Potential hosts for 2024 Secondments will be posted here. Applicants are expected to contact host institutions prior to submitting an application.
***Note that you are not restricted to the hosts on this list, and you may propose to work with someone else (preference given to hosts who have not previously hosted a FLUXNET Secondment recipient). ***
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Vincent Odongo ([email protected])
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Nairobi, Kenya
Project description:
Carbon emissions from pastoral rangelands that are commonly grazed by African livestock and wildlife as well as those from dryland farming practices have received less attention, and it is unknown how much emissions of GHG occur in these systems. To realize this, ILRI’s Mazingira Center is measuring greenhouse gas emissions from these land use systems in partnership with the University of Helsinki in Finland, Agroscope in Switzerland, and the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology in Germany. Together, we operate four Eddy covariance tower systems that provide continuous monitoring of ecosystem scale greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide, water, and methane exchange. This helps us to understand the carbon footprint of different land-use systems in the semi-arid drylands of Southern Kenya. These findings are expected to contribute to the Earth observation and environmental sensing for climate-smart sustainable agropastoral ecosystem transformation in East Africa (ESSA), a project that aims to contribute to the pastoralist households’ transition towards climate-smart agropastoral systems in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Potential project timeline:
The duration is open from January and December 2024 – duration can range between 2 to 6 weeks, but we are also open for longer periods depending on the nature of the project.
Additional details:
We will provide office space. The candidate will also participate in the center’s weekly scientific meetings. There will be field visits to the flux towers where the secondment participant will also assist with maintenance of instruments but also collect own data. Data analysis and post-processing support will also be provided to the candidate as well as support to help with manuscript write-up.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Dr Gerbrand Koren ([email protected])
Utrecht University
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Project description:
We do not run a flux station of our own, but use flux data from various stations together with remote sensing and/or machine learning methods that we have developed in our institute. Our aim is to better understand how carbon and water exchange depends on environmental conditions, especially during extreme events (e.g., droughts, heatwaves, floods). Projects details can be defined in agreement with the secondment participant
Potential project timeline:
Visit is possible for 2 to 6 weeks, any time of the year
Additional details:
The participant will be part of the research group during the stay with daily support available. Before and after the visit online meetings will be organized to prepare the visit and to finalize potential outcomes.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Anne Klosterhalfen ([email protected])
Bioclimatology, University of Goettingen
Goettingen, Germany
Project description:
Our bioclimatology group operates various eddy covariance stations – including two of the world’s longest flux sites with measurement periods of more than 20 years: the Hainich flux site (DE-Hai) is a mixed old-growth forest, and the Leinefelde flux site (DE-Lnf) is a managed beech forest, both located – only 30 km apart – in Central Germany. We generally observe a differing flux response of both forest stands to very similar climate conditions. Next to the longterm flux timeseries, recently obtained eco-physiological measurements on leaf-level, biomass inventories, and thermal and multispectral imagery provide an excellent research infrastructure for studying the effects of climate extremes on forest-climate interactions.
Potential project timeline:
Between April and October, and the duration can range between 2 to 6 weeks.
Additional details:
We can provide an office space. Frequent trips to the flux sites will be conducted, where the secondment participant can support us with maintenance work and we can support the participant conducting own measurements. Further, various data analysis approaches can be developed and evaluated (in R or python).
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Prof. René Orth ([email protected]; [email protected])
University of Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Project description:
The recent 6th assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that hydroclimatic extremes are increasing in many regions of the world, and that this trend is projected to continue in the coming decades. These extremes can have profound impacts on the biosphere and on vegetation in particular. Thereby, the understanding of impacts of wet extremes (e.g. heavy precipitation, inundation) on the vegetation is insufficient. Underlying mechanisms such as waterlogging, including potential legacy effects, are poorly studied. Therefore, our group in Freiburg, together with external collaborators, Drs. Sung-Ching Lee and Jacob Nelson, is interested in using FLUXNET measurements to investigate effects of wet extremes on ecosystem functioning within the FLUXNET 2024 secondment program. We are also open to any related research topics where we can contribute and collaborate.
Potential project timeline:
Time and duration are flexible and can be adjusted to the visitor’s availability and project scope.
