Carbon dioxide,water vapor and sensible heat exchanges of a grain sorghum canopy

With the aid of eddy correlation instrumentation, the components of the energy budget and CO₂ flux were measured over grain sorghum grown at Mead, Nebraska. Diurnal patterns of sensible heat, latent heat, CO₂ and momentum flux are examined for typical days. On a mostly clear day when the crop leaf area index was 3.7, net radiation reached a mid-day peak of 560 W m^-2, while sensible and latent heat fluxes peaked at 50 and 460 W m^-2, respectively. The peak CO₂ flux occurring just prior to solar noon was 1.5 mg m^-2(ground area) s^-1. CO₂ flux (respiration from plants, soil and roots) in the early evening was about -0.28 mg m^-2 (ground area) s^-1.A relationship between CO₂ flux and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) was developed. Except during the late stage of growth (growth stage 8.5, toward the initiation of senescence), the crop showed no evidence of saturation up to PAR 1800 Ei m^-2s^-1. The light compensation point was found to be about 211 Ei m^-2s^-1. Examination of CO₂ flux-PAR relationships for selected days through the season indicated an aging effect in terms of a decrease in photosynthetic activity of the sorghum canopy. Measurements made on two consecutive days demonstrate the effects of weather conditions on CO₂ flux and carbon-water flux ratio (a measure of water use efficiency of the crop). The occurrence of regional sensible heat advection with concommitant high vapor pressure deficit and air temperature-limited CO₂ exchange reduced the carbon-water flux ratio.Published as Paper No. 7717, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Research Division. The work was conducted under Regional Research Project 11-33 and Nebraska Agricultural Research Division Project 27-003.Formerly Post Doctoral Research Associate (now at the University of Connecticut Department of Renewable Natural Resources Storrs CT)     

Fluxes of gases and particles above a deciduous forest in wintertime

Eddy-correlation measurements of the vertical fluxes of ozone, carbon dioxide, fine particles with diameter near 0.1 m, and particulate sulfur, as well as of momentum, heat and water vapor, have been taken above a tall leafless deciduous forest in wintertime. During the experimental period of one week, ozone deposition velocities varied from about 0.1 cm s^–1 at night to more than 0.4 cm s^-1 during the daytime, with the largest variations associated primarily with changes in solar irradiation. Most of the ozone removal took place in the upper canopy. Carbon dioxide fluxes were directed upward due to respiration and exhibited a strong dependence on air temperature and solar heating. The fluxes were approximately zero at air temperatures less than 5 °C and approached 0.8 mg m^–2 s^–1 when temperatures exceeded 15 °C during the daytime. Fine-particle deposition rates were large at times, with deposition velocities near 0.8 cm s^–1 when turbulence levels were high, but fluxes directed upward were found above the canopy when the surface beneath was covered with snow. Diffusional processes seemed to dominate fine-particle transfer across quasilaminar layers and subsequent deposition to the upper canopy. Deposition velocities for particulate sulfur were highly variable and averaged to a value small in magnitude as compared to similar measurements taken previously over a pine forest in summer.     

Surface-layer scintillation measurements of daytime sensible heat and momentum fluxes

Line-averaged measurements of the structure parameter of refractive index (C _n ² ) were made using a semiconductor laser diode scintillometer above two markedly different surfaces during hours of positive net radiation. The underlying vegetation comprised in the first instance a horizontally homogeneous, pasture sward well-supplied with water, and in the second experiment, a sparse thyme canopy in a semi-arid environment. Atmospheric stability ranged between near neutral and strongly unstable (–20). The temperature structure parameterC _T ² computed from the optical measurements over four decades from 0.001 to 2 K² m^–2/3 agreed to within 5% of those determined from temperature spectra in the inertial sub-range of frequencies. Spectra were obtained from a single fine thermocouple sensor positioned near the midway position of the 100m optical path and at the beam propagation height (1.5m).With the inclusion of cup anemometer measurements, rule-of-thumb assumptions about surface roughness, and Monin-Obukhov similarity theory, path-averaged optical scintillations allow calculation of surface fluxes of sensible heat and momentum via a simple iterative procedure. Excellent agreement was obtained between these fluxes and those measured directly by eddy correlation. For sensible heat, agreement was on average close to perfect over a measured range of 0 to 500 W m^–2 with a residual standard deviation of 30 W m^–2. Friction velocities agreed within 2% over the range 0–0.9 m s^–1 (residual standard deviation of 0.06 m s^–1). The results markedly increase the range of validation obtained in previous field experiments. The potential of this scintillation technique and its theoretical foundation are briefly discussed.     

