A model for predicting actual evapotranspiration under soil water stress in a Mediterranean region

Summary In this paper a model for estimating actual evapotranspiration is developed and tested for field crops (grain sorghum and sunflower) maintained under water stress conditions. The model is based on the Penman-Monteith formulation of ET in which canopy resistance (r _c) is modeled with respect to the crop water status and local climatological conditions. The model was previously tested on reference grass; in this last case no reference was made to soil water conditions andr _c was modeled only as a function of climatological parameters. Herer _c is expressed as a function of available energy, vapour pressure deficit, aerodynamic resistance and crop water status by means of predawn leaf water potential. Results, obtained with various crop water stress intensities, show that, on a daily scale, calculated ET is 98% and 95% of the measured ET for sorghum and sunflower respectively. The correlation between daily calculated and measured ET is very high (r ² = 0.95 for sorghum andr ² = 0.98 for sunflower). On an hourly scale, the model works very well when the crops were not stressed and during the senescence stage. In case of weak and strong stress the model has to be used with some precautions.With 9 Figures     

FAO-56 methodology for determining water requirement of irrigated crops: critical examination of the concepts,alternative proposals and validation in Mediterranean region

The present study evaluates firstly the ability of the FAO-56 methodology, based on the two-step approach “reference evapotranspiration (ET₀)—crop coefficient (K _c),” to accurately determine the actual evapotranspiration (ET) of irrigated crops and proposes, secondly, the alternative approaches for improving this determination. The FAO-56 methodology is supported by two hypotheses: (1) ET₀ represents all effects of weather and (2) K _c varies predominately with specific crop characteristics and only marginally with climate, which enables the transfer of K _c standard values among locations and climates. On the base of the theoretical analysis and experimental observations, a critical examination of the previous hypotheses demonstrates that they are not verified by reality. The first hypothesis is not verified for two reasons: (a) The formulation adapted by the Penman–Monteith equation and proposed in FAO-56 methodology for calculating ET₀ uses climatic variables determined at a 24-h average scale. However, in principle it is only valid in permanent regime, in other words at least on an hourly scale. (b) The FAO-56-proposed formulation attributes a constant value to the canopy resistance of the reference surface; but in reality, this resistance is variable in relation to the climatic variables. The second hypothesis, concerning the two-step approach, is also not verified because the values of K _c largely vary in relation to climatic variables (radiation, air vapour pressure deficit and wind speed). This fact does not support the possibility of the transferability of K _c values into locations where the local conditions deviate from the conditions where the adjusted values of K _c were determined. The weakness of the ET estimation, observed on several crops cultivated in the Mediterranean region, through the application of the FAO-56 methodology, is the result of errors accumulation, associated with that affects the determination of either ET₀ or K _c. The present study underlines the advantage of using a one-step approach in the calculation of ET, since it is based on fewer computation steps and, consequently, on fewer error sources than the two-step model. Two models adopting this approach are proposed and validated, one of which can be considered as operational, i.e. it only needs standard meteorological data as input. The use of these models enables an improvement of the ET estimation. This objective is a key component of any strategy to improve agricultural water management in Mediterranean region.     

Scalar-Flux Similarity in the Layer Near the Surface Over Mountainous Terrain

The scaled standard deviations of temperature and humidity are investigated in complex terrain. The study area is a steep Alpine valley, with six measurement sites of different slope, orientation and roughness (i-Box experimental site, Inn Valley, Austria). Examined here are several assumptions forming the basis of Monin–Obukhov similarity theory (MOST), including constant turbulence fluxes with height and the degree of self-correlation between the involved turbulence variables. Since the basic assumptions for the applicability of the MOST approach—horizontally homogeneous and flat conditions—are violated, the analysis is performed based on a local similarity hypothesis. The scaled standard deviations as a function of local stability are compared with previous studies from horizontally homogeneous and flat terrain, horizontally inhomogeneous and flat terrain, weakly inhomogeneous and flat terrain, as well as complex terrain. As a reference, similarity relations for unstable and stable conditions are evaluated using turbulence data from the weakly inhomogeneous and flat terrain of the Cabauw experimental site in the Netherlands, and assessed with the same post-processing method as the i-Box data. Significant differences from the reference curve and also among the i-Box sites are noted, especially for data derived from the i-Box sites with steep slopes. These differences concern the slope and the magnitude of the best-fit curves, illustrating the site dependence of any similarity theory.     

