Jambi (Sumatra, Indonesia)


Location

Location Temperature (annual mean) Precipitation (annual) Elevation a.s.l. Ecosystem
Province Jambi, Sumatra 26.7 °C 2235 mm 76 m Oil palm plantation

The Jambi measurement station is located in a commercial oil palm plantation (Elaeis guineensis) in the lowlands of Jambi Province on Sumatra, Indonesia (76 m a.s.l.). The climate is tropical-humid with minor seasonal temperature fluctuations. The mean annual temperature is 26.7 °C, and the mean annual precipitation is 2235 mm. A pronounced rainy season extends from October to May, while the dry season lasts from June to September, although monthly rainfall usually exceeds 100 mm.

The plantation covers 2186 ha in predominantly flat terrain. The oil palms in the flux tower footprint were planted in 2002 in a triangular grid of 8 × 8 m (156 palms ha-1). The palms reach heights of up to 14 m, and exhibit a site-specific leaf area index (LAI) of about 3.6 m2 m-2. The understory is heavily reduced due to regular herbicide application and mowing, whereas the palm trunks are densely covered with epiphytes such as ferns and orchids. The soils are highly weathered loamy Acrisols, characteristic of the region.

The measurement station was established in 2014. Since then, fluxes of CO2, water vapor, and energy have been continuously measured using the eddy covariance method. The system consists of an open-path infrared gas analyzer (LI-7500A, LI-COR) and a three-dimensional ultrasonic anemometer (uSonic-3, Metek) mounted on a 22 m high steel tower.

Measured Variable Measurement Height Data Frequency (Minutes) Measurement Period
Momentum22.4 m302014 - Present
Sensible and latent heat flux22.4 m, 22.4 m301999 - Present
CO2 and water vapour concentration21.4 m, 16.6 m, 11 m, 9.1 m, 7.1 m, 5 m, 3.2 m, 1.7 m, 0.65 m302014 - Present
Precipitation (2 sensors)14.7 m301999 - Present
Wind speed18.5 m, 15.4 m, 13 m, 2.3 m301999 - Present
Wind direction15.4 m302014 - Present
Air temperature22 m, 16.3 m, 12.3 m, 8.1 m, 2.3 m, 0.9 m302023 - Present (some heights from 2025)
Incoming photosynthetically active radiation22 m302014 - Present
Outgoing photosynthetically active radiation22 m302023 - Present
Incoming photosynthetically active radiation below canopy (5 sensors)1 m302014 - Present
Incoming and outgoing long- and shortwave radiation22 m302014 - Present
Global and diffuse radiation22 m302018 - Present
Net radiation22 m302016 – Present
Soil heat flux (8 sensors)-5 cm302025 - Present
Soil temperature and moisture (3 profiles)-5 cm, -30 cm, -60 cm, -90 cm302025 - Present
Canopy surface temperature (2 sensors)16 m30


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