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Drivers of soil moisture trends in the Czech Republic between 1961 and 2012
Trnka, M. ; Brázdil, R. ; Balek, J. ; Semerádová, D. ; Hlavinka, P. ; Možný, M. ; Štěpánek, P. ; Dobrovolný, P. ; Zahradníček, P. ; Dubrovský, Martin ; Eitzinger, J. ; Fuchs, B. ; Svoboda, M. ; Hayes, M. ; Žalud, Z.
Soil moisture dynamics and their temporal trends in the Czech Republic are forced by various drivers. Our analysis of temporal trends indicates that shifts in drought severity between 1961 and 2012 and especially in the April, May, and June period, which displayed such results as a 50% increase in drought probability during 1961–1980 in comparison to 2001–2012. We found that increased global radiation and air temperature together with decreased relative humidity (all statistically significant at p < 0.05) led to increases in the reference evapotranspiration in all months of the growing season; this trend was particularly evident in April, May, and August, when more than 80% of the territory displayed an increased demand for soil water. These changes, in combination with the earlier end of snow cover and the earlier start of the growing season (up to 20 days in some regions), led to increased actual evapotranspiration at the start of the growing season that tended to deplete the soil moisture earlier, leaving the soil more exposed to the impacts of rainfall variability. These results support concerns related to the potentially increased severity of drought events in Central Europe. The reported trend patterns are of particular importance with respect to expected climate change, given the robustness and consistency of the trends shown and the fact that they can be aligned with the existing climate model projections. Introduction
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Automated eddy covariance data quality control for long-term measurements
Šigut, L. ; Mauder, M. ; Sedlák, Pavel ; Pavelka, M. ; Špunda, V.
Estimation of matter and energy exchange using the eddy covariance method is often organized into regional or global networks. To achieve comparability among sites, it is important to standardize and specify the methodology used. Currently, quality control (QC) is one of the most time-demanding steps in data processing within the Czech Carbon Observation System. Although manual QC (MQC) enables consideration of more complex test applications, it is often difficult to document. The aim of this study was to establish an automated QC (AQC) scheme based on available literature and post-processing software and test its effectivity and reliability on sites comprising an agroecosystem and a mature European beech forest. AQC successfully flagged low-quality CO2 fluxes and provided estimates of net ecosystem productivity similar to estimates based on MQC. The tests’ efficiency was particularly high for the agroecosystem, where AQC removed 13% less data than did MQC. We conclude that the adopted AQC displays satisfactory performance, especially for sites with low canopy heights.
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Automated eddy covariance data quality control for long-term measurements
Šigut, Ladislav ; Mauder, M. ; Sedlák, Pavel ; Pavelka, Marian ; Špunda, Vladimír
Estimation of matter and energy exchange using the eddy covariance method is often organized into regional or global networks. To achieve comparability among sites, it is important to standardize and specify the methodology used. Currently, quality control (QC) is one of the most time-demanding steps in data processing within the Czech Carbon Observation System. Although manual QC (MQC) enables consideration of more complex test applications, it is often difficult to document. The aim of this study was to establish an automated QC (AQC) scheme based on available literature and post-processing software and test its effectivity and reliability on sites comprising an agroecosystem and a mature European beech forest. AQC successfully flagged low-quality CO2 fluxes and provided estimates of net ecosystem productivity similar to estimates based on MQC. The tests’ efficiency was particularly high for the agroecosystem, where AQC removed 13% less data than did MQC. We conclude that the adopted AQC displays satisfactory performance, especially for sites with low canopy heights.
