Großes Bruch

The extensively managed grassland site 'Großes Bruch' is located in the area of the Bode catchment within the foreland of the Harz mountains and is part of the 'Green band', a natural reserve region. The ecosystem site 'Großes Bruch' was established in the frame of the TERENO project in 2012 to determine energy and trace gas fluxes. Since autumn 2013 methane fluxes are measured in addition to the carbon and water vapour fluxes. Methane evolves mainly under anaerobic conditions and is thus emitted from this former fen depending on the height of the water level. In addition, the grazing of cows at the site contributes to the methane fluxes.

The close vicinity to the forest site 'Hohes Holz' allows the investigation of the long-term trace gas balances of different land use types within the same climate region.