Aquatic Biogeochemical Eddy Covariance Fluxes in the Presence of Waves

The eddy covariance (EC) technique is a powerful tool for measuring atmospheric exchange rates that was recently adapted by biogeochemists to measure aquatic oxygen fluxes. A review of biogeochemical EC literature revealed the majority studies were conducted in shallow waters where waves likely present, and biased sensor turbulence measurements. This identified larger measurement heights shifted lower frequencies, producing spectral gap between wave frequencies. However, some sampled too close boundary allow turbulence-wave gap, change how measurements are analyzed needed remove wave-bias. fluxes have only been derived from time-averaged product vertical velocity oxygen, often resulting Presented new analysis framework removing wave-bias accumulation cross-power densities below also includes guidelines based on period, currents, heights. applied sand, seagrass, reef environments traditional resulted 7.0% ± 9.2% error (oxygen H+) fluxes, while more variable higher evident momentum (10.5% 21.0% error). It anticipated this will lead significant changes evaluated, help overcome major limitations caused wave-sensitive slow-response sensors, potentially expanding chemical tracer applications widespread use technique.