Spatial characteristics of surface and atmospheric properties during HartX

Summary Remote sensing and ground measurements were used to evaluate the homogeneity of the Scots pine plantation of Hartheim and the interactions between the forest and its surroundings during HartX.Remote sensing data contribute to characterization of the Scots pine plantation of Hartheim in terms of surface properties and thermal and biological characteristics of the forest. The surroundings of the main experiment site in the forest has homogenous normalized difference vegetation index, microwave specle and brightness temperatures to all directions for at least 500 m. Local sensible heat flux estimates using satellite measured brightness temperatures andin situ measured wind and air temperatures showed good agreement.On some days during HartX the test area was influenced by advection of dry air from the northern Upper Rhine Valley. Agricultural surroundings close to the forest are influenced by breezes flowing out of the forest during radiative nights with weak large-scale motion.With 7 Figures