On agricultural eddy covariance atmospheric storage term: Developing a system to measure carbon dioxide concentrations and energy exchange inside a maize canopy

This dissertation examines CO₂ and H₂O fluxes, and energy storage terms over a maize field. An experimented program conducted in 2023 at a site in eastern Tennessee utilized a new multiport profile system to assist in the interpretation of eddy fluxes and to determine atmospheric storage rates of heat and CO₂. Flux measurements were made within and above the canopy. Energy balance closure was calculated with and without considering energy storage terms. CO₂ fluxes were partitioned to gross primary production (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco) to estimate net ecosystem exchange (NEE). Additionally, the pooling effect of carbon dioxide was explored. The results demonstrate the need to assess storage rates in field studies of the surface energy budget and to account for the heat used to support photosynthesis. Both depend on the time of day and the prevailing meteorology, as well as subsurface properties like the soil water content. Depending on the time of day and prevailing meteorological conditions, photosynthesis can contribute 7 to 18 W m^-2 to the surface heat energy imbalance reported elsewhere.

Some formatting correction was required. I have formatted the dissertation according to the review report.

Please find the revised dissertation.

Thanks

Taqi Raza