A year-long eddy covariance dataset over an Alpine Steppe on the central Tibetan Plateau: a landscape perspective on carbon and energy fluxes
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: . The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is warming rapidly, with future projections suggesting continued warming that may amplify climate–carbon feedbacks. However, sparse in-situ observations and pronounced spatial heterogeneity in vegetation, soil moisture, and climate have limited our understanding of these ecosystem responses. Here, we present a continuous record of carbon and energy fluxes measured at a landscape scale (~30 ha / 0.3 km2) in an alpine steppe ecosystem on the TP from July 2018 to June 2019. Flux measurements were quality-filtered and gap-filled to produce a complete seasonal record using two complementary approaches, marginal distribution sampling (MDS) and random forest (RF). Eddy covariance measurements represent integrated fluxes over their footprint area, which are often much smaller than most model grids or remote sensing pixels, particularly in grassland ecosystems. Owing to the higher measurement height (19 m) at this site, the measurement footprint closely aligns with the spatial resolution of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) products, facilitating more consistent landscape-scale comparisons. The data include quality flags indicating observed or gap-filled values, uncertainty estimates, footprint diagnostics, and auxiliary meteorological variables. The data described in this manuscript provides a robust foundation for examining carbon–climate interactions in alpine environments, supporting ecosystem modeling and satellite product validation.
Source: Earth system science data
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,509
OpenAlex ID: W7171852487