Unsteadiness as a cause of non-equality of eddy diffusivities for heat and vapour at the base of an advective inversion

This paper examines the effect of non-stationarity of the wind on similarity of the eddy diffusivities for heat and vapour within a stable layer at the bottom of an internal boundary layer formed downwind of a dry-to-wet transition. First, we present some experimental data taken above a rice crop downwind of very extensive dry range lands at Warrawidgee, NSW, Australia. These data establish that periods of higher wind speed were associated with periods of higher saturation deficit in the canopy of the rice crop, and lower Bowen ratio. It is shown that Bowen ratios calculated for 30-second sub-intervals varied three-fold within a single 20-minute averaging period. Thus periods of higher wind speed corresponded to periods of higher moisture flux and smaller sensible heat flux.An idealized situation is then analysed theoretically. It is assumed that the time scale of the slow variations of the wind is long compared with the surface-layer time scale and that fetch is sufficient that the air near the ground is in continuous equilibrium with the surface. Using a two-scale Reynolds decomposition of the fluctuating wind and scalar variables into active and inactive components, it is shown that unsteadiness can lead to an eddy diffusivity for saturation deficit, calculated as the ratio of average flux to average gradient, that is larger than that for total energy calculated in a similar way. Using this ratio to calculate the ratio of diffusivities for temperature and humidity, K_T/K_q, it is found that the latter can be much larger than one if the Bowen ratio is small and negative. Despite this, assuming K_T = K_q and using the Bowen ratio method to calculate surface energy fluxes will usually incur only minor errors.     

Bulk characteristics of heat transfer in the unstable,baroclinic atmospheric boundary layer

Field data for the unstable, baroclinic, atmospheric boundary layer over land and over the sea are considered in the context of a general similarity theory of vertical heat transfer. The dependence of δθ/θ_* upon logarithmic functions of h _c z _T and stability (through the similarity function C) is clearly demonstrated in the data. The combined data support the conventional formulation for the heat transfer coefficient δθ/θ_* when,

1. the surface scaling length is z _T (« z ₀), the height at which the surface temperature over land is obtained by extrapolation of the temperature profile
2. the height scale is taken as the depth of convective mixing h _c
3. the temperature profile equivalent of the von Karman constant is taken as 0.41
4. areal average, rather than single point, values of δθ are employed in strongly baroclinic conditions. No significant effect of baroclinity or the height scale ratio as proposed in the general theory is found. Variations in C about a linear regression relation against stability are most probably due to uncertainties in the areal surface temperature and to experimental errors in general temperature measurements.

     

我国东西部地区地气温差的年代际变化特征

利用1960~2006年我国地温、气温逐日4个时次[02:00(北京时间,下同)、08:00、14:00和20:00]的台站观测资料,计算并分析了我国东南、西北地区各季地气温差的年代际变化特征。分析结果表明:我国东南部地区各季地气温差在20世纪70年代末以前,大部分年份偏高,高于平均值,而在20世纪70年代末以后,我国东南部地区各季地气温差偏低,在夏季和冬季表现尤为明显。我国西北地区春季和夏季地气温差在20世纪70年代末以前大部分年份偏低,低于平均值;而在20世纪70年代末以后,地气温差则大部分年份明显偏高。我国西北地区秋季地气温差的年代际变化特征不明显,而冬季地气温差的年代际变化趋势与春夏季相反,在20世纪70年代末以前大部分年份偏高,高于平均值,而在20世纪70年代末以后偏低。另外,发现地温和气温对我国东南、西北地区各季地气温差的年代际变化在各季所起的贡献作用不同。     

Mapping of Land-Atmosphere Heat Fluxes and Surface Parameters with Remote Sensing Data

