Programme FLUXPYR (2009 – 2012)

Contact FluxPyr : Frédérique Saïd

FLUXPYR PROGRAM is part of the POCTEFA Programme (Interreg IV-A, 2007-2013) and aims at developing a cross-border network of infrastructures (e.g. micro-meteorological stations, aerial platforms) and experts for the assessment and management of water, carbon and energy fluxes and stocks in agricultural and pastoral ecosystems in the Pyrenees. The long-term objective is to combine flux measurements, meteorological data, remote sensing techniques and modelling to produce predictive land use, productivity, carbon distribution and snow cover maps, and to assess the impacts of climate and land use change on Pyrenean ecosystems.

In this frame, a 60m tower has been equipped at 5 levels for mean wind, temperature, humidity, ozone, CO2 and radiation measurements as well as turbulent fluxes of sensible heat, latent heat and CO2. The 60 m mast is part of the network of flux measurements (see Figure 1) in a grassland area. Measurements will be conducted continuously during several years to be able to document climatic scales. The masts measurements will be useful to study intermediate scales between the grass parcel, the integrated landscape (grass parcels and woods as seen in Figure 2) and the satellite pixel.

The mast measurements also allow making process studies such as those performed in the frame of the BLLAST (Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence) experiment during June and July 2011.

Finally the mast helps to train students to study atmospheric physics.