Expected patterns will be generated through global climate and ice freeze modeling. Midlatitude Activity of a network of locations around the United States, as the core set of study sites. This network includes many LTER sites and other long-term research sites, where fluxes of C02, CH4, and N20 and possibly other trace gases are being measured and locations where trace gas model development is being conducted. Measurement of biogenic trace gas across a network of sites in North America and comprehensive analysis of these data are critical to understanding the factors controlling biogenic trace gas production and consumption. Ecosystems in this region are major contributors of these important radiatively active biogenic trace gases.
Human activities modify gas fluxes both directly and indirectly.
Directly, agricultural and forest management practices affect soil physical and biological properties, including those that control gas fluxes. Indirectly, air pollution and acid deposition affect fluxes and modifying biogeochemical cycles associated, especially N dynamics, with trace gas fluxes. Natural systems are both sources and sinks of trace gases, but the magnitudes of these fluxes are not know. A coordinated analysis of biogenic trace gas flux measurements is essential to understanding these sources and sinks in a regional and global context. The effort will bring together data from ongoing trace gas flux projects and provide the integrated database to researchers involved in the study.