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Murphy’s Pond is a 175-acre relic cypress swamp consisting of four pools, owned by Murray State University (MSU), part of the Obion Creek and Murphy’s Pond Nature Preserve, a 1600-acre protected forested wetland in western Kentucky. The eddy covariance flux tower was installed in December 2024 at the top of the hill east of the pond to study the trace gases exchange with the atmosphere to better understand the carbon cycle in this dynamic ecosystem.
Our main research objectives are to (1) improve our understanding of the controls on CH4 fluxes in mineral soil wetlands, and (2) to better understand the effects of landscape position and forest composition on the CH4 fluxes between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Using a coupled experiential-modeling approach to identify spatial and temporal CH4 flux hotspots and hot moments and to understand their mechanistic underpinnings, daily and seasonal CH4 fluxes will be characterized. We have also established three plots to quantify the role of tree stems, knees, and open water in regulating CH4 fluxes.
Our main research objectives are to (1) improve our understanding of the controls on CH4 fluxes in mineral soil wetlands, and (2) to better understand the effects of landscape position and forest composition on the CH4 fluxes between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. Using a coupled experiential-modeling approach to identify spatial and temporal CH4 flux hotspots and hot moments and to understand their mechanistic underpinnings, daily and seasonal CH4 fluxes will be characterized. We have also established three plots to quantify the role of tree stems, knees, and open water in regulating CH4 fluxes.
dji_fly_20250428_141756_122_1745868267974_video.MOVFor latest site images, please check the below link:
Ariel view of the site and the Eddy Covariance Flux Tower (Courtesy of Zach Brown)
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