Surface and Mixed-Layer Variance Methods to Estimate Regional Sensible Heat Flux at the Surface

Turbulence measurements in the lower half of the convective boundary layer (CBL), which includes both mixed layer and surface layer, were carried out with five sonic anemometers mounted on a 213-m tower over a complex flat suburban area with patches of forest, agricultural land, houses and buildings. Also made were radiosoundings of temperature, humidity and wind speed, to determine the CBL height. The sonic anemometer data of wind speed and temperature were processed to derive the second-moment turbulent statistics and were analyzed to investigate the applicability of variance methods to estimate regional surface fluxes of sensible heat. It was found that the temperature variances in the lower mixed layer, coupled with universal functions, produced sensible heat fluxes H over the area with an rms error of the order of 40 Wm^-2 when compared with H values derived from the eddy correlation method. The variance of the vertical wind speed did not produce as good a result. In contrast, the surface-layer temperature variances yielded H values with rms error of the order of 20 Wm^-2, even though the underlying surface was non-uniform and highly non-isothermal, above which enhanced temperature variances could be suspected.     

Measuring Sensible Heat Flux Density over Pasture Using the ct2-Profile Method

Two large-aperture infrared scintillometers were positioned at heights (z) of 10 and 1.5 m with beams propagated horizontally over pasture for distances of 3.1 km and 141 m, respectively. From each scintillometer a half-hourly average value of the path-averaged, temperature-structure parameter (CT2) was obtained in unstable atmospheric conditions. The result suggested CT2 to scale with height as z-2/3. Using the CT2-profile method a path-averaged measure of the Obukhov length (L0) was calculated for each half-hour period, whence L0 was used to determine the friction velocity, u* and the surface-layer temperature scaling parameter, T*. The scintillometer-based sensible heat flux density Hsc was then calculated from Hsc = Cpu*T*. A time series of half-hourly averaged Hsc compared to Hec obtained by the eddy covariance method agreed to within 10%, with R2 = 0.67, for a range of unstable conditions (- 0.2 z/L0 - 0.01).     

Variability of Surface Sensible Heat Flux over Northwest China

The present study documents the variability of surface sensible heat flux over Northwest China using station observations for the period 1961 2000.It is found that the afternoon and nighttime sensible heat flux variations are remarkably different.The variability of the instant flux in the afternoon is much larger than in the nighttime.The afternoon and nighttime flux anomalies tend to be opposite.The diurnal and seasonal dependence of sensible heat flux variations is closely related to the diurnal cycle of mean land-air temperature difference.The relationship of sensible heat flux with land-air temperature difference based on the instant value differs from that based on the daily mean.The present study indicates the importance for the models to properly simulate mean land-air temperature difference and its diurnal and seasonal variations in order to capture surface sensible heat flux variability over Northwest China and predicts its plausible impacts on climate.     

An Attempt to Close the Daytime Surface Energy Balance Using Spatially-Averaged Flux Measurements

Single-tower eddy-covariance measurements represent the complete surface flux of a scalar only under idealized conditions. Therefore, we often find an underestimation of energy fluxes expressed as a lack of energy balance closure at many sites. In this study, a multi-tower approach to measure atmospheric energy fluxes based on spatial averaging is evaluated and possible mechanisms causing a lack of energy balance closure are analysed, focussing on daytime data only. It is shown that the multi-tower technique is also unable to measure the entire flux for our site, likely because the assumption of horizontal homogeneity is violated. Heterogeneity-induced and buoyancy-driven quasi-stationary circulations are probably the dominant processes causing the underestimation of energy fluxes. A dependence of the energy balance residual on stability is found, with residuals close to zero for stable stratification, a maximum under unstable to near-neutral conditions and still relatively large residuals for stronger instability. Assuming the processes transporting energy and CO₂ are similar, the implications on long-term CO₂ flux measurements are analysed. Accordingly, the resulting selective systematic error of cumulative net ecosystem exchange estimates for agricultural regions such as ours can be of the order of more than 100%, since mainly the fluxes during periods of net CO₂ uptake are underestimated while periods of net CO₂ release are much less affected by this bias. Further investigations about this issue are highly warranted.     

