Comparison of surface fluxes and conductances at two contrasting sites within the FIFE area

Journal Article · Mon Nov 30 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD00256· OSTI ID:6251632

Stewart, J B ^[1]; Verma, S B ^[2]

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1. Inst. of Hydrology, Wallingford (United Kingdom)
2. Univ. of Nebraska, Lincoln (United States)

This work is part of the First International Satellite Land Surface Climatology Project (ISLSCP) Field Experiment (FIFE), an international land-surface-atmosphere experiment aimed at improving the way climate models represent energy, water, heat, and carbon exchanges, and improving the utilization of satellite based remote sensing to monitor such parameters. Here the authors compare surface flux measurements and surface conductances at two sites in the FIFE test area. A number of variables in the site could affect evaporation, including slope and aspect, soil depth, water availability, leaf area index (LAI), and vegetation species. The two sites chosen varied greatly in LAI and species due to heavy grazing at one site. The evaporation fluxes and surface conductance values at the two sites were very similar though LAI varied greatly. Six other sites were also studied, and confirmed that LAI had little impact on the evaporative flux or evaporative fraction. Possible explanations are offered for this unexpected result.

• OSTI ID: 6251632
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97:D17; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540110*
540210 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (1990-)
AIR-BIOSPHERE INTERACTIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH PLANET
EVAPORATION
FEEDING
GRAZING
GROUND COVER
HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PLANETS
PLANTS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SURFACE PROPERTIES