A variational data assimilation scheme is used to infer two key parameters ofthe surface energy balance that control the partitioning of available energy intolatent, sensible, and ground heat fluxes (LE, H, and G). Remotely sensedland surface temperature (LST) is the principal data source. Maps ofdiurnal energy balance components are presented for a basin with varied landcover (Arno Basin, Italy) for a 18-day period in July 1996.Given available energy, the major unknown (dimensionless) parameters requiredfor partitioning among fluxes are: (1) Landscape effects on near-surfaceturbulence as captured by the bulk heat transfer coefficient C_BN underneutral conditions and (2) surface control of the relative magnitudes of LEand H as represented by the evaporative fraction E_F. The data assimilationscheme merges 1.1-km resolution remotely sensed LST images (based onoptical, thermal and microwave measurements from two different satelliteplatforms) into a parsimonious model of heat diffusion. Both the measurementsand the model predictions are considered uncertain. Posterior error statisticsthat represent uncertainty of the estimated parameters are also derived.Maps of C_BN show spatial patterns consistent with the dominant land useand basin physiography. Daily maps of E_F exhibit spatial variationscorresponding to land cover and land use – the day-to-day variations inE_F show fluctuations consistent with rain events and drydowns experiencedduring the period. Based on these parameters and available environmentalvariables, maps of diurnal LE and H may be produced (in this paper daytimeLE maps are reported).The application demonstrates that remotely sensed land surface temperaturesequences contain significant amount of information of the partitioning ofavailable energy among the fluxes. The variational data assimilation frameworkis shown to be an efficient and parsimonious approach without reliance onempirical relationships such as those based on vegetation indices.     

Examining evapotranspiration trends in Africa

Surface temperatures are projected to increase 3–4°C over much of Africa by the end of the 21st century. Precipitation projections are less certain, but the most plausible scenario given by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is that the Sahel and East Africa will experience modest increases (~5%) in precipitation by the end of the 21st century. Evapotranspiration (E_a) is an important component of the water, energy, and biogeochemical cycles that impact several climate properties, processes, and feedbacks. The interaction of E_a with climate change drivers remains relatively unexplored in Africa. In this paper, we examine the trends in E_a, precipitation (P), daily maximum temperature (T_max), and daily minimum temperature (T_min) on a seasonal basis using a 31?year time series of variable infiltration capacity (VIC) land surface model (LSM) E_a. The VIC model captured the magnitude, variability, and structure of observed runoff better than other LSMs and a hybrid model included in the analysis. In addition, we examine the inter-correlations of E_a, P, T_max, and T_min to determine relationships and potential feedbacks. Unlike many IPCC climate change simulations, the historical analysis reveals substantial drying over much of the Sahel and East Africa during the primary growing season. In the western Sahel, large increases in daily maximum temperature appear linked to E_a declines, despite modest rainfall recovery. The decline in E_a and latent heating in this region could lead to increased sensible heating and surface temperature, thus establishing a possible positive feedback between E_a and surface temperature.     

Detection and attribution of anthropogenic forcing to diurnal temperature range changes from 1950 to 1999: comparing multi-model simulations with observations

Observations show that the surface diurnal temperature range (DTR) has decreased since 1950s over most global land areas due to a smaller warming in maximum temperatures (T _max) than in minimum temperatures (T _min). This paper analyzes the trends and variability in T _max, T _min, and DTR over land in observations and 48 simulations from 12 global coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation models for the later half of the 20th century. It uses the modeled changes in surface downward solar and longwave radiation to interpret the modeled temperature changes. When anthropogenic and natural forcings are included, the models generally reproduce observed major features of the warming of T _max and T _min and the reduction of DTR. As expected the greenhouse gases enhanced surface downward longwave radiation (DLW) explains most of the warming of T _max and T _min while decreased surface downward shortwave radiation (DSW) due to increasing aerosols and water vapor contributes most to the decreases in DTR in the models. When only natural forcings are used, none of the observed trends are simulated. The simulated DTR decreases are much smaller than the observed (mainly due to the small simulated T _min trend) but still outside the range of natural internal variability estimated from the models. The much larger observed decrease in DTR suggests the possibility of additional regional effects of anthropogenic forcing that the models can not realistically simulate, likely connected to changes in cloud cover, precipitation, and soil moisture. The small magnitude of the simulated DTR trends may be attributed to the lack of an increasing trend in cloud cover and deficiencies in charactering aerosols and important surface and boundary-layer processes in the models.     

Comparison of artificial neural network and multivariate linear regression methods for estimation of daily soil temperature in an arid region

Soil temperature (T _S) strongly influences a wide range of biotic and abiotic processes. As an alternative to direct measurement, indirect determination of T _S from meteorological parameters has been the focus of attention of environmental researchers. The main purpose of this study was to estimate daily T _S at six depths (5, 10, 20, 30, 50 and 100?cm) by using a multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural network (ANN) model and a multivariate linear regression (MLR) method in an arid region of Iran. Mean daily meteorological parameters including air temperature (T _a), solar radiation (R _S), relative humidity (RH) and precipitation (P) were used as input data to the ANN and MLR models. The model results of the MLR model were compared to those of ANN. The accuracy of the predictions was evaluated by the correlation coefficient (r), the root mean-square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE) between the measured and predicted T _S values. The results showed that the ANN method forecasts were superior to the corresponding values obtained by the MLR model. The regression analysis indicated that T _a, RH, R _S and P were reasonably correlated with T _S at various depths, but the most effective parameters influencing T _S at different depths were T _a and RH.     

