, water yield and biodiversity. The outcomes will allow government agencies, landowners and carbon farming groups to better evaluate the effects of different landscape planning options and contribute to effective long-term planning for multiple goals. The site was established in October 2011 as part of an ARC Linkage project "More bang for your carbon buck: carbon, biodiversity and water balance consequences of whole-catchment carbon farming" (LP0990038) Dr Ross Michael Thompson, A/Prof Jason Beringer, Dr Timothy Richard Cavagnaro, Prof Ralph Charles Mac Nally, Dr Patrick John Baker, Mr Mark Eigenraam, Mr Leon Metzeling. The tower will provide longterm measurements as part of the Ozflux network and the infrastructure is partly funded through the NCRIS TERN OzFlux and Supersite facilities.

Key research questions

The Site Location

The Whroo flux station was located approximately 45km south west of Shepparton, Victoria: 36° 40' 22.98"S, 145° 1' 34.37"E.

Site Characteristics

The flux tower site was classified as box woodland. The vegetation is dominated by two main Eucalypt species: Eucalyptus microcarpa (Grey Box) and Eucalyptus leucoxylon (Yellow Gum). Smaller numbers of Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Ironbark) and Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle) are also found on site. Elevation of the site is close to 165 m and mean annual precipitation from a nearby Bureau of Meteorology site measured 558 mm. Maximum temperatures ranged from 29.8°C (in January) to 12.6°C (in July), while minimum temperatures ranged from 14.2°C (in February) to 3.2°C (in July). Maximum temperatures varied on a seasonal basis by approximately 17.2°C and minimum temperatures by 11.0°C.

The instrument mast is 36m tall. Heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide measurements are taken using the open-path eddy flux technique. Temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, incoming and reflected shortwave radiation and net radiation were measured above the canopy. Soil heat fluxes are measured and soil moisture content is gathered using time domain reflectometry.

Data

Data from this site is available through the OzFlux data portal international FLUXNET database or via the investigators email jason.beringer[@]uwa.edu.au

Further Information

• Prof. Jason Beringer homepage
• School of Earth and Environment
• Charles Darwin University
• The Australian Flux Network (OzFlux)
• The Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Network (TERN)
• The Terrestrial Ecosystem Science Network (TERN) Supersite network
• The National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
• The International FLUXNET

Acknowledgements

This site is produced by Prof. Jason Beringer, UWA, School of Earth and Environment and proudly part of the Australian Flux Network(OzFlux) and partly supported by the Australian NCRIS Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN). Australian Research Council grants supported this work (DP0344744, LP0774812, DP0772981, LP0990038, DP130101566 and FT110100602)