Response of the water balance in Greece to temperature and precipitation trends

This paper deals with the most recent trends in meteorological and hydrological variables, which include air temperature and precipitation (P), potential and actual (ET) evapotranspiration, surface runoff (RO), water recharge into the soil (R) and water loss from the soil (L). Most hydrological variables were calculated via Palmer's algorithm. For this purpose, two rank-based statistical tests (the Mann?CKendall (MK) and a change-point analysis (CPA) approach) and the basic linear regression-based model were applied on the weekly precipitation and temperature from 17 stations all over Greece, during 1961?C2006. Only in winter, all variables except for R, which showed no clear signal, presented downward trends. The declining trends of P and L in spring and summer were counterbalanced by reductions in RO (and R in the case of summer) as opposed to increases in ET. In autumn, the declining tendencies of P and L were offset by RO reductions and R increases. Annually, the trends in water cycle components were analogous to that of spring, summer and autumn. The number of stations with statistically significant (at 95%) trends greatly varied with season and meteorological/hydrological variable.     

利用区域气候模式RIEMS产品分析日蒸散量及其影响

利用区域气候模式RIEMS输出的各种气象参数,采用了BEF等4种不同方法计算了沂沭河上游流域的潜在蒸散量,并与该流域6个气象站实测蒸发数据计算的陆面潜在蒸散量进行了比较。结果表明,根据平均偏差、平均绝对偏差、均方根差和相关系数指标的综合判断,该4种方法的估测精度从高到低依次为双线性曲面回归经验函数法(BEF)、Hargreaves-Samani(Harg)法、Pristley-Tayler(P-T)法和Penman-Monteith(P-M)法。在时间序列上,4种方法计算的逐日蒸散量与观测值呈相同的变化趋势,但计算值在蒸散发最强、最弱和降水最多、气温最高的7-9月有较大差异。BEF法估测的精度最高,与观测值最接近,Harg法、P-M法和P-T法都有明显的偏高现象。BEF法只需要较少的参数就能得到较高的估测精度,因此可作为利用区域气候模式RIEMS产品计算沂沭河流域蒸散量的首选方法,进而为RIEMS模式中耦合的陆面水文过程模型TOPX提供满足精度要求的日蒸散量驱动参数。     

Calculating downward longwave radiation under clear and cloudy conditions over a tropical lowland forest site: an evaluation of model schemes for hourly data

Field measurements of radiation fluxes—notably downwelling longwave radiation flux (LW flux)—are as yet rare or nonexistent outside a very select number of sites in the tropics. Data gaps can only be filled through the use of estimation schemes based on measurements of other meteorological variables, and there is a need for recommendations on best practice in this area. We selected 18 contrasting semi-empirical estimation schemes for downward longwave radiation, based on air emissivities, combined with six different sky cover estimation schemes and compared the expected longwave flux with hourly observations from a flux tower at Caxiuan? in Brazil. Of all schemes tested, the Dilley–Kimball emissivity scheme combined with Kasten and Czeplak’s sky cover scheme during the day and Dilley and O’Brien’s model B scheme at night proved to be the most reliable, yielding estimates of LW flux generally within 20?W/m² of measurements across all time points.     

