Service : Ecotron Hasselt University: Access to long-term climate change experiments FRUIT ORCHARD and HEATHLAND Service : Ecotron Hasselt University: Access to long-term climate change experiments FRUIT ORCHARD and HEATHLAND
Ecotron Hasselt University: Access to long-term climate change experiments FRUIT ORCHARD and HEATHLAND
Macrcosm Ecotron Hasselt UniversityProvider
Hasselt UniveraityInstitution/Organisation
Hasselt UniversityWebsite
Installation
Ecotron Hasselt University
Researchers get access to two long-term experiments where (Experiment 1) PEAR ORCHARD and (Experiment 2) EUROPEAN HEATHLAND ecosystem are subjected to future climate in a fully controlled environment in an Ecotron.
USERS CAN CONDUCT SAMPLING AND ACCESS DATA WITHIN BOTH OR EITHER EXPERIMENTS.
The experiments entail complete climate simulation for of climates in 2013 and 2040 (Pear orchard) and 1950-2070 (heathland). These include IPCC scenario - based simulations of temperature and precipitation regimes, wind regime, extreme climatic events, soil temperature, with particular emphasis on drought, and agricultural practices anticipated in 2040 (specific irrigation regimes and alike). Ecosystem responses to the climate treatments are assessed within large ecosystem samples installed in 12 enclosed sun-lit macrocosms. Within each macrocosm a large lysimeters(3.14m2; 1.5m depth) containing an ecosystem sample is installed on intact soil monoliths.
Specific informations
Climate scenarios of high detail (temperature, precipitation, CO2, wind regime, soil temperature) are imposed separately to each macrocosm. Ecosystem processes are frequently (30 min or more often) measured including air temperature and relative humidity, precipitation, net ecosystem exchange, greenhouse gases (CO2 , CH4 and N2O), energy influx in the ecosystem (PPFD and PAR), evapotranspiration; soil temperature, electrical conductivity, water content, water tension, and C, N, P content and micronutrients at 5 depths, in triplicates. Vegetation dynamics is assessed through automated camera image. Regular (seasonal) sampling of soil microbial communities (fungi, bacteria) and soil animals is conducted. Impacts of interactions of experimental treatments and ecosystem functioning could be assessed via manipulations of isotopically labelled CO2: constant fumigation with 13C-depleted CO2 is imposed over the duration of the experiments, and pulse labelling with 13C-enriched CO2 is technically possible.
The macrocosms can be accessed for manual measurements and non-destructive sampling (unless there is a specific agreement for other sampling protocols), or previously collected data, both above and belowground. Additional sensors can be installed at the request and expense of the user.