Using Scintillometry to Estimate Sensible Heat Fluxes over Water: First Insights

An extra large aperture scintillometer (XLAS) was used over several months across the Thau Lagoon (South of France) to retrieve one-wavelength scintillation and, thence, sensible heat flux. We present the experiment with the XLAS, an eddy-covariance station and meteorological stations measuring on or near the Thau Lagoon. Changes implemented to adapt the scintillometry processing schemes to the above water conditions are presented together with a full error budget, including sensitivity tests to the relevant parameters of the scintillometer processing scheme. The XLAS error budget amounts to 16% (systematic part) ±50% (random part). Sensible heat fluxes obtained using the XLAS under unstable atmospheric conditions are then compared to eddy-covariance estimates used as a reference. The scintillometry technique proved to perform satisfactorily in such a watery environment. Some discrepancies observed between the XLAS and eddy-covariance measurements were investigated according to the lagoon fraction of the source area, to discriminate whether they were related to deviations from the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory or to different atmospheric conditions at the respective instrument locations. Local atmospheric conditions agreed well with the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory, especially measurements with source areas largely composed of the lagoon surface. Retaining only the measurements with almost only the lagoon surface in the source area improved the agreement between the XLAS and eddy-covariance measurements. The remaining discrepancies are interpreted as being due to significant location differences between the two instruments, resulting in different atmospheric conditions, and to size differences in the source areas.     

Integrated Sensible Heat Flux Measurements of a Two-Surface Composite Landscape using Scintillometry

The potential of the LAS (large aperture scintillometry) method for measuring sensible heat flux (H) directly integrated over a two-field composite surface is evaluated. We describe a field experiment performed within the Alpilles/ReSeDa project in the south-east of France over a composite surface made up of wheat and bare soil (451 and 216 m long respectively) using two 0.15-m diameter scintillometers mounted at heights of 2.05 and 4.54 m. When compared against reference values obtained by the eddy correlation technique, LAS-measured sensible heat flux reveals a systematic overestimation of about 10%. A simple model describing the integration of the scintillometer signal along the beam for a two-field composite surface is described. A simulation of the experiment confirms that the bias observed isrelated to non-linearities in the integration process in relation with thebell-shape sensitivity curve of the instrument to the structure parameter for the refractive index it measures. The model is used to test the sensitivity of the LAS-derived H values to the composition of the pathlength (ratio of both surfaces) and to the contrast in sensible heat flux and roughness length between the two fields. Sensitivity tests to the aggregation scheme for roughness length (two of them are tested) and to the measurement height are also presented. The composition of the surface in combination with the contrast in sensible heat flux (in direct relation with the contrast in latent heat flux) explains most of the bias, with possible deviations ranging from -50 up to 80 W m^-2. A tentative semi-empirical method for correcting the bias is suggested, which only requires a crude estimate of the contrast in component sensible heat fluxes along the pathlength.     

青藏高原地面感热及其异常的诊断分析

利用青藏高原主体60个地面气象观测站1961～2000年历年各月本站气压、地面气温、风速、地表温度等资料,计算了高原地面拖曳系数CD和地面感热通量.通过主成分分析、主值函数和功率谱分析等方法,对各季代表月CD系数和地面感热通量的基本气候特征,以及地面感热通量异常变化的空间结构和时间演变趋势作了较系统的诊断研究.结果表明:利用40年资料计算的拖曳系数与地面感热通量可以较好的反应青藏高原下垫面感热的基本气候特征,即高原CD系数东南部大,西北部小;冬季大,夏季小.多年平均高原地面感热通量仅在冬季小范围出现弱的负值,其余季节感热均为正值.感热通量大的地方其年际变化也大,其年际异常的主要空间型,第一是南北差异,第二东西差异,第三为高原主体及东部地区与外围的差异.其在年际变化中存在明显的10年际以上变化趋势,具体表现在1961～2000年期间,冬季高原北部和西部地区地面感热有减弱趋势,而高原中部和东南部呈明显的上升趋势.夏季高原主体及东部地区感热通量不断加强,而高原西部地区则相反.春、夏、秋三季均以13年以上的长周期振荡为主,冬季第一主分量表现为准3年的短周期变化.       

Area-Averaged Sensible Heat Flux and a New Method to Determine Zero-Plane Displacement Length over an Urban Surface using Scintillometry

Field observations of area-averagedturbulence characteristics were conducted in a densely built-up residential neighbourhood in Tokyo, Japan. In addition to eddy-correlation (EC) sensors a scintillometer was used for the first time in a city. Significant results include: (1) Scintillometer-derived sensible heat fluxes, Q_H, obtained at a height 3.5 times the building height agree well with those using the EC technique; (2) source areas for the scintillometer fluxes are larger than for the EC sensors, so that at low heights over inhomogeneous terrain scintillometry offers advantages; (3) new similarity relationships for dissipation rates are proposed for urban areas; (4) a new technique that uses simultaneous scintillation measurements at two heights to directly estimate area-averaged zero-plane displacement height, z_d, is proposed. z_d estimated in this way depends slightly on atmospheric stability (lower z_d under more unstable conditions).     

