Evapotranspiration and microclimate at a low-level radioactive-waste disposal site in northwestern Illinois

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5759677

Healy, R W; deVries, M P; Sturrock, A M

From July through June 1984, a study was made of the microclimate and evapotranspiration at the low-level, radioactive-waste disposal site near Sheffield, Bureau County, Illinois. Three methods were used to estimate evapotranspiration: energy-budget, aerodynamic-profile, and water-budget. Estimates by the first two methods were computed from hourly data, then summed by days and months. Yearly estimates for March through November, by these methods, were quite close-648 and 626 mm, respectively. Daily estimates ranged from 0 to 6 mm. The water-budget method produced only monthly estimates based on weekly or biweekly gamma-attenuation, soil-moisture-content measurements. The yearly evapotranspiration estimated by this method was 655 mm and included only the months of April through October. The yearly (March through November) average of 657 millimeters for the three methods was equivalent to 70% of precipitation and 75% of Penman potential evapotranspiration. Continuous measurements were made of incoming and emitted longwave and short-wave radiation, net radiation, soil-heat flux, soil temperature, horizontal windspeed, and wet- and dry-bulb air temperature. Windspeed and air temperature were measured at three heights. 59 refs., 37 figs., 6 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 5759677
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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