A dataset of water, heat, and carbon fluxes of an oasis agroecosystem in the middle areas of the Hexi Corridor (2012–2015)

Abstract

The exchange of water, heat, and carbon dioxide between the terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere is a fundamental process that underlies mass and energy transfer at the Earth’s surface. The eddy covariance technique has become one of the preferred and state-of-the-art approaches for measuring and calculating the exchange of water, heat, and carbon between the land surface and the atmosphere. This dataset covers the fluxes of water, heat, and carbon dioxide in an oasis agroecosystem, as well as the auxiliary micrometeorological variables in the middle areas of the Hexi Corridor during 2012–2015. The experimental observation campaign was carried out by the Linze Inland River Basin Research Station, a member station of the China Flux Observation and Research Network (ChinaFLUX). The dataset serves as a fundamental source of data, enabling in-depth comprehension water transfer, energy exchange, carbon cycle processes in the oasis agroecosystem in arid regions, and even their environmental and vegetation controlling mechanisms. It offers valuable insights into better understanding hydrological processes, ecosystem-hydrology reaction and discovering the coupling between carbon, water and heat in the context of climate change. Furthermore, the dataset holds significant scientific value in addressing chronic practical challenges related to fragile environment and shortage of water resource, such as water and land resources management, the preservation of oasis stability and sustainable development, the conservation of oasis ecosystems, etc.