Spatiotemporal variability of reference evapotranspiration and its contributing climatic factors in Yunnan Province, SW China, 1961–2004

Evapotranspiration is an important flux term in the water cycle that integrates atmospheric demand and surface conditions. Using the FAO Penman–Monteith method, we calculated monthly reference evapotranspiration (ET0) for 119 stations during 1961–2004 over Yunnan Province (YP), southwest China. Linear trend analysis shows that area-averaged annual and seasonal ET0 rates declined, with most remarkable decreases during pre-monsoon (?1.5 mm decade^?1, Mar–May) and monsoon (?0.6 mm decade^?1, Jun–Aug) seasons. Most of the stations with negative trends were concentrated in the eastern and northern parts of YP. Over the 44–year period, wind speed (WS), relative sunshine duration (SD) and relative humidity (RH) all showed decreasing trends, whereas maximum temperature (TMX) increased slightly. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the variability of ET0 rates is most sensitive to the variations of SD, followed by RH, TMX and WS. The temporal evolution of these contributing factors was not stable during the study period, with an increasing contribution of SD and a decreasing contribution of TMX after the 1970s. Temporally changing contributions of climatic variables to ET0 should be taken into account when evapotranspiration rates are calculated with equations that rely on parameterization of climatic variables. Linking the changing contributions of climatic variables to ET0 rates to circulation features may help to better understand how ET0 responds to regional climatic change.     

Increases of wet deposition at remote sites in Japan from 1991 to 2009

Temporal trends in wet deposition of major ions were explored at nationwide remote sites in Japan from April 1991 to March 2009 by using the seasonal Kendall slope estimator and the nonparametric seasonal Kendall test. For the trend analysis, datasets from eight remote sites (Rishiri, Echizenmisaki, Oki, Ogasawara, Shionomisaki, Goto, Yakushima, and Amami) were selected from the Japanese Acid Deposition Survey (JADS) conducted by the Ministry of the Environment. Deposition of H⁺ has been increasing at remote sites in Japan on a national scale. Significant (p????0.05) increases in H⁺ deposition were detected with changes of +3?C+9?%?year^?1 at seven sites, while insignificant increases were observed at one site. Depositions of non-sea salt (nss)-SO ₄ ^2? and NO ₃ ^? significantly increased at four and six sites, respectively, with changes of +1?C+3?%?year^?1. Significant increases in precipitation at four sites would have contributed to the increase in depositions of H⁺, nss-SO ₄ ^2? , and NO ₃ ^? . The emission trends of SO₂ and NO_x did not corresponded to the deposition trends of nss-SO ₄ ^2? and NO ₃ ^? . The different trends indicated that temporal variation of precipitation amount trend dominated the deposition trends.     

Comparison between open-site and below-canopy climatic conditions in Switzerland for different types of forests over 10?years (1998?2007)

We compared below-canopy and open-site climatic conditions for 14 different forest sites in Switzerland and analysed the forest influence on local summer and winter climate according to the forest type (coniferous, mixed, deciduous), soil type, slope orientation, basal area and tree height. We compared below-canopy and open-field data for minimum, maximum and daily mean temperature, relative humidity, maximum and daily mean photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and wind speed from 1998 to 2007. We found clear differences between below-canopy and open-field temperatures, humidity, wind speed and PAR and could relate them to the specific site conditions and forest type. The forest influence on PAR and maximum temperature is clearly determined by the forest type, whereas the influence on minimum temperature is affected by both forest type and slope orientation and impact on humidity depends on the soil type. The wind speed is most impacted by topography and slope orientation.     

Estimating Global Distribution of Evapotranspiration and Water Balance Using Complementary Methods

ABSTRACT

The authors propose a modified complementary method to estimate regional evapotranspiration (ET) under different climatic and physical conditions using only meteorological data. The purpose of this study is to investigate the applicability of the modified complementary method for estimating global ET distribution and corresponding water balance. Gridded data from the Climate Research Unit, University of East Anglia, with 30 min spatial resolution and monthly time steps are used. Using the Thornthwaite water budget, monthly maps of global water surplus (precipitation minus ET) are produced. The results show good agreement with many previous studies. The average annual precipitation, ET, and water surplus are 690, 434, and 256?mm, respectively. The results show that the modified model can predict regional ET using meteorological data and can be used to assess global water resources. Consequently, the proposed method has strong potential for projecting water resource balance under future climate change.     

