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.