Prognostic canopy air space solutions for land surface exchanges

Summary Three generations of land surface models have been developed over the course of the last twenty years, which include increasing levels of complexity. The latest generation incorporates photosynthesis and physiological responses to environmental CO₂, a gas that is strongly controlled by atmospheric vertical stability and by land surface exchanges. A new set of prognostic equations, providing a new solution core for one such land surface model, SiB2, is introduced here. The new equation set makes use of canopy air space variables which are prognostic and allow for the storage of heat, water and carbon at that level, providing both a new memory for the coupled system and a better representation of observed canopy processes. Results from off-line simulation using FLUXNET data from Europe, over a range of environmental and climatic conditions, indicate that the new solution core is able to represent land surface exchanges with equal or better skill than the set it replaces. At the same time, this new formulation provides a simplified mathematical framework, more suitable for further model development.     

Turbulence characteristics in the atmospheric surface layer during summer monsoon of 1997 over a semi-arid location in India

A land surface processes experiment (LASPEX) was conducted in the semi-arid region of Northwest India during January 1997–February 1998. Analysis of turbulent components of wind and air temperature collected in the surface layer (SL) at Anand (22°35′N, 72°55′E) during the Indian summer monsoon season from June to September 1997 is presented. Turbulent fluctuation of wind components and air temperature observed at Anand varied as a function of terrain features and stability of the surface layer. Under neutral conditions, the standard deviation of vertical velocity (σ _w ) and temperature (σ _T ) were normalized using respective surface layer scaling parameter u _* and T _* which fitted the expressions σ _w /u _* = 1.25 and σ _T /T _* ≈ 4. Micrometeorological spectrum of wind and temperature at 5 m above ground level (AGL) at Anand showed peaks at time scale of 1–3 min at the low-frequency end. The inertial sub-range characteristics (?2/3 slope) of the spectrum are exhibited mostly. However, in some occasions, slope of ?1 denoting brown noise was depicted by the wind and temperature spectrum, which indicated anisotropy in turbulence.     

Analysis of the Weighted Mean Temperature of China Based on Sounding and ECMWF Reanalysis Data

Weighted mean temperature (Tm) is one of the most important conversion parameters for calculating precipitable water vapor by the signal path wet delay in ground-based GPS meteorology. This paper first discusses the Tmregression models for Hong Kong (HK) and the associated error statistics relative to the true values of Tmfrom the numerical method. The results show that there is little difference in precision between annual and seasonal Tmregression models for HK. The Bevis Tm-Ts(surface temperature) regression model is more suitable for northeastern China and the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau than the local models. For areas lack of historical sounding data, the Kriging interpolation method and the ECMWF reanalysis product ERA-interim were employed to set up local Tm-Ts models. The results indicate that the Tmderived by the ERA-interim data coincides well with that by the sounding data, and the Kriging interpolation method can successfully obtain the coefficients of local Tm-Tsmodels, suggesting that these two approaches may serve as effective ways in the acquisition and localization of Tm.     

Variability of surface characteristics and energy flux patterns of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) under well-watered conditions

There is not much information in the literature about the energy partitioning and micrometeorological features of sunn hemp. Therefore, in this study, the variations in the energy-balance components and plant characteristics such as aerodynamic and surface conductance, crop coefficient, albedo, short- and long wave down- and upward radiation have been measured and estimated for the time period from August to October 2004 over an irrigated sand field at the Arid Land Research Center in Tottori, Japan. The Bowen ratio energy-balance method was used to calculate the partitioning of heat fluxes of sunn hemp. The Bowen ratio values at the first growing stages in August were found to be higher than the Bowen ratio values at the latest growing stages in September and October because of the heavy rain and high soil-water content. The daytime averaged Bowen ratio was 0.19. During the measurement period, the daytime average net radiation, and soil, latent and sensible heat fluxes were approximately 231, 28, 164, and 39 W m^–2, respectively. The net radiation and soil heat flux showed decreasing trends from the beginning to the end of the experiment period due to the atmospheric and crop growth conditions. The daytime averages of aerodynamic and surface conductance for sunn hemp were around 31 and 17 mm s^–1, respectively. Also, the daytime average albedo of sunn hemp was around 19%. Finally, the high precipitation amount due to typhoons, high soil-water content, low available energy and low vapor-pressure deficit lead to decreasing trend of the energy fluxes during the generative phase of sunn hemp.     