Mixed-layer heat advection and entrainment during the sea breeze

A model is developed to simulate the potential temperature and the height of the mixed layer under advection conditions. It includes analytic expressions for the effects of mixed-layer conditions upwind of the interface between two different surfaces on the development of the mixed layer downwind from the interface. Model performance is evaluated against tethersonde data obtained on two summer days during sea breeze flow in Vancouver, Canada. It is found that the mixed-layer height and temperature over the ocean has a small but noticeable effect on the development of the mixed layer observed 10 km inland from the coast. For these two clear days, the subsidence velocity at the inversion base capping the mixed layer is estimated to be about 30 mm s^–1 from late morning to late afternoon. When the effects of subsidence are included in the model, the mixed-layer height is considerably underpredicted, while the prediction for the mean potential temperature in the mixed layer is considerably improved. Good predictions for both height and temperature can be obtained when values for the heat entrainment ratio,c, 0.44 and 0.68 for these two days respectively for the period from 1000 to 1300 LAT, were used. These values are estimated using an equation including the additional effects on heat entrainment due to the mechanical mixing caused by wind shear at the top of the mixed layer and surface friction. The contribution of wind shear to entrainment was equal to, or greater than, that from buoyant convection resulting from the surface heat flux. Strong wind shear occurred near the top of the mixed layer between the lower level inland flow and the return flow aloft in the sea breeze circulation.Symbols c entrainment parameter for sensible heat - c _p specific heat of air at constant pressure, 1010 J kg^–1 K^–1 - d ₁ the thickness of velocity shear at the mixed-layer top, m - Q _H surface sensible heat flux, W m^–2 - u _m mean mixed-layer wind speed, m s^–1 - u _* friction velocity at the surface, m s^–1 - w subsidence velocity, m s^–1 - W subsidence warming,^oC s^–1 - w _e entrainment velocity, m s^–1 - w _* convection velocity in the mixed layer, m s^–1 - x downwind horizontal distance from the water-land interface, m - y dummy variable forx, m - Z height above the surface, m - Z _i height of capping inversion, m - Z _m mixed-layer depth, i.e.,Z _i–Z_s, m - Z _s height of the surface layer, m - lapse rate of potential temperature aboveZ _i, K m^–1 - potential temperature step atZ _i, K - u _h velocity step change at the mixed-layer top - _m mean mixed-layer potential temperature, K     

An open path,fast response infrared absorption gas analyzer for H2O and CO2

An open path infrared absorption based instrument for fast response measurements of H₂O and CO₂ fluctuations is described. This instrument performed reliably in several field experiments in both terrestrial and marine environments, on both fixed (tower) and mobile (boat, plane) flux platforms. Noise levels for H₂O and CO₂ concentrations were less than 10 mg/m³ and 300 g/m³, respectively for frequencies between 0.005 and 10 Hz. Drifts in instrument output, associated with changes in instrument temperature, are compensated for electronically.     

Influences on surface energy fluxes in simulated present and doubled CO2 climates

The surface energy fluxes simulated by the CSIRO9 Mark 1 GCM for present and doubled CO₂ conditions are analyzed. On the global scale the climatological flux fields are similar to those from four GCMs studied previously. A diagnostic calculation is used to provide estimates of the radiative forcing by the GCM atmosphere. For 1 × CO₂, in the global and annual mean, cloud produces a net cooling at the surface of 31 W m^–2. The clear-sky longwave surface greenhouse effect is 311 W m^–2, while the corresponding shortwave term is –79 W m^–2. As for the other GCM results, the CSIRO9 CO₂ surface warming (global mean 4.8°C) is closely related to the increased downward longwave radiation (LW ). Global mean net cloud forcing changes little. The contrast in warming between land and ocean, largely due to the increase in evaporative cooling (E) over ocean, is highlighted. In order to further the understanding of influences on the fluxes, simple physically based linear models are developed using multiple regression. Applied to both 1 × CO₂ and CO₂ December–February mean tropical fields from CSIRO9, the linear models quite accurately (3–5 W m^–2 for 1 × CO₂ and 2–3 W m^–2 for CO₂) relate LW and net shortwave radiation to temperature, surface albedo, the water vapor column, and cloud. The linear models provide alternative estimates of radiative forcing terms to those from the diagnostic calculation. Tropical mean cloud forcings are compared. Over land, E is well correlated with soil moisture, and sensible heat with air-surface temperature difference. However an attempt to relate the spatial variation of LWt within the tropics to that of the nonflux fields had little success. Regional changes in surface temperature are not linearly related to, for instance, changes in cloud or soil moisture.     

