The effect of Surface Heterogeneity on the Temperature-Humidity Correlation and the Relative Transport Efficiency

We derive a conceptual model of the flow over heterogeneous terrain consisting of patches with contrasting Bowen ratios. Upward moving eddies are assumed to carry heterogeneous properties, whereas downward moving eddies carry homogeneous properties. This results in a decorrelation of temperature and humidity as the contrast between the patches increases. We show that this model is able to reproduce the relationship developed by Lamaud and Irvine (Boundary-Layer Meteorol. 120:87¿109, 2006). Some details differ from their expression but are in accordance with data obtained over African savannah. We extend the conceptual model to a combination of any scalars, not necessarily linked through the surface energy balance (as is the case for temperature and humidity). To this end we introduce a new parameter that describes the surface heterogeneity in surface fluxes. The results of the current model can be used to predict the discrepancy between similarity relationships for different scalars over heterogeneous terrai

Swirling pipe flow with axial strain : experiment and large eddy simulation

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Local similarity in the stable boundary layer and mixing-length approaches: consistency of concepts

In stably stratified flows vertical movement of eddies is limited by the fact that kinetic energy is converted into potential energy, leading to a buoyancy displacement scale z B . Our new mixing-length concept for turbulent transport in the stable boundary layer follows a rigid-wall analogy, in the sense that we assume that the buoyancy length scale is similar to neutral length scaling. This implies that the buoyancy length scale is: ¿ B = ¿ B z B , with ¿ B ¿ ¿, the von Karman constant. With this concept it is shown that the physical relevance of the local scaling parameter z/¿ naturally appears, and that the ¿ coefficient of the log-linear similarity functions is equal to c/¿ 2, where c is a constant close to unity. The predicted value ¿ ¿ 1/¿ 2 = 6.25 lies within the range found in observational studies. Finally, it is shown that the traditionally used inverse linear interpolation between the mixing length in the neutral and buoyancy limits is inconsistent with the classical log-linear stability functions. As an alternative, a log-linear consistent interpolation method is proposed

Regional spore dispersal as a factor in disease risk warnings for potato late blight: a proof of concept

This study develops and tests novel approaches that significantly reduce the fungicide input necessary for potato late blight control while maintaining the required high level of disease control. The central premise is that fungicide inputs can be reduced by reducing dose rates on more resistant cultivars, by omitting applications on days when conditions are unsuitable for atmospheric transport of viable sporangia and by adapting the dose rate to the length of the predicted critical period. These concepts were implemented and tested in field experiments in 2007 and 2008 in the North Eastern potato growing region in the Netherlands which is known for its high potato late blight disease pressure. Field experiments contained three starch potato cultivars, representing a range in resistance to potato late blight from susceptible to highly resistant, and a series of decision rules determining spray timing and incorporating an increasing number of variables such as: remaining fungicide protection level, critical weather, atmospheric capacity for viable transport of sporangia and the length of the predicted critical period. The level of cultivar resistance was used to reduce the dose rate of the preventive fungicide Shirlan (a.i. fluazinam) by default. A 50% – 75% reduction of the fungicide input proved possible in both years without adverse consequences to the crop or yield. The principles can be used in many decision contexts, but further work is needed to test and refine the methods before it can be used in practic

Interactions between dry-air entrainment, surface evaporation and convective boundary-layer development