Evaluation of Two Energy Balance Closure Parametrizations

A general lack of energy balance closure indicates that tower-based eddy-covariance (EC) measurements underestimate turbulent heat fluxes, which calls for robust correction schemes. Two parametrization approaches that can be found in the literature were tested using data from the Canadian Twin Otter research aircraft and from tower-based measurements of the German Terrestrial Environmental Observatories (TERENO) programme. Our analysis shows that the approach of Huang et al. (Boundary-Layer Meteorol 127:273–292, 2008), based on large-eddy simulation, is not applicable to typical near-surface flux measurements because it was developed for heights above the surface layer and over homogeneous terrain. The biggest shortcoming of this parametrization is that the grid resolution of the model was too coarse so that the surface layer, where EC measurements are usually made, is not properly resolved. The empirical approach of Panin and Bernhofer (Izvestiya Atmos Oceanic Phys 44:701–716, 2008) considers landscape-level roughness heterogeneities that induce secondary circulations and at least gives a qualitative estimate of the energy balance closure. However, it does not consider any feature of landscape-scale heterogeneity other than surface roughness, such as surface temperature, surface moisture or topography. The failures of both approaches might indicate that the influence of mesoscale structures is not a sufficient explanation for the energy balance closure problem. However, our analysis of different wind-direction sectors shows that the upwind landscape-scale heterogeneity indeed influences the energy balance closure determined from tower flux data. We also analyzed the aircraft measurements with respect to the partitioning of the “missing energy” between sensible and latent heat fluxes and we could confirm the assumption of scalar similarity only for Bowen ratios $\approx $ 1.     

Comparison of mean radiant temperature from field experiment and modelling: a case study in Freiburg,Germany

Mean radiant temperature (T _mrt) based on two measurement methods and outputs from three models are compared in this study. They are the six direction radiation method, globe thermometer method, RayMan model, ENVI-met model and SOLWEIG model. The comparison shows that globe thermometer method may overestimate the T _mrt since wind velocity is a key variable in the estimation based on this method. For better estimation, T _mrt measured by the globe-thermometer method be corrected by the imported wind speed (stable, low and assuming wind speed) and validated by the six-direction radiation method. The comparison of models shows that the RayMan model’s evaluation of T _mrt involving global radiation with fine time resolution was better than the corresponding evaluations under the other two models (ENVI-met and SOLWEIG) in this case. However, the RayMan model can only assess T _mrt for a one-point one-time context, whereas the other two models can evaluate two-dimensional T _mrt. For two-dimensional evaluations of T _mrt, SOLWEIG have a better prediction of T _mrt than ENVI-met, and ENVI-met can simulate several different variables, which are wind field, particle distribution, CO₂ distribution and the other thermal parameters (T _a, surface temperature and radiation fluxes), that SOLWEIG cannot.     

半干旱区不同下垫面近地层湍流通量特征分析

本文分析了2003～2005年半干旱区退化草地和农田下垫面近地层湍流通量日、季、年的变化特征, 探讨了不同年份的气候背景和下垫面土地覆被对地气交换过程的影响。结果表明: 半干旱区退化草地和农田近地层湍流通量具有明显的日变化、季变化周期; 地气间通量交换年际间的差异主要受当年的气候背景影响, 尤其是降水的影响; 同时还受到下垫面覆被的影响。潜热通量和感热通量的能量分配比率呈反位相变化, 且农田和退化草地的变化趋势相似, 在夏季潜热通量所占比例均超过感热通量; 两种下垫面的波恩比月均值变化趋势十分相似, 量级接近, 夏季低, 春、秋季高; 夏季退化草地和农田下垫面波恩比均小于或等于1。     