Net carbon dioxide exchange in canopies of burned and unburned tallgrass prairie

Summary Net carbon dioxide exchange (NCE) rates were measured in a tallgrass prairie, a grassland with high productivity, to determine photosynthetic rates of the canopy. Canopy measurements were made in large, plexiglass chambers (1.21 m long; 0.91 m wide; 1.40 m tall) placed on burned and unburned areas of the prairie. The NCE rates of the canopy were compared with those of individual leaves ofAndropogon gerardii Vitman (big bluestem). In addition, CO₂ flux from the soil was quantified and compared with net photosynthetic flux. The canopy NCE rates were generally lower than those made on individual leaves. In mid-summer (11 July 1987), the maximum canopy NCE rates were 55% and 64% of those measured on individual leaves in burned and unburned treatments, respectively. Canopy NCE rates were lower than individual-leaf NCE rates for two reasons. First, the individualleaf measurements were made on young, unshaded, healthy leaves, while the canopy measurements were made on all types of leaves including senescing, shaded, and damaged leaves. Second, soil CO₂ flux into the chambers lowered NCE values. The CO₂ flux from the soil ranged from 7.2% to 28.4% of the total NCE. One needs to add soil CO₂ flux rates to the measured canopy NCE rates to obtain canopy NCE rates closer to individual-leaf NCE rates. Soil CO₂ flux decreased when conditions became dry, reaching a low of 0.06 mg CO₂m^–2s^–1, but increased after rain to 0.16 mg CO₂m^–2s^–1. Also, after rain, when plants were well watered, they were not light saturated at 1 900 µEm^–2s^–1. The NCE rates on the burned treatment were either higher or similar to those on the unburned treatment. For example, on 11 July 1987, NCE rates were higher on the burned treatment (0.66 mg CO₂m^–2s^–1) compared to the unburned treatment (0.47 mg CO₂m^–2s^–1). During the rest of July and August, the rates of the two treatments were not significantly different. But in September and October, the NCE rates were again higher on the burned treatment compared to the unburned treatment. The results indicated that canopy NCE rates may be more indicative of the productivity of the prairie than individual-leaf measurements made only on young, highly productive leaves.Contribution No. 89-82-J from the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station. This research was supported, in part, by Grant No. DE-FG02-84ER60253.A000.With 4 Figures     

Accuracy of the relaxed eddy-accumulation technique,evaluated using CO2 flux measurements

A system capable of measuring the fluxes of trace gases was developed. It is based on a simpler version of the eddy-accumulation technique (EA), known as the relaxed eddy-accumulation technique (REA). It accumulates air samples associated with updrafts and downdrafts at a constant flow rate in two containers for later analysis of the trace gas mean concentration. The flux integration is based on the durations of updraft and downdraft events, rather than on the vertical wind velocity (W) as is the case for EA and eddy-correlation (EC) techniques. The flux, calculated by the REA technique, is equal to the difference in the mean concentration of the trace gas of interest between the upward and downward moving eddies, multiplied by the standard deviation of the vertical wind velocity and an empirical coefficient. CO₂ fluxes measured for 162 half-hour periods over a soybean field by both EC and REA techniques showed excellent agreement (coefficient of determination,R ²=0.92). The slope (0.985) and the intercept (–0.042 mg m^–2 s^–1) were not significantly different from 1 and 0, respectively, at the 5% level; and the standard error of estimate was 0.074 mg m^–2 s^–1. It is also shown that the empirical coefficient can be calculated from either latent or sensible heat fluxes. A model describing the effect on this empirical coefficient of not sampling aroundW equal to zero is proposed.Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research Contribution No. 92-212.     