Additional details:
We will offer office space and equipment, and assist with housing and visa applications. Regular interactions with the visiting person is expected in order to facilitate a fruitful collaboration. The broad expertise across the research group and the collaborators ensures comprehensive scientific guidance. The visit will be started with a kick-off meeting in order to get to know each other and to identify promising research avenues. Additionally, visitor has chances to join field trips to flux towers in Spain and Germany with the main collaborators.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Laëtitia Bréchet ([email protected])
French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (INRAE), UMR EcoFoG
Kourou, French Guiana
Project description:
Research in the Plant Ecophysiology Lab at EcoFoG focuses on carbon and water exchange at the tree and ecosystem scale. We are particularly interested in two questions: 1) how trees and forests respond to and recover from drought, and 2) how trees and soils contribute to net ecosystem greenhouse gas exchange in tropical forest ecosystems.
Our group operates a 20-year eddy covariance station, GF-Guy, an undisturbed evergreen tropical rainforest 60 km from Kourou in French Guiana. In our lab, you will learn about laboratory and in situ experiments, flux tower and chamber based gas exchange measurements, tree hydraulics and modelling of forest carbon and water exchange. Over the next three years, our research will include greenhouse gas flux measurements not only in terra firme, but also in seasonally flooded areas in French Guiana.
Potential project timeline:
Between May and December 2024, and the duration can range from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the research focus.
Additional details:
We can provide accommodation and office facilities. There will be frequent trips to the flux tower site where the secondment participant will assist with regular diagnostics, maintenance and eddy flux data downloads, and where we will assist with specific measurements that the secondment participant wishes to carry out.
My team and I can provide insight into in situ experiments, ecophysiological measurements (e.g. sap flux, gas exchange), data analysis using R and EddyPro software.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Manuel Helbig ([email protected])
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Canada
Project description:
My research focuses on how land-atmosphere interactions affect regional to global climate change. I am particularly interested in the role of land-atmosphere exchange processes for the development of heatwaves and droughts in eastern Canada. In my research, I make use of direct measurements of energy and greenhouse gas fluxes between land and atmosphere (with the eddy covariance technique), of ground-based remote sensing of atmospheric boundary layer dynamics, of satellite-based remote sensing observations of land surface and lower atmospheric conditions, and of modelling approaches to assess the broader implications of our observations. Ongoing research projects in our group address climate and carbon cycle impacts of hydroelectric power generation and heatwave and drought development in densely forested regions of eastern Canada. To better understand feedbacks across the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, our group has set up a long-term land-atmosphere observatory integrating observations from the subsurface to the free troposphere in New Brunswick, Canada. Secondment recipients will be contributing to research at the observatory and can focus on either observational or modelling studies of land-atmosphere interactions.
Potential project timeline:
Between May and August, and the duration can range between 2 to 6 weeks depending on the research focus.
Additional details:
The secondment participant will be provided an office space in the Department of Physics and Atmospheric Science, will have access to lab space, and will participate in weekly lab group meetings. The participant will interact with Dr. Helbig and the lab’s graduate and undergraduate students on a daily basis. Training on the basics of the eddy covariance technique or ground-based atmospheric sensing can be provided by Dr. Helbig, if needed. The participant will have the possibility to conduct field work at the land-atmosphere observatory in New Brunswick, Canada. Field research related to eddy covariance measurements, ceilometer-based boundary layer observations, in-situ soil water content and potential measurements, or leaf-level stomatal conductance measurements can be conducted during the secondment. During the fieldwork phase, transportation, accommodation, and meals will be provided. After the secondment, Dr. Helbig will offer continued intellectual support to the participant (e.g., virtual meetings, feedback on research and manuscript, career advice).
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Dan Yakir ([email protected])
Weizmann Institute of Science
Israel
Project description:
Ecophysiology of forest ecosystems at the dry timberline, using novel methodologies (including COS, SIF, thermal radiation) to investigate processes underlying resistance, adaptation, or mortality under changing climate.
Potential project timeline:
Any time if properly coordinated and housing is available
Additional details:
Housing can be arranged if coordinated in time, shared office space, integrating into international team of ten grad students, postdocs, and PI involved in the above research.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Jamie Cleverly ([email protected])
James Cook University
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Project description:
I operate flux towers across the tropics of Australia, from subhumid savanna to semi-arid grassland and tropical dry woodland. Having recently installed infrastructure for a critical zone observatory at the subhumid savanna site, water in addition to carbon is a key focus of my research. It is for this reason, my first project is to conduct a water and carbon partitioning study using fluxpart, which will allow us to partition fluxes into evaporation, transpiration, GPP and respiration without requiring anything more than the flux data themselves. Other possible topics for this secondment include comparing carbon and water budgets of diverse tropical landscapes, evaluation of photodegradation, and critical zone science focused on soil and groundwater hydrology. Analytical tools used in my lab includes statistical time-series analysis and remote sensing, but I also have some experience with models (pasture/grazing, SVAT and Earth system models) and can provide facilities for you to expand on any modelling you can bring to this secondment.