Indirect determination of broadband turbidity coefficients over Egypt

Long-term data from diffuse and global irradiances were used to calculate direct beam irradiance which was used to determine three atmospheric turbidity coefficients (Linke T _L , Ångström β and Unsworth–Monteith δ _a ) at seven sites in Egypt in the period from 1981 to 2000. Seven study sites (Barrani, Matruh, Arish, Cairo, Asyut, Aswan and Kharga) have been divided into three categories: Mediterranean climate (MC), desert Nile climate (DNC) and urban climate (UC, Cairo). The indirect method (i.e., global irradiance minus diffuse irradiance) used here allows to estimate the turbidity coefficients with an RMSE% ≤20 % (for β, δ _a and T _L ) and ~30 % (for β) if compared with those estimated by direct beam irradiance and sunphotometeric data, respectively. Monthly averages of T _L , β and δ _a show seasonal variations with mainly maxima in spring at all stations, due to Khamsin depressions coming from Sahara. Secondary maxima is observed in summer and autumn at DNC and MC (Barrani and Arish) stations in summer due to dust haze which prevails during that season and at UC (Cairo) in autumn, due to the northern extension of the Sudan monsoon trough, which is accompanied by small-scale depressions with dust particles. The mean annual values of β, δ _a , and T _L (0.216, 0.314, and 4.6, respectively) are larger in Cairo than at MC stations (0.146, 0.216, and 3.8, respectively) and DNC stations (0.153, 0.227, and 3.8, respectively). Both El-Chichon and Mt. Pinatubo eruptions were examined for all records data at MC, UC and DNC stations. The overburden caused by Mt. Pinatubo’s eruption was larger than El-Chichon’s eruption and overburden for β, and T _L at DNC stations (0.06, and 0.58 units, respectively) was more pronounced than that at MC (0.02, and 0.26, respectively) and UC (0.05 and 0.52 units, respectively) stations. The annual variations in wind speed and turbidity parameters show high values for both low and high wind speed at all stations. The wind directions have a clear effect on atmospheric turbidity, and consequently, largest turbidities occur when the wind carries aerosols from the main particle sources, such as industrial particle sources around Cairo or to some extent from the Sahara surrounding all study stations.     

Comparison of a simple logarithmic and equivalent neutral wind approaches for converting buoy-measured wind speed to the standard height: special emphasis to North Indian Ocean

The difference between the transferred wind speed to 10-m height based on the equivalent neutral wind approach (U _n) and the logarithmic approach (U _log) is studied using in situ observations from the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans, with special emphasis given to the North Indian Ocean. The study included U _n ? U _log variations with pressure, relative humidity, wind speed, air temperature, and sea surface temperature (SST). U _n ? U _log variation with respect to air temperature (T _a) reveals that U _n ? U _log is out of phase with air temperature. Further analysis found that U _n ? U _log is in phase with SST (T _s) ? T _a and varies between ?1.0 and 1.0 m/s over the North Indian Ocean, while for the rest of the Oceans, it is between ?0.3 and 0.8 m/s. This higher magnitude of U _n ? U _log over the North Indian Ocean is due to the higher range of T _s ? T _a (?4 to 6 °C) in the North Indian Ocean. Associated physical processes suggested that the roughness length and friction velocity dependence on the air–sea temperature difference contributes to the U _n ? U _log difference. The study is further extended to evaluate the behavior of U _n ? U _log under cyclonic conditions (winds between 15 and 30 m/s), and it was found that the magnitude of U_n ? U _log varies 0.5–1.5 m/s under the cyclonic wind conditions. The increasing difference with the wind speed is due to the increase in the momentum transfer coefficient with wind speed, which modifies the friction velocity significantly, resulting in U _n higher than U _log. Thus, under higher wind conditions, U _n ? U _log can contribute up to half the retrieval error (5 % of the wind speed magnitude) to the satellite validation exercise.     

The Influences of Thermodynamic Characteristics on Aerodynamic Roughness Length over Land Surface