A New method for identifying possible causal relationships between CO2, total solar irradiance and global temperature change

The study compares two formulas for calculating the daily evapotranspiration ET₀ for a reference crop. The first formula was proposed by Allen et al. (AL), while the second one was proposed by Katerji and Perrier with the addition of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) effect on evapotranspiration (KP). The study analyses the impact of the calculation by the two formulas on the irrigation requirement (IR). Both formulas are based on the Penman-Monteith equation but adopt different approaches for parameterising the canopy resistance r _c . In the AL formula, r _c is assumed constant and not sensitive to climate change, whereas in the KP formula, r _c is first parameterised as a function of climatic variables, then ET₀ is corrected for the air CO₂ concentration. The two formulas were compared in two periods. The first period involves data from two sites in the Mediterranean region within a measured climate change period (1981–2006) when all the input climatic variables were measured. The second period (2070–2100) involves data from a future climate change period at one site when the input climatic variables were forecasted for two future climate scenarios (A2 and B2). The annual cumulated values of ET₀ calculated by the AL formula are systematically lower than those determined by the KP formula. The differences between the ET₀ estimation with the AL and KP formulas have a strong impact on the determination of the IR for the reference crop. In fact, for the two periods, the annual values of IR when ET₀ is calculated by the AL formula are systematically lower than those calculated by the KP formula. For the actual measured climate change period, this reduction varied from 26 to 28 %, while for the future climate change period, it varied based on the scenario from 16 % (A2) to 20 % (B2).     

CGCM3 predictors used for daily temperature and precipitation downscaling in Southern Québec, Canada

This study provides some guidance on the choice of predictor variables from both reanalysis products and the third version of the Canadian Coupled Global Climate Model (CGCM3) outputs for regression-based statistical downscaling models (SDMs) for climate change application in southern Québec (Canada). Twenty CGCM3 grid points and four surface observation sites in the study area were employed. Twenty-five deseasonalized predictors and four deseasonalized predictands (daily maximum and minimum temperatures, precipitation occurrence and wet day precipitation amount) were used to investigate correlation coefficients among predictors and to evaluate their predictive ability when used in a multiple linear regression (MLR) downscaling model. The basic statistical characteristics of vorticity at 1,000-, 850- and 500-hPa levels, U-component of velocity at 1,000-hPa level, temperature at 2?m (T ₂) and wind direction at 1,000- and 500-hPa level of CGCM3 showed a larger difference with those of the NCEP reanalysis data. Therefore, those seven variables require high caution to be included as predictors in statistical downscaling models. Specific humidity at 1,000-, 850- and 500-hPa levels, geopotential height at 850- and 500-hPa levels and T ₂ were the most sensitive predictors for future climate conditions (i.e. A1B and A2 emission scenarios). Specific humidity and geopotential height at different levels and T ₂ were important explainable predictors for the daily temperatures. Mean sea level pressure, specific humidity, U and V components and divergence showed potential as predictors for daily precipitation. Spatial explained variance of MLRs between predictors of every different CGCM3 grid points and the four predictands showed large values at the CGCM3 grid points located near the observation sites, whereas relatively small values were shown at the CGCM3 grid points located more than 400?km from the sites. The explained variance of the downscaled predictands by predictors of three or four CGCM3 grid points located near the observation site produced 2–5% larger R-squares than those by predictors of the nearest grid point. The results illustrated that the use of predictors from more than one AOGCM grid points located near the observation site can increase the skill of the MLR downscaling models.     

