Exchanges of greenhouse gases
My research is primarily focused on the exchange of greenhouse gases between soil and ecosystem, with particular attention to CO2 exchanges.
We are now monitoring CO2, H2O y CH4 exchanges in five ecosystems equipped with Eddy towers in the South-East
of Spain.Our experimental sites are located in an olive orchard in Jaen, a semiarid ecosystem located in Sierra de Gador, two
ecosystems located in the Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park and another located in Sierra Nevada National Park.
Some ecosystems are equipped with vertical and horizontal profiles to study subterranean CO2 dynamics and identifying factors
involved in the variations of molar fractions. My studies have focused from a few centimeters to several meters below ground.
I have worked with leaf chamber systems, but such measurements require estimating the leaf area index (LAI), causing errors during up-scaling
due to the LAI estimation. Therefore, we have worked in manufacturing, programming and management of custom, closed portable chamber system that
allows measurement of a whole-plant isolated from the soil, estimating photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration without the need for LAI estimates.
I have worked with various chamber models for determining soil CO2 efflux and know the Gradient Method tecnique to obtain continuous estimation
of soil CO2 efflux from soil CO2 molar fraction measurements at different depths
The CO2 exchanges between caves and the exterior atmosphere, have not been taken into account in the global carbon balance despite the fact
that underground cavities have CO2 concentrations of two orders of magnitude higher than atmospheric values. I have collaborated to develop equations for the
determination of buoyancy considering that CO2 effects can lead to over- or under-estimation of cave ventilation processes. I is currently working on
monitoring CO2 fluxes emitted from the caves and boreholes.
