An intercomparison of surface energy flux measurement systems used during FIFE 1987

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JD03044· OSTI ID:6294100

Nie, D; Kanemasu, E T; Fritschen, L J; Weaver, H L; Smith, E A; Verma, S B; Field, R T; Kustas, W P; Stewart, J B ^[1]

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1. Georgia Univ., Griffin (United States) Washington Univ., Seattle (United States) USGS, Denver, CO (United States) Florida State Univ., Tallahassee (United States) Nebraska Univ., Lincoln (United States) Delaware Univ., Newark (United States) USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD (United States) NERC, Inst. of Hydrology, Wallingford (United Kingdom)

During FIFE 1987, surface energy fluxes were measured at 22 flux sites by nine groups of scientists using different measuring systems. A rover Bowen ratio station was taken to 20 of the flux stations to serve as a reference for estimating the instrument-related differences. The rover system was installed within a few meters from the host instrument of a site. Using linear regression analysis, net radiation, Bowen ratio, and latent heat fluxes were compared between the rover measurements and the host measurements. The average differences in net radiation, Bowen ratio, and latent heat flux from different types of instruments can be up to 10, 30, and 20 percent, respectively. The Didcot net radiometer gave higher net radiation while the Swissteco type showed lower values, as compared to the corrected radiation energy balance system (REBS) model. The four-way components method and the Thornthwaite type give similar values to the REBS. The surface energy radiation balance systems type Bowen ratio systems exhibit slightly lower Bowen ratios and thus higher latent heat fluxes, compared to the arid zone evapotranspiration systems. Eddy correlation systems showed slightly lower latent heat flux in comparison to the Bowen ratio systems. It is recommended that users of the flux data take these differences into account. 11 refs.

• Research Organization: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD (United States). Goddard Space Flight Center
• OSTI ID: 6294100
• 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

440101 -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AERIAL MONITORING
CALIBRATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CORRELATIONS
DAILY VARIATIONS
DEW POINT
EVALUATION
HEAT FLUX
MATHEMATICS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
REGRESSION ANALYSIS
REMOTE SENSING
STATISTICS
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
VARIATIONS