Mesoscale fluxes over heterogeneous flat landscapes for use in larger scale models

We have developed a framework to parameterize mesoscale fluxes of heat, moisture, and momentum, in a cloud-free environment, which result from heterogeneous heating of flat land surfaces. The importance and parameterizability of these mesoscale fluxes is demonstrated using the mathematical concept of predictability. This methodology is used to estimate the relative importance of mesoscale, as contrasted with turbulent fluxes, in the Konza Prairie of Kansas during the FIFE field experiment.