Nocturnal drainage flow on simple slopes

Observations of nocturnal slope flow have been made at two sites with quite different topography and vegetation. In both cases, continuous measurements of wind and temperature profiles were made from towers that extended through the depth of the katabatic flow. At the simpler site, which approximates a tilted plane, three towers were located at different distances down the slope to measure the development of slope flow with downslope distance.Slope flow depth, downslope wind speed, and temperature deficit are found to change with downslope distance at rates that are consistent with the predictions of Manins and Sawford's (1979) layer-averaged model of slope flow, while measured entrainment rates are found to be comparable to those predicted by Ellison and Turner's (1959) laboratory experiments. The depth of slope flow is found to be roughly 0.05 times the vertical drop from the top of the slope, a relationship that also follows from combining Manins and Sawford's model and Ellison and Turner's laboratory data. Analysis of the wind spectra and a simple numerical model suggest that the turbulent kinetic energy profiles in slope flow are dependent on the speed and direction of the ambient wind and can differ substantially from those found over flat terrain. At the more complex of the two measurement sites, the occurrence of slope flow was found to correlate well with a dimensionless number 5 that is a function of the ridge-top wind speed and of the strength and depth of the inversion and that is an estimate of the ratio of the buoyancy deficit to the external horizontal pressure gradient.Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC06-76RLO 1830     

Error assessment of climate variables for FAO-56 reference evapotranspiration

Meteorological stations, which measure all the required meteorological parameters to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) using the Food and Agriculture Organization Penman?CMonteith (FAO56-PM) method, are limited in Korea. In this study, alternative methods were applied to estimate these parameters, and the applicability of these methods for ET_o estimation was evaluated by comparison with a complete meteorological dataset collected in 2008 in Korea. Despite differences between the estimation and observation of radiation and wind speed, the comparison of ET_o showed small differences [i.e., mean bias error (MBE) varying ?0.22 to 0.25?mm?day^?1 and root-mean-square-error (RMSE) varying 0.06?C0.50?mm?day^?1]. The estimated vapor pressure differed considerably from the observed, resulting in a larger discrepancy in ET_o (i.e., MBE of ?0.50?mm?day^?1 and RMSE of 0.60?C0.73?mm?day^?1). Estimated ET_o showed different sensitivity to variations of the meteorological parameters??in order of vapor pressure?>?wind speed?>?radiation. It is clear that the FAO56-PM method is applicable for reasonable ET_o estimation at a daily time scale especially in data-limited regions in Korea.     

Soil CO2 efflux, carbon dynamics, and change in thermal conditions from contrasting clear-cut sites during natural restoration and uncut larch forests in northeastern China

With the implementation of the Chinese Natural Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) in 1998, over millions of hectares of forest in northeastern China have been protected through natural restoration (closure of hills). The impact of this program on the carbon budget of soil has not been evaluated until now. This paper presents results from a 6-year study of total CO₂ efflux from both soil and litter (R _total), CO₂ flux from soil (R _soil), soil organic matter (SOM), soil microbe density, and litter input and root biomass at an uncut larch (Larix gmelinii) forest and at a natural restoration site. The natural restoration area is a clear-cut site that was formerly part of a continuous portion of the uncut larch forest. Our objectives were to: (1) quantify the magnitude of CO₂ efflux from typical sites in northeastern China; (2) explore the changes in thermal conditions, SOM, and annual CO₂ flux during the 6-year natural restoration, and (3) evaluate the impact of NFCP on soil carbon processes. The annual R _soil at the clear-cut site (58.6–68.2 mol m^???2 year^???1) was 113.6–228.4% (mean 141.5%) higher than that at the uncut larch site (29.6–58.4 mol m^???2 year^???1). At the same time, annual CO₂ from litter at the clear-cut site (2.0–14.2 mol m^???2 year^???1) was only 23.5–84.5% (mean 52.5%) of that at the uncut larch site (5.4–16.8 mol m^???2 year^???1). SOM at the surface layer of the clear-cut site was 75% of that at the uncut larch site, but the soil microbial biomass (carbon) at the clear-cut site was much higher than that at the larch site (p?<?0.05). The percentage of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes also were largely different between both sites. Natural restoration at the clear-cut site strongly affected thermal conditions. Although the soil temperature (T _soil) and effective accumulated $T_{\rm soil} > 0^{\circ}$ C at the clear-cut site was much higher, the temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) was much lower than that at the uncut larch site, and their differences decreased linearly from 2001 to 2006 (p?<?0.05). Moreover, Q ₁₀ at the clear-cut site significantly increased with the progress of natural restoration, which diminished the Q ₁₀ difference between the two sites (slope?=???0.2792, r ²?=?0.4744, p?<?0.05). These data imply that the NFCP natural restoration process has positively recovered the thermal condition of the clear-cut site to the level of uncut larch forest during the 6-year period. However, linear regression analysis showed that the 6-year natural restoration only slightly affected the annual soil CO₂ efflux and SOM at both sites, and also did not diminish the differences between the two sites (p?>?0.10), indicating that a much longer time is necessary to restore the soil carbon in the clear-cut site.     

