Leinefelde (Thuringia, Germany)

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Location

The Leinefelde measurement station is located in a managed pure beech stand (Fagus sylvatica) in the Geney forest district near Leinefelde (Thuringia). The even-aged stand is approximately 130 years old and has been managed under the shelterwood system with regular thinning (every 10–20 years) since 1838. The trees reach heights of up to 37 m with a stand density of about 224 stems ha^-1. The maximum leaf area index (LAI) in summer is approximately 4.2 m²m^-2 and is strongly concentrated in the upper canopy layer. The herb layer is sparse and includes, among others, woodruff (Galium odoratum), wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), and greater stitchwort (Stellaria holostea).

The area is situated at 450 m a.s.l. on luvisols with loess over limestone. The climate is sub-oceanic to sub-montane, with a mean annual temperature of around 8 °C and approximately 750 mm of annual precipitation.

The station was established in 2002. Since then, meteorological variables as well as CO₂, water, and energy fluxes between the forest and the atmosphere have been measured using the eddy covariance method (44 m height, METEK uSonic3 CageMP ultrasonic anemometer, LI-7000/LI-7200 gas analyzers).