Potential hosts for 2023 Secondments will be posted here. This list will be continually updated, so check back frequently. 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:
Sara Knox ([email protected])
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada
Project description:
With growing interest in wetland management and restoration as a natural climate solution, improved estimates of wetland carbon sequestration and greenhouse (GHG) fluxes across wetland types are strongly needed. Our research aims to contribute to an improved understanding of the response of wetland carbon dynamics to management and climate change in key wetland types across Canada. We operate eddy covariance towers in a range of wetland types, including restored peatlands and tidal wetlands near Vancouver, Canada, and wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region of western Canada since these ecosystems play important roles in carbon cycling and climate regulation.
Potential project timeline:
Between May and August, and the duration can range between 2 to 6 weeks depending on the research focus.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Dan Yakir ([email protected])
Weizmann Institute of Science
Rehovot, Israel
Project description:
Eco-physiology of forests ecosystems in the dry timberline, using novel methodologies (including SIF, COS, Thermal radiation) to unravel the processes underlying resistance, adaptation, or mortality under changing climate. In the next five years, our research will also include measurement campaigns in Africa.
Potential project timeline:
Any time if properly coordinated and housing can be arranged.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Elke Eichelmann ([email protected])
University College Dublin
Dublin, Ireland
Project description:
One of our research interests is investigating water flux partitioning, specifically the application of several new ET partitioning methods across a range of sites (e.g. Eichelmann et al., 2022; Glob. Chang. Biol., 28, 990– 1007. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.15974). The secondment participant will have the opportunity to work with water flux data from our Dooary Forest EC site, but also with data from other ecosystems. We are looking to explore how different water flux partitioning methods perform in different ecosystems.
Potential project timeline:
The duration is flexible between 3 to 6 weeks. The secondment can take place anytime between April to early June or August to early October.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Olivier Roupsard ([email protected])
LMI IESOL, Intensification Ecologique des Sols Cultivés en Afrique de l’Ouest
Dakar, SENEGAL
Project description:
Please see all our thematic approaches listed here (thematic pdfs to download)
Web site Faidherbia-flux: https://lped.info/wikiObsSN/?Faidherbia-Flux
More specifically, now regarding EC only
*Standardizing EC measurement post-processing to comply with FLUXNET, ICOS requirements
*Comparing EC fluxes above and below tree canopy
*Comparing EC fluxes with soil measurement GHG fluxes
*Model soil heat balance with Hydrus 1D and check energy balance closure
…open to other suggestions
Potential project timeline:
6 weeks is considered a minimum, considering the time of adaptation to a new country like Senegal. Could occur anytime in 2023
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Junbin Zhao ([email protected])
Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
Ås, Norway
Project description:
We are running some experiments in a cultivated peatland in the northern Norway (within the arctic) using 30 automatic chambers to continuously monitor GHG fluxes (CO2, CH4, N2O). The project evaluates the land use practices in Norway with the aim to achieve excellent productivity and low GHG emissions.
Potential project timeline:
Between May and September. Duration is flexible from 2 to 6 weeks depending on the work.
Additional details:
We’ll support with the well established observation facilities and would expect applicant to participate in the field observation, data processing, analysis or modeling.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Sung-Ching Lee ([email protected])
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
Jena, Germany
Project description:
The department Biogeochemical Integration (Director: Markus Reichstein) at the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry has a long history of studying ecosystem fluxes from different perspectives, ranging from machine learning to process-based modeling, as well as in synthesizing direct field and remote sensing observations. For this year’s secondment program, we are interested in assessing the connection of sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence to gross primary production and transpiration, and investigating how disturbance (e.g., dust and smoke) and extremes (e.g., heatwave) alter the relationships (primary collaborator: Dr. Jacob Nelson). Particularly, we can utilize the data collected at flux towers maintained by our institute to look at SIF-CO2-water relationships. We are also open to any flux-relevant research topics where we can contribute and collaborate.
Potential project timeline:
The duration is flexible depending on visitor’s availability and project scope. Any time in 2023 is fine with proper coordination (e.g., visa, housing).
Additional details:
We’ll offer office space at the institute and will assist on housing and visa application. Our highly collaborative department has scientists with various expertise, and this presents the opportunity to visitor to interact with many different people and research groups across the department. To maximize this, we could offer a 1-day workshop within the department about the secondment topic to initialize collaboration.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Dr. Caleb Mensah ([email protected])
Earth Observation Research & Innovation Centre (EORIC) – University of Energy and Natural Resources
Sunyani-Ghana, West Africa
Project description:
EORIC’s research broadly covers atmosphere-biosphere interactions: EC measurements, atmospheric chemistry, land surface processes’ modelling, monitoring of earth processes using satellite remote sensing. Measurement of CO2 and water fluxes as well as meteorological variables. Upcoming measurement campaign on BVOCs that secondment participant could participate in from January 15 – February 28, 2023: Biosphere-Atmosphere Interactions in the Tropics (BAIT observation campaign).