A numerical modeling study of the marine boundary layer over the Gulf Stream during cold air advection

A two-dimensional mesoscale model has been developed to simulate the air flow over the Gulf Stream area where typically large gradients in surface temperature exist in the winter. Numerical simulations show that the magnitude and the maximum height of the mesoscale circulation that develops downwind of the Gulf Stream depends on both the initial geostrophic wind and the large-scale moisture. As expected, a highly convective Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) develops over this area and it was found that the Gulf Stream plays an important role in generating the strong upward heat fluxes causing a farther seaward penetration as cold air advection takes place. Numerical results agree well with the observed surface fluxes of momentum and heat and the mesoscale variation of vertical velocities obtained using Doppler Radars for a typical cold air outbreak. Precipitation pattern predicted by the numerical model is also in agreement with the observations during the Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment (GALE).List of Symbols u east-west velocity [m s^–1] - v north-south velocity [m s^–1] - vertical velocity in coordinate [m s^–1] - w vertical velocity inz coordinate [m s^–1] - gq potential temperature [K] - q moisture [kg kg^–1] - scaled pressure [J kg^–1 K^–1] - U _g the east-south component of geostrophic wind [m s^–1] - V _g the north-south component of geostrophic wind [m s^–1] - vertical coordinate following terrain - x east-west spatial coordinate [m] - y north-south spatial coordinate [m] - z vertical spatial coordinate [m] - t time coordinate [s] - g gravity [m² s^–1] - E terrain height [m] - H total height considered in the model [m] - q _s saturated moisture [kg kg^–1] - p pressure [mb] - p ₀₀ reference pressure [mb] - P precipitation [kg m^–2] - vertical lapse rate for potential temperature [K km^–1] - L latent heat of condensation [J kg^–1] - C _p specific heat at constant pressure [J kg^–1 K^–1] - R gas constant for dry air [J kg^–1 K^–1] - R _v gas constant for water vapor [J kg^–1 K^–1] - f Coriolis parameter (2 sin ) [s^–1] - angular velocity of the earth [s^–1] - latitude [^o] - K _H horizontal eddy exchange coefficient [m² s^–1] - t integration time interval [s] - x grid interval distance inx coordinate [m] - y grid interval distance iny coordinate [m] - adjustable coefficient inK _H - subgrid momentum flux [m² s^–2] - subgrid potential temperature flux [m K s^–1] - subgrid moisture flux [m kg kg^–1 s^–1] - u _* friction velocity [m s^–1] - _* subgrid flux temperature [K] - q _* subgrid flux moisture [kg kg^–1] - w _* subgrid convective velocity [m s^–1] - z ₀ surface roughness [m] - L Monin stability length [m] - _s surface potential temperature [K] - k von Karman's constant (0.4) - v air kinematic viscosity coefficient [m² s^–1] - K _M subgrid vertical eddy exchange coefficient for momentum [m² s^–1] - K subgrid vertical eddy exchange coefficient for heat [m² s^–1] - K _q subgrid vertical eddy exchange coefficient for moisture [m² s^–1] - z _i the height of PBL [m] - h _s the height of surface layer [m]     

Energy Fluxes of an Open Water Area in a mid-Latitude Prairie Wetland

Concurrent measurements of the surface energy balance components (net radiation, heat storage, and sensible and latent heat fluxes) were made in three communities (open water, Phragmites australis, Scirpus acutus) in a wetland in north-central Nebraska, U.S.A., during May-October, 1994. The Bowen ratio – energy balance method was used to calculate latent and sensible heat fluxes. This paper presents results from the open water area. The heat stored in water (G) was found to play a major role in the energy exchange over the water surface. During daytime, G consumed 45–60% of R _n , the net radiation (seasonally averaged daytime G was about 127 W m^–2). At night, G was a significant source of energy (seasonally averaged nighttime G was about -135 Wm^–). The diurnal pattern of latent heat flux ( E) did not follow that of R _n . On some days, E was near zero during midday periods with large R _n . The diurnal variability in E seemed to be significantly affected by temperature inversions formed over the cool water surface. The daily evaporation rate (E) ranged from 2 to 8 mm during the measurement period, and was generally between 70 and 135% of the equilibrium rate.     

