Forest ecosystem research platform

The aim of the project is to develop Luke’s research platforms related to responses of above and below ground processes of forest trees and ecosystems, and agricultural plants to changing climate: 1) Stress exposure field will be established in Suonenjoki in collaboration with UEF. The field site enables controlled manipulation of below and above ground temperature and soil humidity, and it includes a computer system and data logging set-up with remote access capability; 2) Precision weighing systems to be used below lysimeters in the root laboratory in Joensuu will be purchased. This system will allow monitoring the effects of soil temperature and moisture on fine root production, forest ecosystem biogeochemical cycles of carbon and trace gas exchange; and 3) Soil temperature and moisture measurements on Finnish ICP Forests Level II plots will be updated. Such parameters are crucial for research, monitoring and modeling of the effects of climate change on forest ecosystems.