NitroScope’s Finnish sites are contributing to the project’s work on nitrogen flux monitoring through collaboration with SMEAR-Agri sites in Finland.
The update was shared by Miiro Jääskeläinen, Team Leader from Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, a partner of the NitroScope project. The work focuses on improving the quantification of N₂O fluxes and the factors that drive them under field conditions.
Combining continuous and chamber-based measurements
At the Finnish sites, the team is developing N₂O footprinting by combining continuous Eddy Covariance measurements with biweekly flux chamber measurements around the Eddy Covariance stations.
Flux chamber measurements are carried out from different directions and distances around the stations. This approach helps connect greenhouse gas measurements with spatial variability in the field and provides a more detailed understanding of where emissions come from and what drives them.
Linking N₂O fluxes with soil properties
Beyond measuring N₂O fluxes, the work also connects flux chamber locations with detailed soil information.
This includes continuous sensing of:
- soil water volume
- soil water potential
- soil temperature
- soil salinity
- soil nitrate
The team also collects additional measurements such as infiltration and bulk density. By linking N₂O fluxes with these soil properties, NitroScope can better understand the field conditions that influence nitrogen losses and greenhouse gas emissions.
Working with state-of-the-art Finnish measurement sites
The Finnish measurement sites are among the state-of-the-art infrastructures for studying greenhouse gases, carbon and nitrogen flows on mineral soils.
The work is connected with SMEAR-Agri sites, including Haltiala and Viikki. The principal investigators are Professor Annalea Lohila at Haltiala and Professor Mari Pihlatie at Viikki, with Markku Koskinen serving as site manager.
These sites provide valuable infrastructure for continuous and high-quality monitoring of greenhouse gas exchange and soil processes under agricultural conditions.