The Eddy Covariance technique (also known as Eddy Correlation and Eddy Flux) is a key method that provides direct measurements of vertical turbulent fluxes within atmospheric boundary layers. The technique is being employed for various applications, including determining exchange rates of trace gases over natural ecosystems and agricultural fields, as well as quantifying gas emission rates.
A complementary strategy is to deploy Eddy Covariance Flux Systems on research vessels to sample a wide range of ocean environments for studying the exchange of water vapor and carbon dioxide between the ocean surfaces and atmosphere. The feasibility of this approach depends on developing Eddy Covariance Flux Systems that are sufficiently robust to overcome the technical and logistical challenges of measuring air-sea fluxes in harsh environments from moving platforms.
The solution for a shipboard Eddy Covariance Flux System (ECFS) consists of an integrated system with various components, including a fast-response infrared gas analyzer, a sonic anemometer, a position and velocity measurement system, a motion measurement system, and a high-speed Data Collection Platform (DCP) with interfaces to a central system with data validation and mapping capabilities.