Katabatic flow with Coriolis effect and gradually varying eddy diffusivity

Katabatic flows over high-latitude long glaciers experience the Coriolis force. A sloped atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) flow is addressed which partly diffuses upwards, and hence, becomes progressively less local. We present the analytical and numerical solutions for (U ,V, θ) depending on (z, t) in the katabatic flow, where U and V are the downslope and cross-slope wind components and θ is the potential temperature perturbation. A Prandtl model that accounts for the Coriolis effect, via f, does not approach a steady state, because V diffuses upwards in time; the rest, i.e., (U, θ), are similar to that in the classic Prandtl model. The V component behaves in a similar manner as the solution to the 1st Stokes (but inhomogeneous) problem. A WKB approach to the problem of the sloped ABL winds is outlined in the light of a modified Ekman-Prandtl model with gradually varying eddy diffusivity K(z). Ideas for parameterizing these high-latitude persistent flows in climate models are revealed. After Wentzel, Kramers and Brillouin, who popularized the method in theoretical physics.     

The potential of vegetation feedback to alleviate climate aridity over the United States associated with a 2×CO2 climate condition

This study examines the potential impact of vegetation feedback on changes in summer climate aridity over the contiguous United States (US) due to the doubling of atmospheric CO₂ concentration using a set of 100-year-long climate simulations made by a global climate model interactively coupled with a dynamic vegetation model. The Thornthwaite moisture index (I _m ), which quantifies climate aridity on the basis of atmospheric water supply (i.e., precipitation) and atmospheric water demand (i.e., potential evapotranspiration, PET), is used to measure climate aridity. Warmer atmosphere and drier surface resulting from increased CO₂ concentration increase climate aridity over most of the contiguous US. This phenomenon is due to larger increments in PET than in precipitation, regardless of the presence or absence of vegetation feedback. Compared to simulations without active dynamic vegetation feedback, the presence of vegetation feedback significantly alleviates the increase in aridity. This vegetation-feedback effect is most noticeable in the subhumid regions such as southern, midwestern and northwestern US, primarily by the increasing vegetation greenness. In these regions, the greening in response to warmer temperatures enhances moisture transfer from soil to atmosphere by evapotranspiration (ET). The increased ET and subsequent moistening over land areas result in weaker surface warming (1–2?K) and PET (3–10?mm?month^?1), and greater precipitation (4–10?mm?month^?1). Collectively, they result in moderate increases in I _m . Our results suggest that moistening by enhanced vegetation feedback may prevent aridification under climatic warming especially in areas vulnerable to climate change, with consequent implications for mitigation strategies.     

Modelling the impacts of climate change on wheat yield and field water balance over the Murray�CDarling Basin in Australia