Estimation of sensible heat flux by a hybrid method of temperature profile and light-beam deflection

A new method of sensible heat flux estimation by a hybrid use of temperature profile and light-beam deflection is proposed and tested over an asphalt pavement on fine days.A helium-neon gas laser with wavelength 0.6328 m was used as a light-beam source. Temperature gradient near the surface was measured by the deflection of a light-beam propagated nearly horizontally at a distance of 25 m. Measurement of the air temperature profile in the upper part of the surface layer was made by means of a copper-constantan thermocouple thermometer. The sensible heat flux was estimated from the temperature profile using profile-flux relationships.The surface temperature of the asphalt pavement rose to as high as 63 °C in the daytime and never decreased below the air temperature even in the morning in summer. The maximum value of heat flux obtained from this observation attained 365 W m^-2, which was about 48% of incoming solar radiation.     

Air–Sea Flux Estimates And The 1997–1998 Enso Event

Bulk formulae for wind stress, sensible and latent heat flux are presented that are suitable for strong mesoscale events such as westerly wind bursts that contribute to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Their exchange coefficients for heat and momentum have a simple polynomial dependence on wind speed and a linear dependence on air–sea temperature difference. The accuracy of these formulae are validated with respect to air–sea fluxes estimated using the standard algorithm adopted by the Tropical Ocean-Global AtmosphereCoupled-Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (TOGA COARE). The comparison ismade for observations from 96 Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) moorings in the equatorial and North Pacific Ocean spanning years 1990–1999. The bulk formulae are shown to have very small median root–mean-square differences with respect to the TOGA COARE estimates: 0.003 N m^-2, 1.0 W m^-2, and 10.0 W m^-2 for the wind stress, sensible heat flux, and latent heat flux, respectively.The variability of air–sea fluxes during the 1997–1998 ENSO is also examined, along with a possible relationship between air–sea fluxes and surface ocean mixed layer depth (MLD). The wind stress and latent heat flux during the 1997 El Niño are found to be greater in the warm pool of the western Pacific than in the central Pacific where the ENSO is most clearly seen. These differences disappear upon the start of La Niña. The MLD in the equatorial Pacific is found to be moderately correlated to air–sea fluxes just before the start of the 1998 La Niña and poorly correlated otherwise.     

CO2 efflux from agricultural soils in Eastern Germany – comparison of a closed chamber system with eddy covariance measurements

Summary In order to quantify the effects of temperature and soil water content on soil respiration, during June and July 2002 CO₂ soil efflux was measured with a closed chamber (non-steady state, flow through) system in the field. The amount of CO₂ emission was highly dependent on the land-use in the observation area, which consisted of meadow soil and brownfield. The CO₂ emission from the brownfield ranged from 0.9 to 5.5µmol CO₂ m^–2s^–1, and that for meadow soil from 1.1 to 12.6µmol CO₂ m^–2s^–1. Soil respiration, as a function of soil temperature (T_soil), relative soil water content (RSWC), soil pH, and the soil carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N), was analysed by a modified closed non-linear regression model. Between 63% and 81% of the variation of soil CO₂ emission could be explained with changes of T_soil, RSWC, pH, and C/N for the individual chambers on the brownfield.Subsequent analysis involved a comparison of the soil chamber results with eddy covariance (EC) measurements of one week, and included a footprint analysis to account for the influence of the different land use types on the measurements. For this, EC data (143 measurements after quality check) were restricted to those originating from the brownfield area with more than 90% of the flux. For a second comparison, the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) was calculated for different parts of the meadow using the SVAT model PROXEL. Together with the respiration from the brownfield, a weighted average of model NEE was produced using the flux contribution determined by the footprint model. Acceptable agreement (r²=0.69) was found between the modelled data and individual EC measurements, except during situations where the performance of the footprint model was disturbed by internal boundary layer effects.     

