Climaite
Parent institution: University of Copenhagen
Active since 2005
Active through 2005-current
Larsen, Klaus Steenberg
email: ksl@ign.ku.dk
In a dry heathland on sandy soil with vegetation dominated by Calluna vulgaris and Deschampsia flexuosa, the experimental facility aims to simulate future climate change using state-of-the-art manipulation techniques combined with state-of-the-art, automated measurement techniques. The facility builts upon the former CLIMAITE experiment - from 2005-2013 a full-factorial manipulation of the climate parameters CO2 (increased to 510 ppm in a FACE setup), temperature (+1 to 2 degrees by passive nighttime warming using curtains) and summer drought (separate curtains). With six replicates it gives a total of 48 plots. The setup consists of 12 rings in pairs of two = 6 blocks. Each ring is 6.8 meters in diameter and is divided into 4 plots adding to a total of 48 plots. For each pair of rings, one is a FACE ring with CO2 addition while one has ambient CO2 concentration. FACE and nighttime warming was initiated 3/10/2005. For further details refer to Mikkelsen et al (2008) Functional Ecology 22:185-195.
The new suggested setup will use half the existing blocks employing three treatment levels of drought from moderate to extreme levels (I-III) combined with elevated CO2 (+130 ppm = 530 ppm) in a FACE (Free Air CO2 Enrichment) setup thus providing a response surface approach. Warming treatments are not currently planned to be continued for budget reasons. The remaining 6 blocks will be available for future experiments and long term monitoring. In addition, subplots in the new setup will be harvested completely to study the long-term effects of climate treatments on regeneration of plant species.
Country: Denmark
Latitude: 55.8833333
Longitude: 11.9666667
Nearest town: Jægerspris
Distance from neaerst town: 5 km
The former and future experimental setups addresses key questions of ecosystem functioning under future climate scenarios. Questions include: a) What are the effects of climate change on carbon and nutrient turnover in the ecosystem? b) Will the ecosystem be a sink or a source of carbon under future climate scenarios? c) Will progressive nitrogen limitation play a role in the long-term carbon pool response to elevated CO2? d) Will future climate change affect biodiversity of plants and soil organisms and lead to community changes? e) Will there be significant interactions between different climate change factors?
The experimental facility is one of only a handful of experiments worldwide where the three major climate change factors (CO2, warming and precipitation change) have been manipulated simultaneously in situ in an ecosystem in all possible combinations (2005-2013). The facility has two well-equipped meteorological stations and all 48 existing plots are extensively equipped with various sensors (soil temperatures in 3 depths, soil water content in two depths, CO2 concentrations, soil water extraction via suction cups, minirhizotrons etc.). The facility offers a unique opportunity to add new experiments building on the 9 years of existing data. During 2009-2013 the site offered more than 1500 scientific user days, of which > 300 were international scientists visiting the facility. The research questions which may be addressed at the facility are highly relevant for AnaEE, i.e. ecosystem services like carbon storage under future climate, changes in biodiversity and species adaptation under climate change.
The major limitation is the plot size of about 10 m2 being relatively small and thus limiting the use of disruptive measurements (biomass harvest, soil coring etc.) However, there are good opportunities for additional new experiments that may be setup outside the existing plots. Furthermore, currently 24 of the 48 original plots are available for additional new experiments where the possibility of disruptive measurements exist.
Various growth/climate chambers at University of Copenhagen or Technical University of Denmark may be used to complement experiments in the field. Both these facilities are proposed as part of the Danish AnaEE contribution.
Experiments duration: Weeks, Months, Years, Decades;
Total area: 2500 m²
Total area of the site is 10000 m2. Approximately 2500 m2 could be used for experiments.Available area: 2000 m²
unit size: 10 m²
10 m2 are the existing plots. Subplots of smaller size may be possible inside as well as outside existing plots.Replicates number: 6
48 plots with six replicates of all treatment combinations was the previous setup (2005-2013). The planned new setup consists of 24 plots and in principle 3 replicates. However, the new setup is a response surface approach where all 24 plots are to be investigated together using a regression approach.Grassland-heathland boundaries and potentially the transition to forest may be examined at the site
Elevated CO2: Free Air CO2 Enrichment (2005-2013 - no longer active) Precipitation change: Previously: Retractable curtains. Currently: Permanent rainout shelters. Warming: Not currently planned but previously by retractable nighttime warming curtains.
Electricity available on site.
Years measured: 14
Mean Temperature: 9.5 °C
February Mean Temperature: 1 °C
July Mean Temperature: 19 °C
Mean Annual Speed: 2.2 m/s
Max. Annual Speed: m/s
Dominant Direction: west
Precipitation type: Both;
Total annual precipitation: 742 mm
Mean snow cover duration: days
| Variable | Ecosystem | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Precip | Grassland | Active |
| Management - Nutrients (levels or nutrient type) | Grassland | Planned |
| Management - grazing | Grassland | Planned |
| Management - species and/or ecotype combinations | Grassland | Planned |
| Precip | Shrubland | Active |
| River |
No on-site staff.
No on-site staff.
Up to 20 visitors
No beds on site
No showers on site
No laundry on site