Merbold, LArdo, JArneth, AScholes, RJNouvellon, YDe Grandcourt, AArchibald, SABonnefond, JMBoulain, NBruemmer, CBrueggemann, NCappelaere, BCeschia, EEl-Khidir, HAMEl-Tahir, BAFalk, ULloyd, JKergoat, LLe Dantec, VMougin, EMuchinda, MMukelabai, MMRamier, DRoupsard, OTimouk, FVeenendaal, EMKutsch, L2009-04-072009-04-072008Merbold, L, Ardo, J, Arneth, A et al. 2008. Precipitation as driver of carbon fluxes in 11 African ecosystems. Biogeosicences Discussions, Vol. 5, pp 4071-41051810-6285http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3297Copyright: 2008 Copernicus Group & Creative Commons LicenseThis study reports carbon and water fluxes between the land surface and atmosphere in eleven different ecosystems types in Sub-Saharan Africa, as measured using eddy covariance (EC) technology in the first two years of the CarboAfrica network operation. The ecosystems for which data were available ranged in mean annual rainfall from 320mm (Sudan) to 1150mm (The Republic of Congo) and include a spectrum of vegetation types (or land cover) (open savannas, woodlands, croplands and grasslands). Given the shortness of the record, the EC data were analysed across the network rather than longitudinally at sites, in order to understand the driving factors for ecosystem respiration and carbon assimilation, and to reveal the different water use strategies in these highly seasonal environments. Values for maximum net carbon assimilation rates (photosynthesis) ranged from 12 µmolCO2 m-2 s-1 in a dry, open Acacia savannah (C3-plants) up to 40 µmolCO2 m-2 s-1 for a tropical moist grassland. Maximum carbon assimilation rates were highly correlated with mean annual rainfall (R2=0.89). Maximum photosynthetic uptake rates were positively related to satellite-derived fAPAR. Ecosystem respiration was dependent on temperature at all sites, and was additionally dependent on soil water content at sites receiving less than 1000mm of rain per year. All included ecosystems, except the Congolese grassland, showed a strong decrease in 30-min assimilation rates with increasing water vapour pressure deficit above 2.0 kPaenCarbon fluxesWater fluxesLand atmosphere interfaceEddy covarianceEcosystem respirationCarbon assimilationWater usePhotosynthesisSavannasWoodlandsCroplandsGrasslandsArticleMerbold, L., Ardo, J., Arneth, A., Scholes, R., Nouvellon, Y., De Grandcourt, A., ... Kutsch, L. (2008). Precipitation as driver of carbon fluxes in 11 African ecosystems. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3297Merbold, L, J Ardo, A Arneth, RJ Scholes, Y Nouvellon, A De Grandcourt, SA Archibald, et al "Precipitation as driver of carbon fluxes in 11 African ecosystems." (2008) http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3297Merbold L, Ardo J, Arneth A, Scholes R, Nouvellon Y, De Grandcourt A, et al. Precipitation as driver of carbon fluxes in 11 African ecosystems. 2008; http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3297.TY - Article AU - Merbold, L AU - Ardo, J AU - Arneth, A AU - Scholes, RJ AU - Nouvellon, Y AU - De Grandcourt, A AU - Archibald, SA AU - Bonnefond, JM AU - Boulain, N AU - Bruemmer, C AU - Brueggemann, N AU - Cappelaere, B AU - Ceschia, E AU - El-Khidir, HAM AU - El-Tahir, BA AU - Falk, U AU - Lloyd, J AU - Kergoat, L AU - Le Dantec, V AU - Mougin, E AU - Muchinda, M AU - Mukelabai, MM AU - Ramier, D AU - Roupsard, O AU - Timouk, F AU - Veenendaal, EM AU - Kutsch, L AB - This study reports carbon and water fluxes between the land surface and atmosphere in eleven different ecosystems types in Sub-Saharan Africa, as measured using eddy covariance (EC) technology in the first two years of the CarboAfrica network operation. The ecosystems for which data were available ranged in mean annual rainfall from 320mm (Sudan) to 1150mm (The Republic of Congo) and include a spectrum of vegetation types (or land cover) (open savannas, woodlands, croplands and grasslands). Given the shortness of the record, the EC data were analysed across the network rather than longitudinally at sites, in order to understand the driving factors for ecosystem respiration and carbon assimilation, and to reveal the different water use strategies in these highly seasonal environments. Values for maximum net carbon assimilation rates (photosynthesis) ranged from 12 µmolCO2 m-2 s-1 in a dry, open Acacia savannah (C3-plants) up to 40 µmolCO2 m-2 s-1 for a tropical moist grassland. Maximum carbon assimilation rates were highly correlated with mean annual rainfall (R2=0.89). Maximum photosynthetic uptake rates were positively related to satellite-derived fAPAR. Ecosystem respiration was dependent on temperature at all sites, and was additionally dependent on soil water content at sites receiving less than 1000mm of rain per year. All included ecosystems, except the Congolese grassland, showed a strong decrease in 30-min assimilation rates with increasing water vapour pressure deficit above 2.0 kPa DA - 2008 DB - ResearchSpace DP - CSIR KW - Carbon fluxes KW - Water fluxes KW - Land atmosphere interface KW - Eddy covariance KW - Ecosystem respiration KW - Carbon assimilation KW - Water use KW - Photosynthesis KW - Savannas KW - Woodlands KW - Croplands KW - Grasslands LK - https://researchspace.csir.co.za PY - 2008 SM - 1810-6285 T1 - Precipitation as driver of carbon fluxes in 11 African ecosystems TI - Precipitation as driver of carbon fluxes in 11 African ecosystems UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10204/3297 ER -