Meteorological results of MONSOON-88 expedition (pre-monsoon period)

Mean atmospheric circulation, moisture budget and net heat exchange were studied during a pre-monsoon period (18th March to 3rd May, 1988), making use of the data collected on board Akademik Korolev in the central equatorial and southern Arabian Sea region. The net heat exchange (R _n ) is found to be about 20 W m^–2 for a small area (0–4° N; 55–60° E), 50% less than the dimatological value. The mean value of net radiation (140 W m^–2) is less than the climatological value, which was due to higher cloud amount. The higher SST enhanced both the latent and sensible heat fluxes.The mean atmospheric circulation obtained from the upper air data is quite convincing. The mean exchange coefficient (C _e ) estimated from the moisture budget is about 1.0 × 10^–3 for a wind speed of 4 m s^–1. This value is slightly lower than that obtained by the usual methods.National Institute of Oceanography, RC, 52-Kirlampudi layout, Visakhapatnam — 530 023.India Meteorological Department, Gauhati.     

Subsynoptic vertical heat fluxes from high-resolution synoptic budgets

Summary A recently designed diagnostic model for synoptic heat budgets is reviewed and is applied to selected ALPEX-SOP dates. The model uses the conservation equations for moisture, (sensible) heat and mass. All synoptically observable terms (including moisture and heat tendencies and surface rain) are specified from objective analyses. Quasi-observable terms (including , radiation, surface evaporation and surface heat flux) are also considered synoptic and are specified close to observations. The non-observable terms: rain, moisture and heat fluxes in the free atmosphere are considered subsynoptic; they are determined as residuals. The model includes a submodel for the errors, a closure assumption which couples the vertical moisture and heat fluxes and a variational 3D-mass flux modification. This is the minimum parameterization level possible with these data.Results over the ALPEX-domain are shown for 5 dates from 4–6 March 1982. Each budget is a 24 h-average, each diagnostic box has a horizontal/vertical resolution of 100 km/100 hPa. The presentation focusses upon the three vertical heat fluxes. The model separates signal (=subsynoptic fluxes, 0–600 W m^–2) from error (0–60 W m^–2), the fields are coherent both in space and time, and the different stages of the synoptic development are reproduced by the subsynoptic fields. While the rain is downward and the moisture flux upward everywhere, the heat flux is upward in the trough, weak in the ridge and downward ahead of the next trough. The rain flux vector is usually divergent but can occasionally be convergent in lower levels which indicates reevaporation. The great detail in the fields of rain, moisture and heat flux proves that diagnostic models of this kind are potentially useful for further synoptic research.

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Subsynoptische vertikale Wärmeflüsse aus hochauflösenden synoptischen Haushalten

Zusammenfassung Ein kürzlich entwickeltes diagnotisches Modell für synoptische Wärmehaushalte wird dargestellt und auf ausgewählte ALPEX-SOP-Termine angewandt. Das Modell verwendet die Erhaltungsgleichungen für Feuchte, (fühlbare) Wärme und Masse. Alle synoptisch beobachtbaren Glieder (einschließlich Feuchte- und Wärmetendenz sowie Bodenniederschlag) werden aus objektiven Analysen spezifiziert. Quasi-beobachtbare Glieder (einschließlich , Strahlung, Bodenverdunstung und Bodenwärmefluß) werden ebenfalls als synoptisch angesehen und beobachtungsnahe spezifiziert. Die nicht-beobachtbaren Glieder: Regen, Feuchtefluß und Wärmefluß in der freien Atmosphäre werden als subsynoptisch angesehen und als Residuum bestimmt. Das Modell enthält ein Untermodell für die Fehler, eine Schließungsannahme, welche den vertikalen Feuchte- und Wärmefluß koppelt, sowie eine, auf dem Variationsprinzip beruhende, Modifikation des 3D-Massenflusses. Dies ist der minimale Parametrisierungsaufwand, der mit den vorliegenden Daten möglich ist.Ergebnisse über dem ALPEX-Gebiet werden gezeigt für 5 Termine vom 4.–6. März 1982. Jeder Haushalt ist ein 24 h-Mittel, jede Diagnosebox hat eine horizontale/vertikale Auflösung von 100 km/100 hPa. Die Darstellung konzentriert sich auf die drei vertikalen Wärmeflüsse. Das Modell trennt Signal (=subsynoptische Flüsse, 0–600 W m^–2) und Fehler (0–60 W m^–2), die Felder sind räumlich und zeitlich kohärent, und die verschiedenen Stadien der synoptischen Entwicklung werden durch die subsynoptischen Felder wiedergegeben. Während der Regen überall abwärts und der Feuchtefluß überall aufwärts gerichtet sind, ist der Wärmefluß aufwärts im Trog, praktisch Null im Rücken und abwärts vor dem nächsten Trog. Der Regenflußvektor ist gewöhnlich divergent, aber kann gelegentlich in unteren Schichten konvergent sein, was Wiederverdunstung anzeigt. Die vielen Einzelheiten der Felder von Regen, Feuchte- und Wärmefluß beweisen, daß diagnostische Modelle dieser Art von potentiellem Nutzen für die weitere synoptische Forschung sind.