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Drivers of soil moisture trends in the Czech Republic between 1961 and 2012
Trnka, Miroslav ; Brázdil, Rudolf ; Balek, J. ; Semerádová, Daniela ; Hlavinka, Petr ; Možný, M. ; Štěpánek, Petr ; Dobrovolný, Petr ; Zahradníček, Pavel ; Dubrovský, Martin ; Eitzinger, Josef ; Fuchs, B. ; Svoboda, M. ; Hayes, M. ; Žalud, Zdeněk
Soil moisture dynamics and their temporal trends in the Czech Republic are forced by various drivers. Our analysis of temporal trends indicates that shifts in drought severity between 1961 and 2012 and especially in the April, May, and June period, which displayed such results as a 50% increase in drought probability during 1961–1980 in comparison to 2001–2012. We found that increased global radiation and air temperature together with decreased relative humidity (all statistically significant at p < 0.05) led to increases in the reference evapotranspiration in all months of the growing season; this trend was particularly evident in April, May, and August, when more than 80% of the territory displayed an increased demand for soil water. These changes, in combination with the earlier end of snow cover and the earlier start of the growing season (up to 20 days in some regions), led to increased actual evapotranspiration at the start of the growing season that tended to deplete the soil moisture earlier, leaving the soil more exposed to the impacts of rainfall variability. These results support concerns related to the potentially increased severity of drought events in Central Europe. The reported trend patterns are of particular importance with respect to expected climate change, given the robustness and consistency of the trends shown and the fact that they can be aligned with the existing climate model projections. Introduction
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Reliability of regional crop yield predictions in the Czech Republic based on remotely sensed data
Hlavinka, Petr ; Semerádová, Daniela ; Balek, Jan ; Bohovič, Roman ; Žalud, Zdeněk ; Trnka, Miroslav
Vegetation indices sensed by satellite optical sensors are valuable tools for assessing vegetation conditions including field crops. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of regional yield predictions based on the use of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and the Enhanced Vegetation Index derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard the Terra satellite. Data available from the year 2000 were analysed and tested for seasonal yield predictions within selected districts of the Czech Republic. In particular, yields of spring barley, winter wheat, and oilseed winter rape during 2000–2014 were assessed. Observed yields from 14 districts were collected and thus 210 examples (15 years within 14 districts) were included. Selected districts differ considerably in soil fertility and terrain configuration and represent a transect across various agroclimatic conditions (from warm/dry to relatively cool/wet regions). Two approaches were tested: 1) using 16-day temporal composites of remotely sensed data provided by the United States Geological Survey, and 2) using daily remotely sensed data in combination with an originally developed smoothing method. Yields were predicted based on established regression models using remotely sensed data as an independent parameter. In addition to other findings, the impact of severe drought episodes within vegetation was identified and yield reductions at a district level were predicted. As a result, those periods with the best relationship between remotely sensed data and yields were identified. The impact of drought conditions as well as normal or above-normal yields of the tested field crops were predicted using the proposed method within the study region up to 30 days prior to harvest.
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Selection of a new site for eddy covariance research in Vietnam – Vietnamese and CzechGlobe cooperation
Nguyen, Vinh Xuan ; Pavelka, Marian ; Havránková, Kateřina ; Hoang, S.N. ; Lai, Q. T. ; Dang, S. V. ; Tran, T. V. ; Ton, M. T. ; Truong, C. Q. ; Pham, N. H. ; Tran, C. T.
A montane evergreen broadleaf forest in Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park, Vietnam was selected for a future flux study based on a set of standard selection criteria applied to five protected areas in southern Vietnam. This pristine natural ecosystem within the park is important for its biodiversity conservation, supporting high levels of plant diversity and endemism and representing the Southern Annamites montane rain forests ecoregion. This paper describes general information about the site. Common foggy and calm wind periods can pose a challenge for eddy covariance measurements. Since March 2015, measurement of the horizontal wind regime at the site has begun to provide information on local prevailing wind directions and calm periods to aid in optimizing tower positioning within the site.
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The Bowen Ratio/Energy Balance method and detailed temperature profile measurements to improve data quality control
Pozníková, Gabriela ; Fischer, Milan ; Orság, Matěj ; Trnka, Miroslav ; Žalud, Zdeněk
Water plays a key role in the functionality and sustainability of ecosystems. In light of predicted climate change, research should focus on the water cycle and its individual components. The main component of water balance driving water from ecosystems is evapotranspiration (ET). One standard method for measuring ET is the Bowen Ratio/Energy Balance (BREB) method. It is based on the assumption that water vapour and heat are transported by identical eddies with equal efficiency. When using the BREB method, we assume that the profiles of temperature and air humidity are ideally logarithmic or at least consistent. Since the BREB method is usually based on measurements of temperature and humidity at only two heights, it is difficult to verify whether this assumption has been fulfilled. Potential profile inconsistencies are more likely for temperature because the sensible heat flux changes its sign more often and negative latent heat flux is not physically possible during positive sensible heat flux. We therefore conducted a field experiment using a 4-mhigh measurement mast with 20 thermocouples for detailed measurement of air temperature profiles above different covers, e.g. grassland, spring barley, and poplar plantations. Our main objective was to investigate the basic assumptions of the BREB method, i.e. the temperature profile’s consistency under various weather conditions. To be more specific, we aimed to investigate whether inflexion points occurred within the temperature profile and if so when.
