scholarly journals Assessment of Roughness Length Schemes Implemented within the Noah Land Surface Model for High-Altitude Regions

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 921-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghai Zheng ◽  
Rogier van der Velde ◽  
Zhongbo Su ◽  
Martijn J. Booij ◽  
Arjen Y. Hoekstra ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Current land surface models still have difficulties with producing reliable surface heat fluxes and skin temperature (Tsfc) estimates for high-altitude regions, which may be addressed via adequate parameterization of the roughness lengths for momentum (z0m) and heat (z0h) transfer. In this study, the performance of various z0h and z0m schemes developed for the Noah land surface model is assessed for a high-altitude site (3430 m) on the northeastern part of the Tibetan Plateau. Based on the in situ surface heat fluxes and profile measurements of wind and temperature, monthly variations of z0m and diurnal variations of z0h are derived through application of the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory. These derived values together with the measured heat fluxes are utilized to assess the performance of those z0m and z0h schemes for different seasons. The analyses show that the z0m dynamics are related to vegetation dynamics and soil water freeze–thaw state, which are reproduced satisfactorily with current z0m schemes. Further, it is demonstrated that the heat flux simulations are very sensitive to the diurnal variations of z0h. The newly developed z0h schemes all capture, at least over the sparse vegetated surfaces during the winter season, the observed diurnal variability much better than the original one. It should, however, be noted that for the dense vegetated surfaces during the spring and monsoon seasons, not all newly developed schemes perform consistently better than the original one. With the most promising schemes, the Noah simulated sensible heat flux, latent heat flux, Tsfc, and soil temperature improved for the monsoon season by about 29%, 79%, 75%, and 81%, respectively. In addition, the impact of Tsfc calculation and energy balance closure associated with measurement uncertainties on the above findings are discussed, and the selection of the appropriate z0h scheme for applications is addressed.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaoming Ma

<p>The exchange of heat and water vapor between land surface and atmosphere over the Third Pole region (Tibetan Plateau and nearby surrounding region) plays an important role in Asian monsoon, westerlies and the northern hemisphere weather and climate systems. Supported by various agencies in the People’s Republic of China, a Third Pole Environment (TPE) observation and research Platform (TPEORP) is now implementing over the Third Pole region. The background of the establishment of the TPEORP, the establishing and monitoring plan of long-term scale (5-10 years) of it will be shown firstly. Then the preliminary observational analysis results, such as the characteristics of land surface energy fluxes partitioning and the turbulent characteristics will also been shown in this study. Then, the parameterization methodology based on satellite data and the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) observations has been proposed and tested for deriving regional distribution of net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux (evapotranspiration (ET)) and their variation trends over the heterogeneous landscape of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) area. To validate the proposed methodology, the ground measured net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux of the TPEORP are compared to the derived values. The results showed that the derived land surface heat fluxes over the study areas are in good accordance with the land surface status. These parameters show a wide range due to the strong contrast of surface feature. And the estimated land surface heat fluxes are in good agreement with ground measurements, and all the absolute percent difference in less than 10% in the validation sites. The sensible heat flux has increased slightly and the latent heat flux has decreased from 2001 to 2016 over the TP. It is therefore conclude that the proposed methodology is successful for the retrieval of land surface heat fluxes and ET over heterogeneous landscape of the TP area. Further improvement of the methodology and its applying field over the whole Third Pole region and Pan-Third Pole region were also discussed.</p>


