Understory micrometorology across a larch forest density gradient in northeastern Siberia 2014-2020

• Main Authors: Loranty, Michael, Alexander, Heather
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: NSF Arctic Data Center 2021
• Subjects: EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE > AIR TEMPERATURE; EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS > PERMAFROST; EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > SOILS > SOIL MOISTURE/WATER CONTENT; IN SITU/LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS > PROBES > SOIL TEMPERATURE PROBE; IN SITU/LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS > RADIATION SENSORS; IN SITU/LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS > TEMPERATURE/HUMIDITY SENSORS; IN SITU/LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS > PROBES > SOIL MOISTURE PROBE; AUTOMATIC REMOTE WEATHER STATION; POINT; 1 METER TO 30 METERS; 1 MINUTE TO 1 HOUR; climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere; Cherskiy; permafrost; Siberia
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.18739/a24b2x59c; https://arcticdata.io/catalog/view/doi:10.18739/A24B2X59C

Ecosystems affect the thermal dynamics of permafrost soils via impacts on the surface energy balance. Changes in vegetation structure and function therefore have the potential to modify the thermal characteristics of permafrost soils, with knock-on effects for soil carbon cycling. In Siberian boreal forests, stem density and canopy cover are influenced by wildfire severity. In this study we examine differences in understory air and soil micrometeorology at six stands, two high-density (greater than 75% canopy cover), two medium-density (25-50% canopy cover), and two low-density (less than 25% canopy cover), all within a single fire perimeter that burned circa 1940 near Cherskiy in northeastern Siberia. At each stand we measured photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), air temperature, and relative humidity at 1 meter (m) above the ground, and measured soil moisture and temperature at the interface between the organic and mineral soil horizons (~10 centimeter (cm) depth), and also within the mineral soil 10cm below the organic-mineral interface. Data collection began in July of 2014 and is ongoing, though there are gaps due to power outages. Canopy shading reduces PAR at higher density sites, and leads to lower soil temperatures during the growing season. Soil temperatures are also lower in higher density stands during winter, while soil moisture patterns are less clearly related to forest density.