Eddy covariance (EC) and profile measurements from April until October 1996 have been used to analyze the variance and gradient similarity above a Scots pine forest in Hyyti¿l¿, southern Finland. The practical motivation for the study is to test the quality of the EC measurements by the similarity-predicted scaling law of variances and the potential of applying the gradient method to flux estimation. The correct stability dependence of the standard deviations (s.d.) of turbulent quantities scaled with relevant flux parameters indicates proper functioning of the EC system under unstable to moderately stable conditions. Modest variation of the nondimensional s.d. of vertical wind speed with wind direction is observed. Under strongly stable conditions the normalized standard deviations of wind speed components, but not of scalars, are substantially increased. The ratios of the nondimensional wind and temperature gradients to their corresponding values obtained from the ideal similarity formulas vary significantly with wind direction, indicating the influence of topography. No stability dependence of the ratios was observed. The profile method, applied to the measured wind and temperature profiles with the wind direction dependent corrections to flux-profile relationships, reproduced the EC-measured heat fluxes with high correlation. This indicates the possible applicability of the profile method at nonideal sites, if the modification of the profiles is studied beforehand by using independently determined fluxes. ¿ 1998 American Geophysical Union