The principle objective of the Terrestrial Carbon Observation System Siberia (TCOS Siberia) project is to implement the first components of a continental scale observing system to help determine the net carbon balance of Siberia and its variation from year to year.

The complexity of this goal necessitates an integrated top-down and bottom-up approach. In brief, continuous surface flux measurements in key ecosystems at 4 locations and regular vertical profile measurements from aircraft in the lower troposphere at 6 locations will be merged with similar observations at the boundaries of the study domain. These surface and atmospheric observations will then be combined together to provide the basis of a continental scale meteorological and biogeochemical-modeling framework.

Specific objectives include:

1. develop a network of long-term surface CO2 flux-measuring stations;

2. develop a network of vertical aircraft profile stations;

3. integrate the project observational network with the networks of surface flux and atmospheric concentration measurements;

4. develop an integrated modelling system consisting of three coupled components;

5. assess the larger scale spatio-temporal variation of the overall carbon balance of the Eurosiberian region over a 6-year time period (1998-2004);

6. develop a future continental observing strategy, including optimization of sampling locations, precision and frequency of sampling.

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