利用船测近海层湍流热通量资料验证OAFlux数据集

美国伍兹霍尔海洋研究所(Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution,WHOI)的客观分析海气通量(Objectively Analyzed air-sea Fluxes,OAFlux)数据集中的近海层湍流热通量数据被公认为最可信,并被广泛地用于气候模式模拟结果检验。利用NOAA ETL(Environmental Technology Laboratory)两个固定观测站点的科学试验的船测通量数据库(TOGA COARE试验观测资料和KAWJEX试验观测资料),对OAFlux的热通量进行验证。结果表明:OAFlux的潜热通量普遍高于船测值,并且风速较大时,两者差异较大。风速对潜热通量的变化趋势起主导作用,海表和大气湿度差影响甚微。低风条件下,OAFlux的潜热通量和船测值差异则很小。海面湍流感热交换很弱,通量值本身依然受到风速的主导作用,但由于感热通量值与观测仪器误差十分接近,导致比较分析异常困难。分析结果表明:在上述两个观测试验期内,由于海表空气湿度和大气的湿度差变化不显著,海气相互作用的强度主要取决于海面风速的变化。     

亚洲季风区地面感热通量的区域变化特征

采用1979～1995年(缺1986、1987、1993)NCEP/NCAR再分析资料中的逐旬感热通量资料,对亚洲季风区地面感热通量的空间结构及时间演变进行了旋转经验正交函数(REOF)分析.结果表明印度半岛和中南半岛地区感热通量的变化与亚洲季风的爆发及演变有密切关系,是季风爆发的主要     

Deduction of the Sensible Heat Flux from SODAR Data

A new method for deduction of the sensible heat flux is validated with three sets of published SODAR （sound detection and ranging） data. Although the related expressions have previously been confirmed by the author with surface layer data, they have not yet been validated with observations from the boundary layer before this work. In the study, selected SODAR data are used to test the method for the convective boundary layer. The sensible heat flux （SHF） retrieved from SODAR data is found to decrease linearly with height in the mixed layer. The surface sensible heat fluxes derived from the deduced sensible heat flux profiles under convective conditions agree well with those measured by the eddy correlation method. The characteristics of SHF profiles deduced from SODAR data in different places reflect the background meteorology and terrain. The upper part of the SHF profile （SHFP） for a complicated terrain is found to have a different slope from the lower part. It is suggested that the former reflects the advective characteristic of turbulence in upwind topography. A similarity relationship for the estimation of SHFP in a well mixed layer with surface SHF and zero-heat-flux layer height is presented.     

Estimation of Sensible Heat Flux from Surface Temperature Wave and One-Time-of-Day Air Temperature Observation

By means of the algorithm presented here, the temporal course H(t) and the daily mean H¯ of the sensible heat flux H can be estimated from measurements of the thermodynamic surface temperature (as a function of time) and from a one-time-of-day air temperature observation. In addition to these temperatures, one needs estimates for daily mean wind speed, for the roughness lengths of momentum and heat transfer, and for the displacement height. First, a quite general solution of the equation for heat conductance (equation for the vertical profile of potential temperature (z,t)) in the dynamic sublayer will be presented. The undetermined parameters in this solution will be defined with the aid of the above mentioned measurements. The influence of horizontal advection will be taken into account. After that, the sensible heat flux can be evaluated from the temperature difference between surface and air with the well known resistance formulae. In this paper the algorithm is derived for areas with homogeneous surfaces, i.e., with uniform surface temperatures. Finally, the method will be verified by measurements taken during the field campaigns HIBE 89 (Hildesheimer Börde in Germany) and EFEDA 91 (Spain). The root mean square errors (RMSE) for the comparison between measurement and model with regard to the temperature difference of surface and air amount to one or two degrees Kelvin, and the error of H¯ reaches 10 to 25 per cent. The method can be used to determine the sensible heat flux from measurements of surface temperatures by satellites (e.g., METEOSAT), but can also be applied to ground based measurements. For instance, horizontal temperature advection can be estimated from measurements at a single location, especially if more than one near-surface air temperature is available. The procedure can be generalized for larger areas, which consist of various surface types with different surface temperatures. This generalization of the algorithm is in progress and will be addressed in a subsequent paper. It will allow us to improve the estimates for H(t) by means of temperature measurements from, e.g., NOAA/AVHRR or LANDSAT/TM, taking into account the heterogeneity of the area that is contained in one METEOSAT pixel.     