Potential project timeline:
The secondment could occur in February 2023 and last for 6 weeks.
1 week for orientation, site induction and familiarization, and final project planning
2 weeks to participate in BVOC measurement campaign at the GhanaFlux site at Bia-Tano
3 weeks to process, analyze and interpret the data using EORIC facilities, agree on the next steps (beyond the secondment), and engage with other members of the university community to explore possible future collaborations and research.
Additional details:
EORIC hosts a 70m flux tower in a tropical evergreen forest, in Ghana equipped with Eddy covariance (EC) instruments – the newest addition to the FluxNet network. This secondment will exploit the strengths of the individual mentors (Caleb Mensah, Emmanuel Nyantakyi, Frederick Otu-Larbi, and Kirsti Ashworth), and the partner institutions (EORIC and LEC) to provide a unique opportunity for the participant on GHG measurements within a tropical African forest ecosystem.
The team and institutions have wide-ranging expertise in Biosphere-Atmosphere interactions, particularly from forest ecosystems. EORIC has world-leading expertise in using satellite remote sensing to monitor land surface processes such as forest fires. The primary mentor (Caleb Mensah) is experienced with EC flux measurement techniques, and the principal secondary mentors (Frederick Otu-Larbi and Kirsti Ashworth) bring experience in the measurement and modeling of BVOCs in and above forest canopies. This secondment will draw on the strong track records of Emmanuel Nyantakyi (EORIC) and Kirsti Ashworth (LEC) in supporting, guiding, and mentoring Early Career Researchers.
While we anticipate that the secondment participant would be involved in the BAIT field campaign and subsequent data analysis and interpretation, we will work with them to design a bespoke experience that builds on the participant’s background career aims. The participant will be encouraged and supported to teach some undergraduate lessons and/or workshops. The participant will also be assisted in arranging visits to nearby tourist attractions (e.g., Kintampo waterfall, Monkey Sanctuary, etc).
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Potential secondment host/institution:
The primary mentor for the secondment participant would be Dr. Natalia Kowalska ([email protected]), an associate scientist at the Department of Matter and Energy Fluxes in Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences. She is the PI of the meteorological station in Lanzhot, Czech Republic (CZ-Lnz). She holds a PhD in the field of specialization of Environmental Management and Protection from the University of Life Sciences in Poznan, Poland. Her scientific background is micrometeorology. Her general scientific goal is to better understand inter-annual to long-term variability in the carbon-cycle. She has been working more than 12 years on wetland and forest ecosystems (peatland, peat meadow, tidal salt marsh, floodplain forest) using the eddy covariance method and investigating interactions between greenhouse gases (GHG) (CO2,CH4, H2O) fluxes and different environmental conditions to understand how the ecosystems respond on different climatic conditions.
Eddy covariance field site (if applicable):
Global Change Research Institute Czech Academy of Sciences, in Brno, Czech Republic, https://www.czechglobe.cz/en/, has seven ecosystem stations located in the Czech Republic. They are all equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation representing the highest standards for measuring ecosystem-atmosphere exchange. At all stations, Eddy covariance (EC) systems are continuously running following the ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation system) standards and regularly controlled. These EC data, collected since many years, are part of many international projects and databases like for example Fluxnet, ICOS (https://www.icos-cp.eu/), etc. Among the four Czech ICOS stations, Lanzhot is the only ICOS class 1 ecosystem station (CZ-Lnz), https://meta.icos-cp.eu/resources/stations/ES_CZ-Lnz. It is located in the south Moravian region of the Czech Republic in a floodplain forest. Lanzhot, described in details by Kowalska et al., 2020 (Phil. Trans. R.), as a class 1 station, is equipped with the largest set of instruments following the highest requirements of ICOS.
Project description:
Dr. Kowalska’s main scientific interest over the past twelve years is focused on the analysis the dynamics of the GHG (CO2, CH4, H2O) fluxes at different type of wetlands and forests covered by different type of vegetation. In her research particular emphasis is placed on biogeochemical carbon cycle; specifically, she focuses on questions like: what are the sources of CH4, how they are distributed within the EC footprint and finally how much are they contributing to the EC fluxes which are measured above the canopy. To deepen this knowledge she is also interested in integration of the boundary layer dynamics and the EC fluxes, which is so far not fully investigated and not fully understood yet (Helbig et al., 2021). Continuous atmospheric boundary layer measurements conducted with the Ceilometer CL61 installed nearby the CZ-Lnz station give the possibility to integrate these measurements with EC tower based GHG flux measurements, here the potential candidate could step in.
