Atmospheric Measurements During a Prescribed Forest Burn at the Aiken AmeriFlux Site

Prescribed forest burns are performed at the Savannah River Site (SRS) by the United States Forest Service to eliminate unwanted fuel loads and for habitat maintenance. One such prescribed burn was performed at the Aiken AmeriFlux Site located at SRS in January 2013. The flux tower is located within a tall pine canopy and instrumented to measure three-dimensional winds, temperature, CO2 and water vapor at 5 levels up to 28 m. A summary of the measurements and comparison to non-burn periods are given to describe the impacts of burning on the local environment. Many of the measured variables including temperature, water vapor and wind exhibited increased variability during the burn but returned to pre-burn conditions rapidly after the fire front passed the tower. CO2 concentrations and fluxes, on the other hand, exhibited large increases during the burn and lingering effects lasting up to 72 hours after the burn were observed. The measurements provide a detailed look at micrometeorological modifications caused by burning. The effects of these modifications can help explain how burning affects soil, vegetation, and the carbon budget of the forest.