基于敦煌戈壁站观测对几套再分析产品夏季地表感热通量的评估

西北干旱区是欧亚大陆夏季感热输送的高值区,此区域感热输送对东亚季风气候系统的变异有重要影响。然而,再分析资料的感热通量在此区域存在很大的不确定性,影响该地区感热变化对东亚区域气候影响的认识。本文基于敦煌戈壁站2001~2014年夏季的观测数据,评估了NCEP/NCAR、NCEP/DOE、ERA-Interim和JRA-55这4套再分析产品的感热通量。敦煌戈壁站的感热通量是根据敦煌戈壁站常规观测数据和Y08方案计算得到,代表敦煌戈壁站的实际感热。结果显示,戈壁站夏季感热多年平均约为85.7 W m-2,但受局地降水的影响存在较大的波动;再分析资料的感热通量之间存在很大的不确定性,与观测相比,ERA-Interim的感热通量在大小和变化上好于其他再分析资料,在没有局地性降水的影响时比较接近观测。进一步分析了再分析感热与观测差异的原因。研究表明,再分析资料中的地表风速和地气温差与粗糙度设置和热力参数化方案相关联。各再分析资料均不同程度地低估了敦煌戈壁站的地气温差(观测值约6.5°C),这主要是由于再分析系统中对戈壁下垫面的粗糙度设置偏高以及热力参数化方案不太适用于戈壁下垫面造成的。相对而言,ERA-Interim的参数化方案在戈壁下垫面优于其他再分析产品的参数化方案,使得ERA-Interim的地气温差相对其他再分析资料更接近实际观测,感热通量较为合理。     

一次沙尘暴过程锋生函数和地表热通量的数值诊断

沙尘暴是我国西北地区春季常发生的一种灾害性天气现象。本文利用国家气象中心改进的PSU／NCAR的非静力中尺度模式MM5，对1995年5月16日我国西北地区发生的一次沙尘暴天气个例进行了锋生函数和地表热通量的诊断分析。结果表明，沙尘暴过程是冷锋在移至我国西北地区时产生的一种强烈锋生过程；地表感热通量明显大于地表潜热通量；有无地面热通量对比试验表明，热力因子在沙尘暴产生过程中具有重要作用。     

遥感估算绿洲-沙漠下垫面地表温度及感热通量

利用古浪非均匀近地层野外观测试验资料,验证了卫星反演地表温度的局地分裂窗算法在非均匀地区的适用性,进一步给出了提高反演精度的修正方案,并利用修正的反演地表温度算法和改进的空气动力学阻抗算法反演了试验区的感热通量。结果表明,Becker算法最适用于非均匀地区。与近地层野外观测试验观测结果相比,修正后的反演算法反演的地表温度和感热通量更加合理,均方根误差分别为2.38K和23.49W.m-2。地表温度和感热通量的区域分布特征相似,都表现为在绿洲和沙漠区的变化梯度较小,而在过渡区的梯度较大。     

卫星遥感结合气象资料计算的青藏高原地面感热特征分析

本文选取1981年7月至2012年12月美国国家航空和航天局（NASA）制作的归一化的动态植被指数（NDVI）资料、根据NDVI值计算地表热力输送系数（C_H）的参数化关系式（C_H-I_NDV）和青藏高原70个常规气象观测资料,计算了青藏高原全区的逐月地表热力输送系数（C_H）,讨论了其时空分布特征,并在此基础上计算了高原70个常规台站的感热通量（SSHF）序列,并与已有感热资料进行了对比。随后,探讨了地面感热通量的气候特征及其年际变化与气候因子的关系。结果表明:高原地区的C_H值具有明显的空间差异和季节差异,表现为东高西低、夏季大、冬季小的特点。感热的年际变化在冬季主要响应于地气温差的变化,夏季则受地面风速影响较大;由于风速减小趋缓,地气温差增大,变化趋势在2003年前后由减弱趋势转变为增强趋势,这种趋势的转变最早发生在2001年秋季,且在高原全区具有较好的一致性。     