Potential project timeline:
The stay could be planned for 6 weeks and start in April, 2023. The exact date, during spring 2023, could be planned based on common agreement with the participant.
Additional Information:
During the stay of the secondment participant, I will be physically present in the Institute and I will be ready to introduce the participant in the scientific environment, teach about conducted research and answer on potential questions as well.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Nadine Ruehr ([email protected])
KIT-Campus Alpin
Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany
Eddy covariance field site (if applicable):
n/a
Project description:
The research of the Plant Ecophysiology Lab (https://ecophys.imk-ifu.kit.edu) focuses on carbon and water exchange of trees and forests. We are particularly interested in tree physiological responses to heat and drought stress and in tree and forest recovery from stress. In our lab you can learn about controlled experiments, chamber-based gas exchange measurements, tree hydraulics and modelling of forest carbon and water exchange.
Potential project timeline:
4-6 weeks will be ideal; typically during spring-autumn is best, but negotiable.
Additional Information:
I and my team can provide insights into controlled experiments, ecophysiological measurements (e.g. sap flux; gas exchange), data analyses as well as process-based modelling of carbon and water fluxes in forests.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Anne Klosterhalfen ([email protected])
University of Goettingen
Germany
Eddy covariance field site (if applicable):
Thuringia, Germany (amongst others)
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 August, and the duration can range between 2 to 6 weeks.
Additional Information:
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:
Dr. Enrico A. Yepez ([email protected])
INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE SONORA
Ciudad Obregon, Sonora Mexico
Eddy covariance field site (if applicable):
Alamos Sonora, Mexico. MX-Aog; MX-Asf
Project description:
Our observatory is focused in understanding the effects of the strong seasonality that drives main ecosystem processes at the northern most limit of the tropical dry forest (TDF) biome, the site is located at the Sierra de Alamos Rio Cuchujaqui Natural protected Area in north western Mexico (https://simec.conanp.gob.mx/ficha.php?anp=22®=2). Our long-term monitoring scheme included soil, vegetation and overall ecosystem processes and central to the study is to compare the function of an old-growth TDF and a TDF that was once cleared and now has ~45 years of secondary recovery.
Due to the Covid pandemic our monitoring activities halted. So, we are now resuming activities and want to bring new perspectives and tools to study ecosystem processes across different scales. We are particularly interested in establishing the use of contemporary remote sensing tool such as SIF and products that monitor soil moisture variability at fine scales.
Potential project timeline:
The ideal time to visit or TDF in Sonora, is during the fall (sep-oct ideally) when temperatures are milder but the TDFs maintains it splendor. A whole month stay would permit participating in 2 or 3 field campaigns to the sites to engage in the routine maintenance, measurements and discussion ideas of collaboration.
Additional information:
A visitor will be fully engaged with the lab team, including PIs, grad and undergrad students and technicians in a respectful but fun environment. PIs, have open door policies at our university so plenty of opportunities for interaction and discuss ideas are warranted. Potential opportunities to visit other MexFlux Sites in Mexico may arise.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Profa Dra Debora Regina Roberti ([email protected])
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria
Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil
Eddy covariance field site (if applicable):
Santa Maria; Aceguá
Project description:
The Brazilian pampa region has been used for livestock production for over 500 years. Ecology studies describe cattle as part of the pampa for the maintenance of natural biodiversity. Our eddy covariance studies have shown that although cattle in the pampa biome emit CH4, these emissions are offset by the absorption of CO2 by the native vegetation that feeds the cattle. We are interested in properly estimating CO2 and CH4 exchanges in the native pastures of the pampa biome to estimate the carbon balance and demonstrate that it is possible to produce quality animal protein without destroying the natural ecosystem, preventing the pampa from being converted into agricultural crops, such as this is the case of soy and forestry, which has also changed the scenic landscape of this biome.
Potential project timeline:
Any time. The duration can range between 2 to 6 weeks.
