scholarly journals Sensible Heat Flux by Surface Layer Scintillometry and Eddy Covariance over a Mixed Grassland Community as Affected by Bowen Ratio and MOST Formulations for Unstable Conditions

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 479-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. O. Odhiambo ◽  
M. J. Savage

Abstract Measurements of sensible heat flux for an extended period for unstable conditions using surface layer scintillometry (SLS) and eddy covariance (EC) and supplemented by Bowen ratio measurements for a mixed grassland community on the eastern seaboard of South Africa are presented. Measurements of SLS sensible heat flux density were compared with those obtained using EC for a wide range of Bowen ratio (β). Also presented is an analysis of the different forms of the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST) functions used in micrometeorology and suggested by various authors, done by comparing EC sensible heat and measured by SLS through the use of an iterative determination of Monin–Obukhov parameters. A comparison of the SLS-measured structure parameter of air temperature CT2 corrected for β and uncorrected was carried out, with the results showing good correspondence but with a slight bias indicating that not correcting SLS measurements of CT2 for β would also result in a slight bias in H. Eddy covariance estimates of sensible heat flux density (HEC), obtained using averaging periods between 1 and 120 min and compared with scintillometer measurements, demonstrated that short-time averaging periods resulted in underestimated HEC. The EC measurements for 60- and 120-min averaging periods were sometimes inconsistent with SLS measurements. A sensitivity analysis indicates that both the EC and SLS measurements of H are influenced by β. For 0 < β < 0.2, the correction to HSLS amounts to more than 10% compared to more than 20% for HEC, although the magnitude of the differences are small. A comparison of HEC and HSLS measurements for 0.1 intervals of β between 0 and 4.3 shows reasonable correspondence for β > 1. For 0 < β < 1, the HSLS (y) versus HEC (x) scatterplot linear regression slope decreased from 1.25 to close to 1 for β increasing from 0 to 1. A comparison between β-corrected HEC and HSLS measurements—the latter computed using various empirical stability functions used by MOST—shows significant differences compared to HEC ranging from almost 20% overestimation for some methods to 20% underestimation for others. Long-term use of the recommended MOST stability functions for the SLS method is shown to result in reasonable correspondence between SLS and EC sensible heat flux for a wide range in atmospheric conditions, stability, and sensible heat magnitude.

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 741-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Solignac ◽  
A. Brut ◽  
J.-L. Selves ◽  
J.-P. Béteille ◽  
J.-P. Gastellu-Etchegorry ◽  
...  

Abstract. The use of scintillometers to determine sensible heat fluxes is now common in studies of land-atmosphere interactions. The main interest in these instruments is due to their ability to quantify energy distributions at the landscape scale, as they can calculate sensible heat flux values over long distances, in contrast to Eddy Covariance systems. However, scintillometer data do not provide a direct measure of sensible heat flux, but require additional data, such as the Bowen ratio (β), to provide flux values. The Bowen ratio can either be measured using Eddy Covariance systems or derived from the energy balance closure. In this work, specific requirements for estimating energy fluxes using a scintillometer were analyzed, as well as the accuracy of two flux calculation methods. We first focused on the classical method (used in standard softwares) and we analysed the impact of the Bowen ratio on flux value and uncertainty. For instance, an averaged Bowen ratio (β) of less than 1 proved to be a significant source of measurement uncertainty. An alternative method, called the "β-closure method", for which the Bowen ratio measurement is not necessary, was also tested. In this case, it was observed that even for low β values, flux uncertainties were reduced and scintillometer data were well correlated with the Eddy Covariance results. Besides, both methods should tend to the same results, but the second one slightly underestimates H while β decreases (<5%).


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belén Martí ◽  
Daniel Martínez-Villagrasa ◽  
Joan Cuxart

&lt;p&gt;Turbulent flux measurements require high frequency sampling in order to characterize appropriately all the variability scales of the atmosphere. A 3D sonic anemometer coupled with a gas detector allows for applying the eddy-covariance method which has become the standard. However, the high cost of this system often implies to look for alternative methods, specially when multiple stations are required. Turbulent fluxes can also be estimated through the flux-gradient similarity theory, requiring observations of mean quantities of (at least) air temperature and humidity at two levels and wind at one height. This approach is more sensitive to the disturbing influence of heterogeneous and complex surfaces and a comparison between methodologies is required under these conditions.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The data used in this study is part of the ALaiz EXperiment 2017-2018 (ALEX17). This campaign was the last within the New European Altas project. It had a duration of over a year with measurements in complex terrain. The location of the experiment is a valley bounded by two mountain ranges that rise 150 m north and over 600 m south. A central site in the centre of the valley was instrumented with a sodar-RASS, an 80-m tower, a surface energy balance (SEB) station with an eddy-covariance system and a surface-layer station (SLS) with the necessary measurements to estimate the turbulent fluxes. In addition, eight supplementary SLS were deployed along the longitudinal and transverse valley axes to characterize the surface layer variability within the valley.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This communication will present a comparison of the friction velocity and sensible heat flux obtained from both the eddy-covariance system and the flux-gradient method at the central site for a time series of 8 months. Friction velocity is highly comparable between methodologies with a correlation of 0.92 and a standard deviation of 0.05. The performance of the sensible heat flux estimation differs between stable and unstable cases, with a correlation of 0.70 and 0.89, respectively, after applying a quality control procedure. The poorer results obtained under stable conditions points out the need for alternative estimations of the sensible heat flux for these cases.&lt;/p&gt;


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4645-4666 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Ward ◽  
J. G. Evans ◽  
C. S. B. Grimmond

