Pooling of CO2 within a small valley in a tropical seasonal rain forest

CO₂ concentrations and related environmental factors were measured in an Asian tropical rainforest located in a small valley in Xishuangbanna, SW China, with the aim of investigating the CO₂ pooling effect and its mechanism of formation. Pooling of CO₂ was observed during the evening (1600?C2200?hours local time); the accumulated CO₂ subsequently flowed away after dusk. We consider that along-slope drainage flow, soil CO₂ efflux, and temperature inversion contribute to the development of CO₂ pooling. A new model is proposed to track the mechanism of the formation and dissipation of CO₂ pooling (e.g., drainage flow, compensatory mechanisms). Given its influence on the storage term, we suggest that CO₂ pooling and subsequent disappearance should be taken into account when calculating eddy covariance and other micrometeorological measurements of carbon flux for valley sites.