Potential project timeline:
Access to field sites is highly recommended, which means that this secondment should be at least 4 weeks long, and it should occur during the dry season for reliable access to remote field sites (austral winter, April–September). Longer secondments (6 weeks) are welcome for more complex projects (such as water and carbon partitioning), and shorter secondments might be accepted for historical data-based secondments which require little field time (although I think it would be a shame to come all this way and not visit some sites).
Additional details:
I have lab space available with soils and plant ecophysiology facilities, glasshouse, and three field sites which will allow collection of additional ancillary measurements (eg dendrometry growth records, leaf area index). I can provide guidance in programming, model parameterisation, remote sensing retrievals, mathematical statistics, wavelets and power spectra, and data processing. We can also provide intellectual support for writing, with the expectation that we can develop published work from this secondment.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Mana Gharun ([email protected])
Department of Geosciences, University of Münster
Münster, Germany
Project description:
We use ecosystem-level gas exchange measurements collected with the eddy covariance technique to measure the capacity of terrestrial ecosystems (forests, peatlands, grasslands) for mitigating climate change, and understand their feedback to the climate system. We combine eddy covariance measurements with a range of observations collected at the leaf and individual plant scale to understand the underlying mechanisms that drive gas exchange processes. We use a range of modelling techniques to predict the gas exchange response of ecosystems to climate extremes such as drought and heatwaves. Currently our group is running two eddy covariance stations, including one ICOS candidate station, in peatland ecosystems in north-west Germany.
Potential project timeline:
Between April and July 2024 – duration can range between 2 to 6 weeks depending on the research topic.
Additional details:
We provide support with data analysis including insight into eddy covariance data processing and post-processing methods. We provide an office space and visits to our research sites where the secondment participant can collect own measurements, get introduced to a broad range of research topics, and strengthen collaboration.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Dr. Patrik Vestin/Dr. Jutta Holst ([email protected]; [email protected])
Lund University, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
Lund, Sweden
Project description:
The research interests of LUfluxes (https://www.nateko.lu.se/research/biogeophysics-and-climatology/lu-biosphere-atmosphere-interaction-research-lufluxes) are wide and we can offer research based on eddy covariance measurement focused on forest ecosystems and forest management (selection forestry vs. rotation forestry, forest disturbance and wetland restoration), semi-arid savannah ecosystems, and more recently, on the carbon capturing capacity of perennial grains vs. a comparison with the normal rotation of annual grains.
Potential project timeline:
The secondment could occur at any time during 2024, preferably for a duration of 6 weeks but shorter stays could also be possible.
Additional details:
We can offer access to two ICOS Sweden (http://www.icos-sweden.se/) ecosystem and atmosphere stations (Norunda (https://www.icos-sweden.se/norunda) and Hyltemossa (https://www.icos-sweden.se/hyltemossa)). The Norunda forest has been recently clear-cut, which offers a wide variety of interesting research opportunities. At the Hyltemossa site, we also operate an additional EC tower on a site that we have followed since it was clear-cut in 2014. Nearby, we also have an EC tower at a continuous cover forestry site, with ongoing measurements since 2013. In cooperation with Gothenburg University and the Skogaryd Research Catchment (https://www.fieldsites.se/en-GB/research-stations/skogaryd-32652394) we also operate EC towers on forest (ongoing measurements since clear-cutting 2013) and on a wetland restoration project. In addition to this, we have researchers in the group focusing on forest disturbance (e.g. forest fires (https://www.cec.lu.se/research/research-groups/land-surface-atmosphere-interactions)) and on BVOC measurements (https://www.nateko.lu.se/research/reactive-trace-gases) in forests. Thus, we offer ample opportunities for forest ecosystem and forestry related research interests based on existing data and ongoing measurements.
Since more than ten years, we also operate an EC tower in a typical savannah ecosystem of the Sahel region in Africa (Senegal). We have also just started up EC measurements in two EC towers at an agricultural site close to Lund. At the agricultural site, we are investigating the climate benefits of perennial grains compared to annual grains.
At the Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science, we can offer expertise and support related to micrometeorological measurements as well as expertise in remote sensing and ecosystem modelling that can be combined with the EC measurements. There are several research groups that will offer opportunities for workshops and for further collaborations in the future. The department has a research seminar series ongoing where the person visiting will be offered to hold a presentation of their research.
The department also offers access to a desk, network etc. as well as cars that can be used for field work and research trips.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Project description:
Potential project timeline:
Additional details:
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