An Assessment of the Quality of Surface Sensible Heat Flux Derived from Reanalysis Data through Comparison with Station Observations in Northwest China

The present study compares seasonal and interdecadal variations in surface sensible heat flux over Northwest China between station observations and ERA-40 and NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data for the period 1960-2000.While the seasonal variation in sensible heat flux is found to be consistent between station observations and the two reanalysis datasets,both land-air temperatures difference and surface wind speed show remarkable systematic differences.The sensible heat flux displays obvious interdecadal variability that is season-dependent.In the ERA-40 data,the sensible heat flux in spring,fall,and winter shows interdecadal variations that are similar to observations.In the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data,sensible heat flux variations are inconsistent with and sometimes even opposite to observations.While surface wind speeds from the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis data show interdecadal changes consistent with station observations,variations in land-air temperature difference differ greatly from the observed dataset.In terms of land-air temperature difference and surface wind speed,almost no consistency with observations can be identified in the ERA-40 data,apart from the land-air temperature difference in fall and winter.These inconsistencies pose a major obstacle to the application in climate studies of surface sensible heat flux derived from reanalysis data.     

中国东部春季极端降水与同期欧亚大陆地表感热的可能联系

利用1960~2010年ERA-20C再分析资料和中国东部站点降水观测资料,探讨了我国东部春季极端降水与欧亚大陆地表感热通量的联系和可能影响途径。结果发现,当春季欧亚大陆中纬度巴尔喀什湖以西及贝加尔湖以南区域地表感热通量偏弱（强）,我国东部沿海地区地表感热通量偏强（弱）时,我国东部春季极端降水呈现南少（多）北多（少）的反相分布特征。当春季欧亚大陆中纬度关键区地表感热偏弱,低纬度关键区地表感热通量偏强时,春季副热带西风急流偏弱、位置偏北,我国东部北方地区大气斜压不稳定和对流不稳定偏强,北方地区极端降水偏强,而南方地区大气斜压不稳定和对流不稳定偏弱,南方地区极端降水偏弱。当春季欧亚大陆中纬度关键区地表感热偏强,低纬度关键区地表感热通量偏弱,我国东部极端降水的情况大致相反。     

北亚洲大陆冬季地表感热通量对我国江淮梅雨的影响

利用1979—2008年NCEPⅡ月平均地表感热通量再分析资料、江苏省气象台整编的江淮出入梅日期和全国753个测站逐日降水资料,分析了亚洲北部(60°～135°E,32°～75°N,简称北亚洲)大陆冬季地表感热通量对我国江淮梅雨的影响及其可能机制。结果表明,北亚洲大陆地表在冬季总体为感热冷源,对大气起到强冷却作用。通过定义WSH指数来表征北亚洲大陆冬季地表感热冷源的强度,该指数值越小,冷源越强;反之,冷源越弱。当冬季北亚洲大陆地表感热冷源偏强时,夏季梅雨锋北侧的冷空气强度大范围加强,东北冷涡增强,且冷空气向南输送增强;7月高空副热带西风急流位置偏南,南亚高压呈青藏高压型;江淮流域上升运动增强,且该流域上空高层变干、低层变湿,大气层结的不稳定度增加,对流活动增强,有利于梅雨降水,出梅偏晚。冬季地表感热冷源偏弱时,情况则相反。因此,冬季北亚洲大陆地表感热通量的异常对汛期江淮梅雨的预测具有一定的指示意义。     

基于多种资料的青藏高原地表感热的对比分析

青藏高原地表感热通量是高原热源的主要分量之一,对高原局地天气系统、我国天气气候以及亚洲季风等都有着重要影响。选取1980～2016年青藏高原的站点资料和ERA-Interim、NCEP1、NCEP2再分析资料,计算高原地表感热通量的分布状况和时间变化特征并对不同资料得到的结果进行比较分析,结果表明:4种资料在夏季的空间分布、年际变化,高原中部的年际变化,以及长期变化趋势上具有较好的一致性,其中ERA-Interim感热资料较优于其他两种再分析资料。青藏高原的地表感热通量分布呈西高东低的特征,年均最大值出现在柴达木盆地,最小值位于贡山;区域平均值春季最大,冬季最小。感热逐月变化呈单峰型分布,不同分区的年际变化均在2001年或2003年由减弱趋势转变为增强趋势。