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 19617-19638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Ma ◽  
L. Zhong ◽  
B. Wang ◽  
W. Ma ◽  
X. Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract. In this study, a parameterization methodology based on MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and in-situ data is proposed and tested for deriving the regional surface reflectance, surface temperature, net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux over heterogeneous landscape. As a case study, the methodology was applied to the Tibetan Plateau area. Four images of MODIS data (30 January 2007, 15 April 2007, 1 August 2007 and 25 October 2007) were used in this study for the comparison among winter, spring, summer and autumn. The derived results were also validated by using the "ground truth" measured in the stations of the Tibetan Observation and Research Platform (TORP). The results show that the derived surface variables (surface reflectance and surface temperature) and surface heat fluxes (net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux) in four different seasons over the Tibetan Plateau area are in good accordance with the land surface status. These parameters show a wide range due to the strong contrast of surface features over the Tibetan Plateau. Also, the estimated land surface variables and surface heat fluxes are in good agreement with the ground measurements, and all their absolute percent difference (APD) is less than 10 % in the validation sites. It is therefore concluded that the proposed methodology is successful for the retrieval of land surface variables and surface heat fluxes using the MODIS and in-situ data over the Tibetan Plateau area. The shortage and further improvement of the methodology were also discussed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 4619-4635 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ma ◽  
Y. Ma ◽  
Z. Hu ◽  
B. Su ◽  
J. Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract. Surface fluxes are important boundary conditions for climatological modeling and the Asian monsoon system. Recent availability of high-resolution, multi-band imagery from the ASTER (Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) sensor has enabled us to estimate surface fluxes to bridge the gap between local scale flux measurements using micrometeorological instruments and regional scale land-atmosphere exchanges of water and heat fluxes that are fundamental for the understanding of the water cycle in the Asian monsoon system. A Surface Energy Balance System (SEBS) method based on ASTER data and field observations has been proposed and tested for deriving net radiation flux (Rn), soil heat flux (G0), sensible heat flux (H) and latent heat flux (λ E) over heterogeneous land surface in this paper. As a case study, the methodology was applied to the experimental area of the WATER (Watershed Allied Telemetry Experimental Research), located at the mid-to-upstream sections of the Heihe River, northwest China. The ASTER data of 3 May and 4 June in 2008 was used in this paper for the case of mid-to-upstream sections of the Heihe River Basin. To validate the proposed methodology, the ground-measured land surface heat fluxes (net radiation flux (Rn), soil heat flux (G0), sensible heat flux (H) and latent heat flux (λ E)) were compared to the ASTER derived values. The results show that the derived surface variables and land surface heat fluxes in different months over the study area are in good accordance with the land surface status. It is therefore concluded that the proposed methodology is successful for the retrieval of land surface heat fluxes using the ASTER data and filed observation over the study area.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 2899
Author(s):  
Nan Ge ◽  
Lei Zhong ◽  
Yaoming Ma ◽  
Meilin Cheng ◽  
Xian Wang ◽  
...  

Land surface heat fluxes consist of the net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux. The estimation of these fluxes is essential to the study of energy transfer in land–atmosphere systems. In this paper, Landsat 7 ETM+ SLC-on data were applied to estimate the land surface heat fluxes on the northern Tibetan Plateau using the SEBS (surface energy balance system) model, in combination with the calculation of field measurements at CAMP/Tibet (Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP) Asia–Australia Monsoon Project on the Tibetan Plateau) automatic weather stations based on the combinatory method (CM) for comparison. The root mean square errors between the satellite estimations and the CM calculations for the net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux were 49.2 W/m2, 46.3 W/m2, 68.2 W/m2, and 54.9 W/m2, respectively. The results reveal that land surface heat fluxes all present significant seasonal variability. Apart from the sensible heat flux, the satellite-estimated net radiation flux, soil heat flux, and latent heat flux exhibited a trend of summer > spring > autumn > winter. In summer, spring, autumn, and winter, respectively, the median values of the net radiation flux (631.8 W/m2, 583.0 W/m2, 404.4 W/m2, 314.3 W/m2), soil heat flux (40.9 W/m2, 37.9 W/m2, 26.1 W/m2, 20.5 W/m2), sensible heat flux (252.7 W/m2, 219.5 W/m2, 221.4 W/m2, 204.8 W/m2), and latent heat flux (320.1 W/m2, 298.3 W/m2, 142.3 W/m2, 75.5 W/m2) exhibited distinct seasonal diversity. From November to April, the in situ sensible heat flux is higher than the latent heat flux; the opposite is true between June and September, leaving May and October as transitional months. For water bodies, alpine meadows and other main underlying surface types, sensible and latent heat flux generally present contrasting and complementary spatial distributions. Due to the 15–60 m resolution of the Landsat 7 ETM+ data, the distribution of land surface heat fluxes can be used as an indicator of complex underlying surface types over the northern Tibetan Plateau.