Abstract. Eddy covariance measurements of the turbulent sensible heat, latent heat and carbon dioxide fluxes for 12 months (2011–2012) are reported for the first time for a suburban area in the UK. The results from Swindon are comparable to suburban studies of similar surface cover elsewhere but reveal large seasonal variability. Energy partitioning favours turbulent sensible heat during summer (midday Bowen ratio 1.4–1.6) and latent heat in winter (0.05–0.7). A significant proportion of energy is stored (and released) by the urban fabric and the estimated anthropogenic heat flux is small but non-negligible (0.5–0.9 MJ m−2 day−1). The sensible heat flux is negative at night and for much of winter daytimes, reflecting the suburban nature of the site (44% vegetation) and relatively low built fraction (16%). Latent heat fluxes appear to be water limited during a dry spring in both 2011 and 2012, when the response of the surface to moisture availability can be seen on a daily timescale. Energy and other factors are more relevant controls at other times; at night the wind speed is important. On average, surface conductance follows a smooth, asymmetrical diurnal course peaking at around 6–9 mm s−1, but values are larger and highly variable in wet conditions. The combination of natural (vegetative) and anthropogenic (emission) processes is most evident in the temporal variation of the carbon flux: significant photosynthetic uptake is seen during summer, whilst traffic and building emissions explain peak release in winter (9.5 g C m−2 day−1). The area is a net source of CO2 annually. Analysis by wind direction highlights the role of urban vegetation in promoting evapotranspiration and offsetting CO2 emissions, especially when contrasted against peak traffic emissions from sectors with more roads. Given the extent of suburban land use, these results have important implications for understanding urban energy, water and carbon dynamics.


2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 6441-6494 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Launiainen

Abstract. Twelve-years of eddy-covariance measurements conducted above a boreal Scots pine forest in Hyytiälä, Southern Finland, were analyzed to assess the seasonal and inter-annual variability of surface conductance (gs) and energy partitioning. The gs had distinct annual course, driven by the seasonal cycle of the Scots pine. Low gs (2–3 mm s−1 in April) restricted transpiration in springtime and caused the sensible heat flux to peak in May–June while evapotranspiration takes over later in July–August when gs is typically 5–7 mm s−1. Hence, during normal years Bowen ratio decreases from 4–6 in April to 0.7–0.9 in August. Sensitivity of gs to ambient vapor pressure deficit (D) was relatively constant but the reference value at D=1 kPa varied seasonally and between years. Only two drought episodes when volumetric soil moisture content in upper mineral soil decreased below 0.15 m3 m−3 occurred during the period. Below this threshold value transpiration was strongly reduced, which promoted sensible heat exchange increasing Bowen ratio to 3–4. Annual evapotranspiration varied between 218 and 361 mm and accounted between 50% and 90% of equilibrium evaporation. The forest floor contributed between 16 and 25% of the total evapotranspiration on annual scale. The fraction stayed similar over the observed range of environmental conditions including drought. The inter-annual variability of evapotranspiration could not be linked to any mean climate parameter while the summertime sensible heat flux and net radiation were well explained by global radiation. The energy balance closure varied annually between 0.66 and 0.95 and had a distinct seasonal cycle with worse closure in spring when large proportion of available energy is partitioned into sensible heat.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1383-1417 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Solignac ◽  
A. Brut ◽  
J.-L. Selves ◽  
J.-P. Béteille ◽  
J.-P. Gastellu-Etchegorry ◽  
...  

Abstract. The use of scintillometers to determine sensible heat fluxes is now common in studies of land-atmosphere interactions. The main interest in these instruments is due to their ability to quantify energy distributions at the landscape scale, as they can calculate sensible heat flux values over long distances, in contrast to Eddy Correlation systems. However, scintillometer data do not provide a direct measure of sensible heat flux, but require additional data, such as the Bowen ratio (β), to provide flux values. The Bowen ratio can either be measured using Eddy Correlation systems or derived from the energy balance closure. In this work, specific requirements for estimating energy fluxes using a scintillometer were analyzed, as well as the accuracy of two flux calculation methods. We first focused on the classical method (used in standard software). We analysed the impact of the Bowen ratio according to both time averaging and ratio values; for instance, an averaged Bowen ratio (β) of less than 1 proved to be a significant source of measurement uncertainty. An alternative method, called the "β-closure method", for which the Bowen ratio measurement is not necessary, was also tested. In this case, it was observed that even for low β values, flux uncertainties were reduced and scintillometer data were well correlated with the Eddy Correlation results.


MAUSAM ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-320
Author(s):  
MONDAL SOUMEN ◽  
BANERJEE SAON ◽  
CHAKRABORTY SHAON ◽  
SAHA SALIL ◽  
MUKHERJEE ASIS

An experiment was conducted in the experimental farm of Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Nadia, West Bengal to study the radiation pattern and its balance over green gram (Vignaradiata var. Samrat). The BREB method was used to determine the sensible heat flux and latent energy. The net radiation was measured through net radiometer and the ground heat flux was measured using Fourier's law. Both the diurnal and seasonal variation of net radiation were studied. Similarly, the energy balance components were studied regularly for different crop growth stages as well as on diurnal basis. It is observed that the net radiation varies from 6.32 Wm-2 to 606.43 Wm-2. The latent heat flux constitutes more than 50% of the net radiation for all growth stages as depicted by energy balance partitioning. The sensible heat flux is partitioned into 10% to 20% of total net radiation throughout the growth stages of green gram, which is the lowest in magnitude among all three energy fluxes. The relationship between Bowen ratio and Vapour pressure deficit (VPD), Bowen ratio and Canopy air temperature difference (CATD) was studied. It was found that Bowen ratio is negatively correlated with VPD but positively correlated with CATD. This study enables to monitor ET pattern through latent heat flux and microclimatic characteristics through sensible and ground heat flux.


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