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With 14 Figures     

Turbulent fluxes of momentum,heat and water vapor in the atmospheric surface layer at sea during ATEX

The vertical turbulent fluxes have been determined during the Atlantic Trade Wind Experiment (ATEX) both by direct and profile methods. The drag coefficient obtained from direct measurements was c _D = 1.39 × 10^–3. A distortion of the wind profile due to wave action could be demonstrated, this produced an increased drag coefficient estimated by the profile method. The dissipation technique using the downwind spectrum gave a lower drag coefficient of 1.26 × 10^–3, probably due to non-isotropic conditions (the ratio of vertical to downwind spectrum at high frequencies scattered considerably with an average of 1 instead of 4/3).From direct measurements, the sensible heat flux showed a poor correlation with the bulk parameter product U, contrary to the heat flux obtained from profiles. It is shown that this is due to the higher frequency part of the cospectrum, say above 0.25 Hz, which contributes more than 50 % of the total flux. Determination of the heat flux from temperature fluctuations by the dissipation method would be in agreement with the direct determination only if the corresponding Kolmogoroff constant were 2.1 instead of 0.8.For the vertical flux of water vapor obtained from profiles, the bulk transfer coefficient was 1.28 × 10^–3.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Schwerpunktprogramm Meeresforschung and later the Sonderforschungsbereich Meeresforschung Hamburg.     

Forest-Air Fluxes Of Carbon, Water And Energy Over Non-Flat Terrain

A field study of surface-air exchange of carbon, water, and energy was conducted at a mid-latitude, mixed forest on non-flat terrain to investigate how to best interpret biological signals from the eddy flux data that may be subject to advective influences. It is shown that during periods of Southwest winds (sector with mild topography), the eddy fluxes are well-behaved in terms of energy balance closure, the existence of a constant flux layer, consistency with chamber observations and the expected abiotic controls on the fluxes. Advective influences are evident during periods with wind from a steep (15%) slope to the Northeast of the tower. These influences appear more severe on CO₂ flux, particularly in stable air, than on the energy fluxes. Large positive flux of CO₂ (> 23 mol m^-2 s^-1) occurs frequently at night. The annual sum of the carbon flux is positive, but the issue about whether the forest is a source of atmospheric carbon remains inconclusive.Attempts are made to assess vertical advectionusing the data collected on a single tower. Over the Southwestsector, vertical advection makes a statistically significant but small contribution to the 30-min energy imbalance and CO₂ flux variations. Contributions by horizontal advection may be larger but cannot be verified directly by the current experimental method.     

Leaf-level gas exchange and scaling-up of forest understory carbon fixation rates with a “patch-scale” canopy model