The study used a modelling approach to assess the potential impacts of likely climate change and increase in CO₂ concentration on the wheat growth and water balance in Murray?CDarling Basin in Australia. Impacts of individual changes in temperature, rainfall or CO₂ concentration as, well as the 2050 and 2070 climate change scenarios, were analysed. Along an E?CW transect, wheat yield at western sites (warmer and drier) was simulated to be more sensitive to temperature increase than that at eastern sites; along the S?CN transect, wheat yield at northern warmer sites was simulated to be more sensitive to temperature increase, within 1?C3°C temperature increase. Along the E?CW and S?CN transects, wheat at drier sites would benefit more from elevated [CO₂] than at wetter sites, but more sensitive to the decline in rainfall. The increase in temperature only did not have much impact on water balance. Elevated [CO₂] increased the drainage in all the sites, whilst rainfall reduction decreased evapotranspiration, runoff and drainage, especially at drier sites. In 2050, wheat yield would increase by 1?C10% under all climate change scenarios along the S?CN transect, except for the northernmost site (Dalby). Along the E?CW transect, the most obvious increase of wheat yields under all climate change scenarios occurred in cooler and wetter eastern sites (Yass and Young), with an average increase rate of 7%. The biggest loss occurred at the driest sites (Griffith and Swan Hill) under A1FI and B2 scenarios, ranging from ?5% to ?16%. In 2070, there would be an increased risk of yield loss in general, except for the cool and wet sites. Water use efficiency was simulated to increase at most of the study sites under all the climate change scenarios, except for the driest site. Yield variability would increase at drier sites (Ardlethan, Griffith and Swan Hill). Soil types would also impact on the response of wheat yield and water balance to future climate change.     

Evapotranspiration of deforested areas in central and southwestern Amazonia

Considering the high rates of evapotranspiration of Amazonian forests, understanding the impacts of deforestation on water loss rates is important for assessing those impacts on a regional and global scale. This paper quantifies evapotranspiration rates in two different pasture sites in Amazonia and evaluates the differences between the sites. In both places, measured evapotranspiration varies seasonally, decreasing during the dry season. The decrease is higher at the southwestern Amazonia site, while at the central Amazonia site, the decrease is less pronounced. During the dry season, average values of evapotranspiration are around 2.2?±?0.6?mm?day^?1 in central Amazonia and 2.4?±?0.6?mm?day^?1 in southwestern Amazonia, while during the wet season, those values are 2.1?±?0.6?mm?day^?1 in central Amazonia and 3.5?±?0.8?mm?day^?1 in southwestern Amazonia. On an annual basis, the pasture in southwestern Amazonia has higher evapotranspiration than in central Amazonia. We conclude that the main reason for this difference is the lower available energy in the wet season at the central Amazonian site, combined with a lower leaf area index at this site during the whole year. Still, the evapotranspiration is significantly controlled by the vegetation, which is well coupled with the local moisture conditions in the dry season.     

On the vertical profile of surface radiative fluxes in southwest Germany

Summary Vertical profile of surface radiative fluxes in an area of heterogeneous terrain in south-west Germany is presented. Main data sets utilized for the study were recorded during the REgio KLIma Projekt (REKLIP). Supporting observational data were provided by the German weather service and German geophysical consultant service. Elevation of the study sites ranged from 212 m a.s.l. to 1489 m a.s.l. From May to September, monthly mean albedo was generally low at the study sites, ranging from 19% to 24%. For the other months, monthly mean albedo lie between 22% and 25% at the lowland site but extended between 27% and 71% at the highly elevated mountain site. Following the altitudinal increase in surface albedo, net radiative flux and radiation efficiency declined with elevation at an annual mean of 1.15 Wm⁻²/100 m and 0.008/100 m respectively. Absorbed shortwave radiation and effective terrestrial radiation showed mean decline of 1.54 Wm⁻²/100 m and 0.34 Wm⁻²/100 m, respectively, with the mean sky-to-earth radiation deficit amounting to about 52 Wm⁻² for the lowland site and 73 Wm⁻² for the highest elevated site. Some empirical models which express shortwave and longwave radiative fluxes in terms of meteorological variables have been validated for the lowland and mountain sites. Monthly mean daily total estimates of solar radiation obtained from ?ngst?m-Prescott relation were quite consistent with observed values. Parameterisation of downward atmospheric radiation under all sky condition was achieved by extending Brutsaert clear sky atmospheric model. Relationship between outgoing longwave radiation and screen temperature at the study sites was best described by an exponential function unlike the linear relationship proposed by Monteith and Unsworth. Net radiative flux for the lowland and mountain sites has been expressed in terms of absorbed shortwave radiation, cloud amount and screen temperature. Received March 5, 2001 Revised October 29, 2001