Additional Information:
We’ll provide with an office space, frequent trips to the flux tower sites and support to data analysis
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Oliver Sonnentag, Gabriel Hould Gosselin, Haley Alcock ([email protected])
Université de Montréal
Montréal, Canada
Eddy covariance field site (if applicable):
various: Scotty Creek (CA-SCC, CA-SCB) near Fort Simpson, NT; Smith Creek (CA-SCM) near Wrigley, NT; Trail Valley Creek (CA-TVC) and Havikpak Creek (CA-HPC) near Inuvik, NT
Project description:
My group has established a regional network of eddy covariance towers along a 1000-km latitudinal climate and permafrost gradient across the boreal forest of northwestern Canada. The flux measurements are supported by various hydrological, spectral, environmental, and tree hydraulic measurements and campaign-based surveys of permafrost, vegetation, soil, and snow characteristics. At some sites, the data record spans a decade now. Depending on the applicant’s interests and background, a range of questions around the local and regional controls of carbon and water fluxes and budgets in the rapidly changing Arctic-boreal regions of northwestern Canada can be addressed.
Potential project timeline:
The secondment participant will join a stimulating training and learning environment based in the new Campus MIL at the Université de Montréal. My group currently comprises undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs, research professionals, and visitors from other Canadian universities and abroad, collectively working at the interface of high-latitude land surface-atmosphere interactions, biometeorology, and land surface modelling. In addition to my Montréal-based group, I am leading a training network to build local capacity for community-based climate change monitoring. This training network engages community members across the Northwest Territories in knowledge co-creation and co-management to improve understanding of environmental, economic, and social climate change impacts and support ecosystem resilience. The secondment participant will be provided with office space and access to the resources offered by the Campus MIL. Intellectual support will be provided through weekly lab meetings, regular one-on-one meetings, seminars, etc.
Montréal is home to several research-intensive universities and research clusters, including a vibrant artificial intelligence community centred on Mila – Quebec AI Institute. The institutional setting of my group provides secondment participant with ample career development and collaboration opportunities.
Additional Information:
ideally between January 2023 and June 2023, from 2 to 6 weeks
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Dr. Yusri Yusup ([email protected])
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
Eddy covariance field site (if applicable):
Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies
Project description:
In our ongoing research on atmosphere-ocean interactions, we study the exchanges on the tropical coast. We hope to measure the fluxes for many years to come to gain in-depth insights into the short-term and long-term atmospheric processes of this under-studied surface. We explore these interactions using the eddy covariance method, a fast response open-path gas analyzer, and an anemometer system. We also measure meteorological parameters, such as solar radiation, temperature, relative humidity, and wind, to better understand the feedback and responses of the exchanges and their drivers. The research would benefit from new ideas on the data analysis, such as the upscaling the existing observations to a wider context and the integration of open-source data to validate the data. Visit atmosfera.usm.my for more details and to take a look at the data.
Potential project timeline:
Since the station is in operation, the secondment can occur immediately or at the time that is convenient for the participant. We believe four to six weeks are enough for the engagement.
Additional Information:
We can provide physical access to the instrumentation used and the IT infrastructure we have developed for the transfer and storage of data. We can also share the experience and knowledge gained during the instrument setup and from analysis of the data done so far.
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Potential secondment host/institution:
Nelson Luís Dias ([email protected])
Federal University of Paraná (UFPR)
Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
https://nldias.github.io/
Project description:
Prof. Nelson works in Hydrology, Micrometeorology, Turbulence, and Applied Math. This includes applied studies in Engineering and Meteorology. Below is a sample of research themes related to FLUXNET’s use of the eddy covariance technique. They are more focused than the broad Research Interests sketched above.
-Dynamic equations and models for the spectral tensor in turbulence.
-RANS (Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes) models running in domains at the meso-beta and meso-gamma scales and incorporating topographical and surface heterogeneity effects.
-The applicability, or not, of Monin-Obukhov Similarity Theory (MOST) (and extension or alternatives) over the Amazon forest.
-Corrections for Atmospheric Turbulence Measurements: sensor separation, path averaging, and time response, among others.
-Time-series analysis tools. Spectra and ogives.
-Use of the length scale to normalize turbulence statistics in the Atmospheric Surface Layer.
-Greenhouse gas fluxes to and from lakes.
-The Hurst Phenomenon in Turbulence, and the existence, or not, of the Integral Scale.
-Rayleigh-Bénard convection and similarity between temperature and a passive scalar.
-The nonlinear Boussinesq differential equation, its many incarnations, and the search for new analytical solutions.
Potential project timeline:
The stay could be planned for six weeks, starting in 2023.
Additional Information:
During the stay of the secondment participant, we’ll offer office space at the Lab for Environmental Monitoring and Modeling Analysis. I will be ready to introduce the participant to the scientific environment, teach about conducted research, and answer potential questions.
Curitiba city is an important cultural, political, and economic center in Latin America and hosts the Federal University of Paraná, established in 1912. It has a very high Human Development Index (0.856), and in 2010 it was awarded the Global Sustainable City Award, given to cities and municipalities that excel in sustainable urban development. The city is considered one of the safest cities in Brazil for youth.