Eddy covariance flux tower forest ascent

Ellen Stuart-Haëntjens is climbing a 46 m high eddy covariance flux tower designed to monitor carbon dioxide exchange between a forest and the atmosphere. The instrumentation mounted on this tower allows scientists to investigate atmosphere-biosphere interactions, including how climate, disturbances, and other environmental factors impact the quantity of carbon stored or emitted by this ecosystem. These towers have been installed in a variety of ecosystems all around the world, including the artic tundra, temperate forests, coastal wetlands, prairie grasslands, and more. Tracing the carbon cycle helps unravel the processes involved in lumber production, ecosystem carbon sequestration, food web interactions, etc.