The ESS CC Group has a rather extensive instrumental pool for field research and laboratory facilities.
Field research
Ground based instrumentation
The instrumental pool includes several sets for (tower based) measurements of:
- turbulent fluxes of evaporation, momentum and CO2 (see poster Flexible facility for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions)
- full (4-component) radiation balance
- synoptic meteo data (air temperature, relative humidity, wind, rain, etc.)
- CO2 concentration profiles (in soil and air)
- soil moisture profiles
- soil temperature profiles
- soil respiration (both manual and automatic)
- canopy properties (LAI, height, DBH)
- canopy leaf gas exchange, leaf water potential, transpiration and stomatal conductance
In the period 1991-2010, we have installed and operated these systems on both campaign- and multiyear basis in the Netherlands (Euroflux, Bsik, Recab, Chiotto project), at different locations in Europe (Hapex-Efeda, Medeflu, CarboEurope, Eagle project), at several sites in the Amazon (LBA project), in Africa (Hapex-Sahel project) and at two sites in East Siberia (PinMatra project). For more projects and past and present measurement sites, take a look at the ClimateXChange website.
These measurement setups are solar/battery powered and can be deployed in remote areas and in all kinds of ecosystems, from deserts to forests.
Approximately 40 km from Wageningen, ESS CC group operates the “Loobos” site, one of the longest operating continuing flux measurement sites in the world (15 years of data). We also have access to the 200 m high measurement tower at Cabauw (approximately 60 km from Wageningen), where we occasionally operate some of our instruments for profile measurements. This site is owned and managed by KNMI, ESS CC supports flux measurement.
Aircraft instrumentation
In 2006, we have acquired and fully equipped a light aircraft for airborne measurements of turbulent fluxes (see poster Airborn facility for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, website or watch the video on Youtube with the Airborne facility for Monitoring GHG Emissions). These measurements are essential in regionalization, scaling and attribution research of GHG fluxes and emissions. The ESS CC aircraft has been successfully deployed for several campaigns in the Netherlands and Southern France.
Flexible monitoring instrument for greenhouse gases emission |
 
Light aircraft for airborne measurements of turbulent fluxes:
Sky Arrow 6 50 TCNS ERA |
Laboratory facilities
The biogeochemical laboratory of the ESS-CC group is equipped to execute the following chemical and physical analyses:
- pH measurement (including titrations such as carbonate and hydrogen carbonate determination)
- Electrical conductivity
- Total and organic carbon and total nitrogen (EA 1108, elemental analyzer) in solid material
- Total and inorganic carbon and total nitrogen in liquids (Shimadzu 5050, TOC-V/TNM-1 analyser)
- Particle size analysis/grain sizer via laser diffraction (Coulter/Beckman) detection
- Small organic acids (i.e. oxalic, malonic, malic, tartaric, fumaric and citric acid) using the capillary electrophoresis (CE, Waters) technique
- By changing the CE configuration we are able to measure chloride, nitrate and sulphate; by changing the CE detector sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium are measured. Even the determination of Fe2+ and Fe3+ are possible
- Nitrate and ammonium (autoanalyzer) in watersamples and extractions
- Total nitrogen and soluble phosphate (autoanalyser) in watersamples
- Laboratory (thermostated) respiration experiments (ADC 2250)
- Physical fractionation specially aimed at organic matter research (sieving, density and dispersion)
- Wet-sieving
- Chemical fractionation regarding organic matter research
- Bulk density
- Moisture and loss-on-ignition (950 ºC)
- Freeze drying equipment (including alcohol bath and freeze drier)
- Pyrophosphate and NaOH extraction including dialysis
Two laboratory centrifuges are in use, namely one with 4000 rpm speed and an ultracentrifuge for up to 26000 rpm.
Besides analytical measurements we are also equipped for fieldwork regarding soil sampling and sample preparation including litter sampling (humus-sampler) and field respiration measurements.
New developments
Urban Heat Island effect
Climate change is expected to increase the temperatures around the world. Weather extremes, and especially heat waves, will occur more often. Urban areas will be most affected, as they are already warmer than the surroundings (Urban Heat Island effect). Heat affects human beings in various respects. When high temperatures coincide with low wind speeds and high humidity, the population might be put under thermal stress. Possible consequences of heat stress are increased mortality rates, hospitalization, sleep disturbance, decreased labour productivity, a declined feeling of well being and increased aggression. In addition to the health effect of heat there is also an indirect effect, as a warmer climate will increase air pollution and therefore it also increases health damages.
A methodology is developed to measure, analyse and predict the Urban Heat Island effect and to determine the magnitude, the causes and the mechanisms and frequency of occurrence in the present and in the future.
Methane emissions
Methane is about eight times stronger greenhouse gas than CO2, but it is present in much smaller concentrations. Its total contribution to the greenhouse effect is smaller but not negligible. A methodology will be developed to measure turbulent emissions of methane using the eddy-correlation approach.