Summary During the Hartheim experiment (HartX) 1992, conducted in the Upper Rhine Valley, Germany, we estimated water vapor flux from the understory by several methods as reported in Wedler et al. (this issue). We also examined the photosynthetic gas exchange of the dominant understory speciesBrachypodium pinnatum, Carex alba, andCarex flacca at the leaf level with an CO₂/H₂O porometer. A mechanisticallybased leaf gas exchange model was parameterized for these understory species and validated via the measured diurnal courses of carbon dioxide exchange. Leaf CO₂ gas exchange was scaled-up to patch- and then to stand-level utilizing the leaf gas exchange model as a component of the canopy light interception/energy balance model GAS-FLUX, and by further considering variation in vegetation patch-type distribution, patch-specific spatial structure, patch-type leaf area index, and microclimate beneath the tree canopy.At patch-level,C. alba exhibited the lowest net CO₂ uptake of ca. 75 mmol m^–2 d^–1 due to a low leaf-level photosynthetic capacity, whereas net CO₂ fixation ofB. pinnatum- andC. flacca-patches was approx. 178 and 184 mmol m^–2 d^–1, respectively. Highest CO₂ uptake was estimated for mixed patches whereB. pinnatum grew together with the sedge speciesC. alba orC. flacca. Scaling-up of leaf gas exchange to stand level resulted in an estimated average rate of total CO₂ fixation by the graminoid understory patches of approximately 93 mmol m^–2 d^–1 during the HartX period. The conservative gas exchange behavior ofC. alba at Hartheim and its apparent success in space capture seems to affect overall functioning of this pine forest ecosystem by limiting understory CO₂ uptake. The CO₂ uptake by the understory is approximately 20% of stand total CO₂ uptake. CO₂ uptake fluxes mirror the relative differences in water loss from the understory and crown layer during the HartX period. Comparative measurements indicate that understory vegetation in spruce and pine forests is not greatly different from that of other low-statured natural ecosystems such as tundra or marshes under high light conditions, although CO₂ capture by the understory at Hartheim is at the low extreme of the estimates, apparently due to the success ofC. alba. With 6 Figures     

Effects of heat and water vapor transport on eddy covariance measurement of CO2 fluxes

Flux densities of carbon dioxide were measured over an arid, vegetation-free surface by eddy covariance techniques and by a heat budget-profile method, in which CO₂ concentration gradients were specified in terms of mixing ratios. This method showed negligible fluxes of CO₂, consistent with the bareness of the experimental site, whereas the eddy covariance measurements indicated large downward fluxes of CO₂. These apparently conflicting observations are in quantitative agreement with the results of a recent theory which predicts that whenever there are vertical fluxes of sensible or latent heat, a mean vertical velocity is developed. This velocity causes a mean vertical convective mass flux (= _cw for CO₂, in standard notation). The eddy covariance technique neglects this mean convective flux and measures only the turbulent flux _c w. Thus, when the net flux of CO₂ is zero, the eddy covariance method indicates an apparent flux which is equal and opposite to the mean convective flux, i.e., _c w = – _c w. Corrections for the mean convective flux are particularly significant for CO₂ because _cw and _c w are often of similar magnitude. The correct measurement of the net CO₂ flux by eddy covariance techniques requires that the fluxes of sensible and latent heat be measured as well.     

An intercomparison between the surface heat flux feedback in five coupled models,COADS and the NCEP reanalysis

The surface heat flux feedback is estimated in the Atlantic and the extra-tropical Indo-Pacific, using monthly heat flux and sea surface temperature anomaly data from control simulations with five global climate models, and it is compared to estimates derived from COADS and the NCEP reanalysis. In all data sets, the heat flux feedback is negative nearly everywhere and damps the sea surface temperature anomalies. At extra-tropical latitudes, it is strongly dominated by the turbulent fluxes. The radiative feedback can be positive or negative, depending on location and season, but it remains small, except in some models in the tropical Atlantic. The negative heat flux feedback is strong in the mid-latitude storm tracks, exceeding 40 W m^–2 K^–1 at place, but in the Northern Hemisphere it is substantially underestimated in several models. The negative feedback weakens at high latitudes, although the models do not reproduce the weak positive feedback found in NCEP in the northern North Atlantic. The main differences are found in the tropical Atlantic where the heat flux feedback is weakly negative in some models , as in the observations, and strongly negative in others where it can exceed 30 W m^–2 K^–1 at large scales, in part because of a strong contribution of the radiative fluxes, in particular during spring. A comparison between models with similar atmospheric or oceanic components suggests that the atmospheric model is primarily responsible for the heat flux feedback differences at extra-tropical latitudes. In the tropical Atlantic, the ocean behavior plays an equal role. The differences in heat flux feedback in the tropical Atlantic are reflected in the sea surface temperature anomaly persistence, which is too small in models where the heat flux damping is large. A good representation of the heat flux feedback is thus required to simulate climate variability realistically.