CLIMEX - Climate change experiments

Scientific approach: The CLIMEX experiment, located in southern Norway, utilised whole ecosystem manipulations to determine the impact of climate change. In one experiment, a 1200 m2 forested catchment is enclosed within a greenhouse and beginning in April 1994 had been subjected to increased CO2 and temperature. After 3 years, observed treatment effects in the ecosystem relative to the experimental control were; increased leaf water use efficiency, reduction in stomatal density and increased rate of photosynthesis; increased biomass increment in Calluna; increased nitrogen mineralisation in soil; increased soil respiration and emission of nitrogen gases; and, increase in the flux of dissolved nitrogen at the catchment outflow.

Participants: CLIMEX involved a consortium of groups from NO, UK, NL, SE og DK

Role: Risø was responsible for the tree growth measurements.

Resources: CLIMEX was mainly payed through an EU grant and was further supported by the participating institutes.

Duration: CLIMEX was funded to run from 1991 through 1995. The field site is now closed