2017 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 915-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Massey ◽  
W. James Steenburgh ◽  
Sebastian W. Hoch ◽  
Derek D. Jensen

AbstractWeather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model simulations of the autumn 2012 and spring 2013 Mountain Terrain Atmospheric Modeling and Observations Program (MATERHORN) field campaigns are validated against observations of components of the surface energy balance (SEB) collected over contrasting desert-shrub and playa land surfaces of the Great Salt Lake Desert in northwestern Utah. Over the desert shrub, a large underprediction of sensible heat flux and an overprediction of ground heat flux occurred during the autumn campaign when the model-analyzed soil moisture was considerably higher than the measured soil moisture. Simulations that incorporate in situ measurements of soil moisture into the land surface analyses and use a modified parameterization for soil thermal conductivity greatly reduce these errors over the desert shrub but exacerbate the overprediction of latent heat flux over the playa. The Noah land surface model coupled to WRF does not capture the many unusual playa land surface processes, and simulations that incorporate satellite-derived albedo and reduce the saturation vapor pressure over the playa only marginally improve the forecasts of the SEB components. Nevertheless, the forecast of the 2-m temperature difference between the playa and desert shrub improves, which increases the strength of the daytime off-playa breeze. The stronger off-playa breeze, however, does not substantially reduce the mean absolute errors in overall 10-m wind speed and direction. This work highlights some deficiencies of the Noah land surface model over two common arid land surfaces and demonstrates the importance of accurate land surface analyses over a dryland region.


2009 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiqiang Ma ◽  
Yaoming Ma ◽  
Maoshan Li ◽  
Zeyong Hu ◽  
Lei Zhong ◽  
...  

Abstract. Surface fluxes are important boundary conditions for climatological modeling and Asian monsoon system. The recent availability of high-resolution, multi-band imagery from the ASTER (Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer) sensor has enabled us to estimate surface fluxes to bridge the gap between local scale flux measurements using micrometeorological instruments and regional scale land-atmosphere exchanges of water and heat fluxes that are fundamental for the understanding of the water cycle in the Asian monsoon system. A parameterization method based on ASTER data and field observations has been proposed and tested for deriving surface albedo, surface temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), vegetation coverage, Leaf Area Index (LAI), net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux over heterogeneous land surface in this paper. As a case study, the methodology was applied to the experimental area of the Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP) Asia-Australia Monsoon Project (CAMP) on the Tibetan Plateau (CAMP/Tibet), located at the north Tibetan Plateau. The ASTER data of 24 July 2001, 29 November 2001 and 12 March 2002 was used in this paper for the case of summer, winter and spring. To validate the proposed methodology, the ground-measured surface variables (surface albedo and surface temperature) and land surface heat fluxes (net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux) were compared to the ASTER derived values. The results show that the derived surface variables and land surface heat fluxes in three different months over the study area are in good accordance with the land surface status. Also, the estimated land surface variables and land surface heat fluxes are in good accordance with ground measurements, and all their absolute percentage difference (APD) is less than 10% in the validation sites. It is therefore concluded that the proposed methodology is successful for the retrieval of land surface variables and land surface heat fluxes using the ASTER data and filed observation over the study area.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 10461-10469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Ma ◽  
L. Zhong ◽  
B. Wang ◽  
W. Ma ◽  
X. Chen ◽  
...  