It has previously been shown that aerodynamic roughness length changes significantly along with nearsurface atmospheric thermodynamic state; however, at present, this phenomenon remains poorly understood, and very little research concerning this topic has been conducted. In this paper, by using the data of different underlying surfaces provided by the Experimental Co-observation and Integral Research in Semi-arid and Arid Regions over North China, aerodynamic roughness length (z₀) values in stable, neutral, and unstable atmospheric stratifications are compared with one another, and the relationship between z₀ and atmospheric thermodynamic stability (ζ) is analyzed. It is found that z₀ shows great differences among the stable, neutral, and unstable atmospheric thermodynamic states, with the difference in z₀ values between the fully thermodynamic stable condition and the neutral condition reaching 60% of the mean z₀. Furthermore, for the wind speed range in which the wind data are less sensitive to z₀, the surface z₀ changes more significantly with ζ, and is highly correlated with both the Monin-Obukhov stability (ζ₀) and the overall Richardson number (R_ib), with both of their correlation coefficients greater than 0.71 and 0.47 in the stable and unstable atmospheric stratification, respectively. The empirical relation fitted with the experimental observations is quite consistent with the Zilitinkevich theoretical relation in the stable atmosphere, but the two are quite distinct and even show opposite variation tendencies in the unstable atmosphere. In application, however, verification of the empirical fitted relations by using the experimental data finds that the fitted relation is slightly more applicable than the Zilitinkevich theoretical relation in stable atmospheric stratification, but it is much more suitable than the Zilitinkevich relation in unstable atmospheric stratification.     

Surface energy balance measurements over a banana plantation in South China

The land surface energy exchange depends highly on the surface properties. Little is known of the energy balance over a typical banana plantation of humid tropics. In this study, we examine the characteristics of surface energy exchange over a typical banana field in South China during the period of May 2010 to April 2011 by using the eddy covariance and micrometeorological tower. The results showed that the diurnal and seasonal variations in surface latent heat flux were larger compared with those over the nearby grassland. The dominant energy partitioning varies with season. The latent heat flux was the main consumer of net radiation in summer, whereas the sensible heat flux was the main consumer in winter. The increasing cloud coverage and rain appear to control the surface energy balance with the development of the monsoon. Due to increased afternoon convective cloud systems in the monsoon active period, downward shortwave radiation was dramatically diminished around 14:00?pm. The annual mean Bowen ratio was 0.69, which fell within the range of other vegetated surfaces. The observed surface energy components were not closed, and the ratio of turbulent fluxes to the available energy was about 77 % in October–January and about 85 % in the other months after considering soil heat and air heat storage.     

Mid-21st century projections in temperature extremes in the southern Colorado Rocky Mountains from regional climate models

This study analyzes mid-21st century projections of daily surface air minimum (T_min) and maximum (T_max) temperatures, by season and elevation, over the southern range of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The projections are from four regional climate models (RCMs) that are part of the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP). All four RCMs project 2°C or higher increases in T_min and T_max for all seasons. However, there are much greater (>3°C) increases in T_max during summer at higher elevations and in T_min during winter at lower elevations. T_max increases during summer are associated with drying conditions. The models simulate large reductions in latent heat fluxes and increases in sensible heat fluxes that are, in part, caused by decreases in precipitation and soil moisture. T_min increases during winter are found to be associated with decreases in surface snow cover, and increases in soil moisture and atmospheric water vapor. The increased moistening of the soil and atmosphere facilitates a greater diurnal retention of the daytime solar energy in the land surface and amplifies the longwave heating of the land surface at night. We hypothesize that the presence of significant surface moisture fluxes can modify the effects of snow-albedo feedback and results in greater wintertime warming at night than during the day.     

Energy balance and turbulent flux partitioning in a corn–soybean rotation in the Midwestern US

Quantifying the energy balance above plant canopies is critical for better understanding of water balance and changes in regional weather patterns. This study examined temporal variations of energy balance terms for contrasting canopies [corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)]. We monitored energy balance for 4 years using eddy-covariance systems, net radiometers, and soil heat flux plates in adjacent production fields near Ames, Iowa. On an annual basis, soybean exhibited 20% and 30% lower sensible heat flux (H) and Bowen ratio than corn, respectively. As canopies developed, a gradual shift in turbulent fluxes occurred with decreasing H and increasing latent heat flux (LE), but with a more pronounced effect for corn. Conversely, during mid-growing season and as both canopies progressively senesced, H in general increased and LE decreased; however, soybean exhibited slightly greater LE and much lower H than corn. These temporal variations in magnitude and partitioning of turbulent fluxes translated into a pronounced energy imbalance for soybean (0.80) and an enhanced closure for corn (0.98) in August and September. These discrepancies could be directly associated with differences in momentum transport as shown by friction velocities of 0.34 and 0.28 m s^?1 for corn and soybean, respectively. These results support influential roles of plant canopy on intensity and mode of surface energy exchange processes.