DTU Sustain runs a long-term flux observation station, which produces one of the three longest existing continuous series of CO2 flux measurements. The data characterizes the CO2 exchange between a beech forest called Ll. Bøgeskov, close to Sorø, Zealand, with high temporal resolution. The station has produced time series of measurements starting all the way back in 1996 creating 27 years of 30 minute flux data, which allows us to observe how the forest responds to climatic variability, most prominently the response to the heat wave in 2018. Evaluating extreme, strong, and rare responses requires observing the normal behavior as a baseline. The existence of the long time series, allows us also to observe responses and acclimation to climatic trends such as anthropogenic climate change.
Since 2015, the station has been part of the Integrated Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS) fulfilling the highest ICOS observation standard, Class 1. Data can be freely downloaded via the ICOS Carbon Portal and is being used by thousands of researchers globally. The average download frequency is twice per day with increasing trend. There is exceptional scientific and societal value from running the station as an important international research infrastructure, and from contributing to an international research network with free data sharing and documentation.
The very same data was used in the publication, "Leaf-level coordination principles propagate to the ecosystem scale" in Nature Communications, which show how nature-based solutions on their own will not help mitigate climate change. The continuation of the long-term flux observation station helps us understand the influence of our initiatives towards the climate and ensure we make the best decisions for our environment
