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"Since the industrial revolution, the increased burning of fossil fuels has caused large emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere with, as a consequence, the increase of their atmospheric concentration, particularly in the case of carbon dioxide. This increase is proven by long-term atmospheric monitoring and it is related to relevant climate changes as increased mean temperatures and frequency of extreme events (flooding, heat waves, etc.). In this respect, the Mediterranean area is one of those that, according to forecasts and simulations, will suffer mostly from these changes. This will be particularly true for mountainous areas already subjected to significant pressures. The paper presents data on climate, net carbon exchange trends and their relationships measured during 15 months in a 35-years-old pine forest (Pinus laricio Poiret, Sila Greca, 1,175 m a.s.l., Longobucco, CS, Southern Italy). The experimental site is equipped with micrometeorological sensors and with the instrumentation to measure net carbon exchange at ecosystem level with the eddy covariance technique. The site has been established to study carbon and water cycle dynamics of this important Southern Italian ecosystem, in order to better understand ecosystem responses to environmental factors and climate change. Preliminary data point to the fact that the pine forest is a carbon sink practically all-yearround. Soil water availability and atmospheric evaporative demand proved to be important and concurrent factors in determining adaptative responses by the ecosystem. The study will continue in the coming years, in order to reach a better reliability of carbon balance monthly and annual sums particularly by improving the estimate of ecosystem respiration and its components (storage and advection terms, soil respiration) and to verify interannual and long-term responses to climate." |
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