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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

A CO2 Concentration Gradient Facility for Testing CO2 Enrichment and Soil Effects on Grassland Ecosystem Function
Published on: November 21, 2015
Highly sampled measurements in a controlled atmosphere at the Biosphere 2 Landscape Evolution Observatory
Jorge Arevalo1,2, Xubin Zeng3,4, Matej Durcik4
1Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA. jorgearevalo@email.arizona.edu.
This study details a comprehensive dataset from the Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) hillslopes, offering insights into land-atmosphere interactions. The data captures soil and atmospheric conditions, crucial for Earth system modeling.
Area of Science:
- Earth System Science
- Environmental Science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Understanding land-atmosphere interactions is vital for Earth system science and modeling.
- The Landscape Evolution Observatory (LEO) at Biosphere 2 provides a unique, controlled environment for studying these interactions.
- LEO features three artificial, instrumented bare-soil hillslopes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a detailed dataset of land-atmosphere interactions from the LEO hillslopes.
- To provide high-resolution measurements for validating Earth system models.
- To facilitate research on hydrological and thermal processes in soil.
Main Methods:
- Collected data from LEO hillslopes between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019, at 15-minute intervals.
- Measured soil properties (temperature, water content, heat flux) at 12 points (5 cm depth).
- Recorded above-ground atmospheric conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed) at multiple heights and locations, along with radiation, precipitation, discharge, and water storage.
Main Results:
- A rich, multi-variable dataset covering soil and atmospheric conditions was generated.
- Measurements include detailed soil thermal and hydrological data.
- Comprehensive atmospheric and radiation data were collected, alongside hydrological fluxes.
Conclusions:
- The LEO dataset offers a valuable resource for studying land-atmosphere dynamics.
- The controlled environment allows for rigorous investigation of physical processes.
- This data supports advancements in Earth system modeling and environmental research.
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