FluxSuite: a New Scientific Tool for Advanced Network Management and Cross-Sharing of Next-Generation Flux Stations

Abstract:

Significant increases in data generation and computing power in recent years have greatly improved spatial and temporal flux data coverage on multiple scales, from a single station to continental flux networks. At the same time, operating budgets for flux teams and stations infrastructure are getting ever more difficult to acquire and sustain.

With more stations and networks, larger data flows from each station, and smaller operating budgets, modern tools are needed to effectively and efficiently handle the entire process. This would help maximize time dedicated to answering research questions, and minimize time and expenses spent on data processing, quality control and station management. Cross-sharing the stations with external institutions may also help leverage available funding, increase scientific collaboration, and promote data analyses and publications.

FluxSuite, a new advanced tool combining hardware, software and web-service, was developed to address these specific demands. It automates key stages of flux workflow, minimizes day-to-day site management, and modernizes the handling of data flows:

• Each next-generation station measures all parameters needed for flux computations
• Field microcomputer calculates final fully-corrected flux rates in real time, including computation-intensive Fourier transforms, spectra, co-spectra, multiple rotations, stationarity, footprint, etc.
• Final fluxes, radiation, weather and soil data are merged into a single quality-controlled file 
• Multiple flux stations are linked into an automated time-synchronized network
• Flux network manager, or PI, can see all stations in real time, including fluxes, supporting data, automated reports, and email alerts
• PI can assign rights, allow or restrict access to stations and data: selected stations can be shared via rights-managed access internally or with external institutions
• Researchers without stations could form “virtual networks” for specific projects by collaborating with PIs from different actual networks

This presentation provides detailed examples of FluxSuite currently utilized by two large flux networks in China (National Academy of Sciences & Agricultural Academy of Sciences), and smaller networks with stations in the USA, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia and other locations around the globe.