Characteristics of urban-ecosystem atmosphere fluxes of CO2, CH4, N2O and ET over Denver, Colorado

Global population trends indicate that an increasing percentage of people will be moving out of rural areas and into cities. Urban ecosystems in the western U.S. have experienced very rapid growth. Denver's population has grown ~23% in past decade. Conversion of rangeland to urban uses results in substantial changes in the coupled cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and water. We quantify and characterize the fluxes of certain greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) and evapotranspiration using eddy covariance instruments at multiple levels (90 and 65m). Magnitudes and biophysical controls of important natural and anthropogenic sources and sinks of certain greenhouse gases were evaluated. We also determine the role of land use history and current application in the characterization of the fluxes.