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A system for environmental monitoring of the Russian Vostochny spaceport
Mochalov, V. F. ; Grigorieva, O. ; Brovkina, Olga ; Potrjasaev, S.
The main objective of this study is to obtain a comprehensive assessment of the environment on the Vostochny spaceport’s large territory using remote sensing data. Time series satellite and airborne data enabled us to analyze the landscape elements that were under active construction. A methodology for comprehensive environmental assessment was developed and applied to the study area. The methodology included ecological zoning of the territory based on the degree of anthropogenic intensity using original software. The results showed that (1) the level of anthropogenic load increased by 21% from 2013 to 2014, (2) the environmental stability index area decreased by 21%, and (3) the relative tension index of the territory’s environmental situation decreased by more than 25%.
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The effect of drought and nitrogen fertilization on the production, morphometry, and spectral characteristics of winter wheat
Trunda, Petr ; Holub, Petr ; Klem, Karel
Methods of study based on the spectral reflectance of vegetation are now commonly used in researching both natural ecosystems and field crops.The aims of this experiment were to evaluate the effect of drought and nitrogen (N) fertilization on N use efficiency in winter wheat and use the obtained spectral characteristics to assess stand heterogeneity as a potential consequence of different crop nutrition. Twelve experimental plots of winter wheat were manipulated to drought from 8 May 2013 to 12 June 2013. The effect of drought was observed in two treatments: control without fertilization (N0; 0 kg N ha−1) and N fertilization (N140; 140 kg N ha–1). Plant samples were then taken for determination of above-ground biomass and N content in dry matter. Spectral characteristics of wheat were measured in the earing phase at canopy level. The effect of drought on the morphometric parameters of winter wheat was statistically significant only on N-fertilized plots (N140). Total above-ground biomass decreased by a significant 18% in the N140 treatment as a result of the simulated drought. This decrease was reflected in statistically significant reductions of all individual plant parts (stems, leaves, spikes) in N140. Responses to drought stress were observed in many vegetation indices, particularly in NDVI, GNDVI, and WI/NDVI. The results show there are significant relationships between N content in the grain and vegetation indices. A quite marked separation was observed in the relationships between dry and ambient treatments for vegetation indices NRERI, TCARI/OSAVI, VOG2 and GM. Generally, the impact of drought increased at higher levels of N content in the grain, which corresponded with the results of morphometric analysis. Use of reflectance in the study of vegetation and field crops regarding risk assessment of mineral N leaching from soils has considerable potential especially in mapping large areas and monitoring temporal changes relating to N release.
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Interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration, drought, and nitrogen nutrition on yield and grain quality of spring barley and winter wheat
Surá, Kateřina ; Rajsnerová, Petra ; Veselá, Barbora ; Klem, Karel
The interactive effects of elevated CO2 concentration (EC; 700 μmol mol–1), drought stress, UV exclusion, and nitrogen nutrition were studied in open-top chambers located in the Bohemian–Moravian highlands (24 in total). Above-ground biomass at the time of harvest, grain yield, and grain quality parameters were studied in winter wheat (variety Bohemia) and spring barley (variety Bojos). The results showed that elevation of CO2 concentrations increased above-ground biomass and grain yield. Higher levels of nitrogen increased the stimulatory effect of EC on above-ground biomass and grain yield. In addition, UV exclusion stimulated the effect of EC. EC generally led to increased rates of photosynthesis and assimilate formation. Increased storage of starch in the grain led to an unbalanced proportion of proteins and a decrease in their relative content in grain. Similarly to grain yield and above-ground biomass, the decrease in protein content under EC was also more pronounced under UV exclusion. EC led also to reduction of other quality parameters, such as the Zeleny sedimentation test. This effect is more pronounced when nitrogen is not a limiting factor as well as under the effect of drought. The stronger effect under drought stress is probably due to increased water use efficiency.
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