The influence of dry-air entrainment on surface heat fluxes and the convective boundary-layer (CBL) properties is studied for vegetated land surfaces, using a mixed-layer CBL model coupled to the Penman¿Monteith equation under a wide range of conditions. In order to address the complex behaviour of the system, the feedback mechanisms involved were put into a mathematical framework. Simple expressions for the evaporative fraction and the Priestley¿Taylor parameter were derived, based on the concept of equilibrium evaporation. Dry-air entrainment enhances the surface evaporation under all conditions, but the sensitivity of the evaporation rate to the moisture content of the free troposphere falls as temperature rises. Due to the evaporation enhancement, shallower CBLs develop beneath dry atmospheres. In all cases, dry-air entrainment reduces the relative humidity at the land surface and at the top of the CBL. However, because of dry-air entrainment-induced land¿atmosphere feedback mechanisms, relative humidity at the top of the CBL responds nonlinearly to temperature rise; it decreases as temperature rises beneath a moist free troposphere, whereas it increases beneath a dry free troposphere. Finally, it was found that in certain conditions the evolution of the surface fluxes, relative humidity and CBL height can be as sensitive to the free tropospheric moisture conditions as to the land-surface properties. Therefore, studies of the land surface and of convective clouds have to take into account the influence of dry-air entrainment through land¿atmosphere feedback mechanism

Comparison of observed and modeled surface fluxes of heat for the Volta river basin

Land-surface processes and their modeling play an important role in planetary boundary modeling, due to their role of providing the surface boundary conditions to the atmosphere. In particular, processes regarding clouds and precipitation are strongly influenced by land-surface processes. To get a further understanding of those interactions we focus on the validation and calibration of a Soil-Vegetation-Atmosphere-Transfer (SVAT) model (The Oregon-State-University-Land-Surface Model) for the Volta River Basin in West Africa. This is a typical example of a semi-arid region in which studies on the interaction within soil, vegetation, atmosphere and water are still needed. For the validation of the model scintillometer measurements from three different sites in Ghana are used to calculate an areal average sensible heat flux density. The three sites show major differences concerning the vegetation, soils, land use, slopes and also climate. All data used in this study are part of long-term observations of the water- and energy balance in the Volta Basin. The calculated fluxes are compared with the output of the model. For the first step an off-line, uncoupled version of the SVAT model is used, driven by measured atmospheric forcings. These were obtained at a weather station on every research site. The second step is the adaptation of the SVAT model to the conditions in the Volta River Basin. The results from the adapted model are validated with the scintillometer measurements. Besides, a comparison with the results of the original model reveal potential shortcomings of the standard SVAT model used under semi-arid condition

Estimating ET using scintillometers and satellites in an irrigated vineyard in the Costa De Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

Observation techniques for surface energy balancecomponents on kilometer scale. Several methods have been proposed to estimate ET overlarge areas which combine Earth Observation Satellite datawith standard climate data. Here we use the Makkinkapproach where incoming solar radiation is obtained bycalculating exoatmospheric incoming solar radiation, usingvisible data from GOES West to estimate cloudiness and16-day composite MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index data toestimate fractional vegetation cover. This methodology can beused operationally at a spatial resolution of 1 km2 butvalidation data are required at a similar spatial scale. LargeAperture Scintillometers transmit and receive near infraredradiation over distances of several kilometers and providemeasurements of the structure parameter for the refractiveindex of air which is related by Monin-Obukhov SimilarityTheory to the surface sensible heat flux (H), which requiresmeasurements of air temperature, pressure and wind speed.ET can then be obtained indirectly as the residual of theenergy balance, ET = Rn – G – H so that we need estimates ofNet Radiation (Rn) and Soil Heat Flux (G) as well. Ascintillometer (Scintec BLS-450) was installed over anirrigated vineyard with area of 72 hectares (1200m x 600m) inJune 6th 2009. Net Radiation was measured in the field andsoil heat flux was estimated using G = A * Rn, where theparameter A was obtained from 8-day composite MODIS LandSurface Temperature data. Comparison of ET derived fromsatellite and scintillometer for June 2009 showed considerablescatter with r2 = 0.81 and ETSAT = 1.12 * ETBLS. Thisapparent overestimation from the satellite-based ET is similarto that found in previous work. However, in these initialcalculations it was assumed that unstable conditions wouldprevail during the daytime but it appears that stableconditions often occur in the late afternoon. Secondly, theestimation of G needs to be carefully revised since this canhave a large effect on ET. These factors are being included inthe analysis of data over an entire growing season to assessthe seasonal behavior of the model