Meteorological and soil temperature data from the treatment plots at the Aspen FACE Experiment, 1999-2009

This data publication contains meteorological measurements from within the treatment plots (rings) for 1999-2009 as part of the Aspen FACE (Free-Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment) Experiment. The experiment was located on a research farm near Harshaw, Wisconsin (renamed the Rhinelander Experimental Forest in 2015) and consisted of twelve 30 meter diameter plots of aspen, birch and maple trees in which the concentrations of carbon dioxide and tropospheric ozone were controlled. One half of each ring was planted with trembling aspen monoculture and the remaining two quarters were planted with mixtures of aspen + paper birch and aspen + sugar maple trees. Wind speed and direction, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), net radiation, air temperature and relative humidity, and rainfall were measured above the tree canopy. PAR, air temperature and relative humidity, soil temperature at 5 depths, and soil moisture at 3 depths were measured below the canopy in each of the three ring sections. For Time Series 101 (30 min means and standard deviations), and 124 (daily means, standard deviations, minima, maxima, and time of minima and maxima), the above variables were measured in one ring of each of the 4 experimental treatments during calendar years 1999-2005. For Time Series 030 (30 min means and standard deviations), and 125 (daily means, standard deviations, minima, maxima, and time of minima and maxima), the above variables were measured in every treatment ring 2006-2009. Time Series 102 consists solely of 2 hour soil moisture measurements in one ring of each experimental treatment, at one location of each of three depths in each of the three ring sections 1999 to 2005. Time Series 120 consists solely of 2 hour soil moisture measurements in every ring, at three locations of each of three depths in each of the three ring sections 2006-2009.
The Aspen FACE Experiment was a multidisciplinary study that assessed the effects of increasing tropospheric ozone and carbon dioxide concentrations on the structure and functioning of northern forest ecosystems. The design provided the ability to assess the effects of these gasses alone, and in combination, on many ecosystem attributes, including growth, leaf development, root characteristics, and soil carbon.
Original metadata date was 03/30/2016. On 11/15/2016 the metadata were updated to reflect the Harshaw Forestry Research Farm now being designated as Rhinelander Experimental Forest, along with other minor metadata updates. Minor metadata updates on 12/19/2016 and 11/04/2019.