What is the FLUXNET Data System?
Historically, FLUXNET data have been collected and processed by small groups of individuals and in a central location. These efforts were then shared in static databases, like the Marconi in 2000, the LaThuile in 2008 or the FLUXNET2015. With the FLUXNET Data System, built on the idea of the FLUXNET Shuttle described in Papale 2020, access to standardized FLUXNET is being reorganized to provide user a central access point or system but decentralizing the data processing and storage across the Regional Networks. This will ensure rapid updates, robustness and shared workload.
Why is this effort necessary?
Over the past few years, Regional Networks have made enormous progress in their ability to rapidly process flux tower data into the standardized form characteristic of prior FLUXNET data products (e.g. the FLUXNET2015). The FLUXNET Data System launch will raise the visibility of these efforts, while also providing the structure and incentives necessary to support timely submission of new data from a more representative collection of global sites. Unlike FLUXNET2015, this dataset will be continuously updated as new data is submitted.
What is FLUXNET and how can I join?
FLUXNET is an international “network of networks,” tying together regional networks of earth system scientists. FLUXNET scientists use the eddy covariance technique to measure the cycling of carbon, water, energy, and nitrogen between the biosphere and atmosphere. Scientists use these data to better understand ecosystem functioning, and to detect trends in climate, greenhouse gasses, and air pollution. FLUXNET Sites have agreed to share data through their regional networks. To join the network (e.g. to have a tower listed in the FLUXNET website and be classified as FLUXNET site), tower teams share data and metadata under the FLUXNET data policy through one of the Regional Networks (see below for the identification of your regional network of reference)
Why should I share my data?
We understand well that the effort to collect, process, and share tower data takes a lot of time and energy, and we will pursue several strategies to properly credit and reward data contributors. First, sharing data is the pathway to be recognized as a FLUXNET site. Second, personnel from each tower team that openly share data will be invited to co-author the annual journal article and report. Third, data providers will also have the opportunity to have their tower fluxes gapfilled and partitioned using state-of-the-art processing algorithms (e.g. ONEFlux) developed during the last data release in 2015, with new tools that will be added in the next months. Fourth, by sharing data with the network, PIs can raise international visibility for their sites, staff, and students. Finally, since the data will be open-access, all members of the FLUXNET community will have equal opportunity to use the data to advance a wide range of science, policy, and management-oriented questions.
What variables will I need to share for my tower dataset to be included?
The list of required variables is under development and will be available soon. However, PIs can expect that it will be similar to the BASE variables necessary for ONEFlux processing, which includes a standard set of computed fluxes and meteorological variables plus metadata describing the site characteristics including canopy height and enriched by some additional metadata that has been found to be critical for the correct data interpretation.
When will I need to submit data, if I haven’t done so already?
The submission deadline for inclusion in the Data System Launch and first journal article will be around April 2025 depending on the regional network your site belongs to. Note that tower teams may submit data after this deadline but we can not ensure the processing in time for the first paper. These tower teams will be included in the dataset as soon as they are processed, and your team will be invited to contribute to a subsequent annual paper and to all the other activities that will be launched as soon as the FLUXNET Data System will be operational.
How do I submit data?
If your site is in North, South or Central America, you will share data with the AmeriFlux Management Project. If you have already registered your site, you can use this link: (http://ameriflux.lbl.gov/data/upload-data/). If your site is not yet registered, you can start that process here: http://ameriflux.lbl.gov/sites/register-ameriflux-site/.
If your site is part of the European Fluxes Database Custer, you can upload data in the database (http://www.europe-fluxdata.eu/) through the PI area. For the ICOS stations the ICOS ETC (https://www.icos-etc.eu/icos/) will work as the entry point.
If your site is not registered in the above-mentioned databases but your institution is European, or your site is in Europe, Africa or Russia you have to use the European Database that will act as international service. Register your site at http://www.europe-fluxdata.eu/home/register-your-site or contact [email protected] for support.
If your site is located in Australia or New Zealand and updated data for your site is on the OzFlux Data Portal (https://data.ozflux.org.au/portal/home) then you don’t need to do anything. If your site is not yet registered with TERN/OzFlux, then contact Peter Isaac ([email protected]) or Cacilia Ewenz ([email protected]) to discuss the best way to get your data to TERN so that it can be processed and included in this submission.
For all the other cases (AsiaFlux, ChinaFLUX, USCCC, etc.) contact Dario Papale ([email protected]) to find the best solution using one of the regional networks as an entry point and get the site registered if needed.
I’ve already submitted data to one of these networks. Do I need to do anything else?
If your timeseries is updated, you already agreed on the CC-BY-4.0 license, and you didn’t receive any request by the Regional Network for clarifications or errors in the data, no further action is required.
If you have shared data with a Regional Network but you received a message that additional information is necessary to permit your dataset to advance through the ONEFlux processing algorithm, then addressing those errors and resubmitting will permit you to get your dataset in the pipeline.
If you have shared data with a Regional Network but have not yet selected the CC-BY-4.0 data sharing license, you will need to reach out to the network with which you shared data to select that license option.
In all cases, please pay attention to the messages from the Regional Network where your site is registered because they may contain important information necessary to move forward with the data processing.
I’ve already submitted, or plan to submit, data for the FLUXNET-CH4 V2.0 data release. Do I also need to submit data to the FLUXNET Data System?
The short answer is no. If you participate in the FLUXNET-CH4 initiative and your dataset includes CO2 fluxes, then your data will be in the pipeline for the FLUXNET Data System. We may reach out with additional questions, but no further action is necessary right now.
What is the data use policy for the FLUXNET Data System?
The FLUXNET data system will represent a “coalition” of tower teams who are willing to share their data under an open access license (CC-BY-4.0). The CC-BY-4.0 license specifies that the data user is free to Share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and/or Adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) for any purpose, but must acknowledge the data source. The text of the license, which is a standard across many networks and scientific initiatives, is available here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The data use attribution system and the acknowledgement protocols are still under development and will be based on the Regional Networks citation systems.
I would like to help in this effort, how do I get involved?
If you do not manage a tower dataset but would like to contribute to the effort in other ways, please take this survey: https://iu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8kyLaQ4HVaqWgbI.