Abstract. In this study, a parameterization methodology based on MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and in situ data is proposed and tested for deriving the regional surface reflectance, surface temperature, net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux over heterogeneous landscape. As a case study, the methodology was applied to the Tibetan Plateau area. Four images of MODIS data (30 January 2007, 15 April 2007, 1 August 2007 and 25 October 2007) were used in this study for the comparison among winter, spring, summer and autumn. The derived results were also validated by using the "ground truth" measured in the stations of the Tibetan Observation and Research Platform (TORP). The results show that the derived surface variables (surface reflectance and surface temperature) and surface heat fluxes (net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux) in four different seasons over the Tibetan Plateau area are in good accordance with the land surface status. These parameters show a wide range due to the strong contrast of surface features over the Tibetan Plateau. Also, the estimated land surface variables and surface heat fluxes are in good agreement with the ground measurements, and all their absolute percent difference (APD) is less than 10% in the validation sites. It is therefore concluded that the proposed methodology is successful for the retrieval of land surface variables and surface heat fluxes using the MODIS and in situ data over the Tibetan Plateau area. The shortage and further improvement of the methodology were also discussed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1705-1730 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ma ◽  
Y. Ma ◽  
M. Li ◽  
Z. Hu ◽  
L. Zhong ◽  
...  

Abstract. Surface fluxes are important boundary conditions for climatological modeling and Asian monsoon system. The recent availability of high-resolution, multi-band imagery from the ASTER (Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection radiometer) sensor has enabled us to estimate surface fluxes. ASTER covers a wide spectral region with 14 bands from the visible to the thermal infrared with high spatial, spectral and radiometric resolution. The spatial resolution varies with wavelength: 15 m in the visible and near-infrared (VNIR), 30 m in the short wave infrared (SWIR), and 90 m in the thermal infrared (TIR). A parameterization method based on ASTER data and field observations has been proposed and tested for deriving surface albedo, surface temperature, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), vegetation coverage, Leaf Area Index (LAI), net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux over heterogeneous land surface in this paper. As a case study, the methodology was applied to the experimental area of the Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP) Asia-Australia Monsoon Project (CAMP) on the Tibetan Plateau (CAMP/Tibet), which located at the north Tibetan Plateau. The ASTER data of 24 July 2001, 29 November 2001 and 12 March 2002 was used in this paper for the case of summer, winter and spring. To validate the proposed methodology, the ground-measured surface variables (surface albedo and surface temperature) and land surface heat fluxes (net radiation flux, soil heat flux, sensible heat flux and latent heat flux) were compared to the ASTER derived values. The results show that the derived surface variables and land surface heat fluxes in three different months over the study area are in good accordance with the land surface status. Also, the estimated land surface variables and land surface heat fluxes are in good accordance with ground measurements, and all their absolute percent difference (APD) is less than 10% in the validation sites. It is therefore concluded that the proposed methodology is successful for the retrieval of land surface variables and land surface heat fluxes using the ASTER data and filed observation over the study area.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Zhong ◽  
Yaoming Ma ◽  
Zeyong Hu ◽  
Yunfei Fu ◽  
Yuanyuan Hu ◽  
...  

Abstract. The estimation of land surface heat fluxes has significant meaning for energy and water cycle studies, especially for the Tibetan Plateau (TP), which has unique topography and strong land–atmosphere interactions. The land surface heating status also directly influences the movement of atmospheric circulation. However, for a long time, plateau-scale land surface heat flux information with high temporal resolution has been lacking, which greatly limits understanding of diurnal variations in land–atmosphere interactions. Based on geostationary and polar orbiting satellite data, a surface energy balance system (SEBS) was used in this paper to derive hourly land surface heat fluxes with a spatial resolution of 10 km. Six stations scattered through the TP and equipped for flux tower measurements were used to correct the energy imbalance problem existing in the measurements and to perform cross-validation. The results showed good agreement between derived fluxes and in situ measurements through 3738 validation samples. The RMSEs for net radiation flux, sensible heat flux, latent heat flux and soil heat flux were 76.63 W m−2, 60.29 W m−2, 64.65 W m−2 and 37.5 W m−2, respectively. The derived results were also found to be superior to GLDAS flux products (RMSEs for the surface energy balance components were 114.32 W m−2, 67.77 W m−2, 75.6 W m−2 and 40.05 W m−2, respectively). The diurnal and seasonal cycles of land surface energy balance components were clearly identified. Their spatial distribution was found to be consistent with the heterogeneous land surface status and general hydrometeorological conditions of the TP.


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