|
|
The Bowen Ratio/Energy Balance method and detailed temperature profile measurements to improve data quality control
Pozníková, Gabriela ; Fischer, Milan ; Orság, Matěj ; Trnka, Miroslav ; Žalud, Zdeněk
Water plays a key role in the functionality and sustainability of ecosystems. In light of predicted climate change, research should focus on the water cycle and its individual components. The main component of water balance driving water from ecosystems is evapotranspiration (ET). One standard method for measuring ET is the Bowen Ratio/Energy Balance (BREB) method. It is based on the assumption that water vapour and heat are transported by identical eddies with equal efficiency. When using the BREB method, we assume that the profiles of temperature and air humidity are ideally logarithmic or at least consistent. Since the BREB method is usually based on measurements of temperature and humidity at only two heights, it is difficult to verify whether this assumption has been fulfilled. Potential profile inconsistencies are more likely for temperature because the sensible heat flux changes its sign more often and negative latent heat flux is not physically possible during positive sensible heat flux. We therefore conducted a field experiment using a 4-mhigh measurement mast with 20 thermocouples for detailed measurement of air temperature profiles above different covers, e.g. grassland, spring barley, and poplar plantations. Our main objective was to investigate the basic assumptions of the BREB method, i.e. the temperature profile’s consistency under various weather conditions. To be more specific, we aimed to investigate whether inflexion points occurred within the temperature profile and if so when.
|
|
|
Analysis of Spring Barley Actual Evapotranspiration
Pozníková, Gabriela ; Fischer, Milan ; Pohanková, Eva ; Žalud, Zdeněk ; Trnka, Miroslav
Evapotranspiration (ET) represents the main water-loss part of the water balance in agricultural landscape. The reliable quantification of the agricultural field ET is, however, still a challenge. To calculate ET, the Bowen ratio/energy balance (BREB) method was used in this study. It is based on measurements of the temperature and humidity gradients and radiation balance with the soil heat flux. Calculated ET was further used to quantify crop coefficient (Kc). Subsequently, we analysed the crop coefficient of spring barley during one growing season since 7th May 2013 to 30th July 2013. We used the data obtained above 1-ha spring barley field in Bystřice nad Pernštejnem, Czech Republic. In particular, we investigated how Kc correlates to climatic conditions as rainfall and soil humidity and how it reflects Plant Area Index (PAI) during the year during different parts of growing season. The cumulative ET of spring barley was 228.6 mm per investigated period. For reference evapotranspiration (ETo) two different approaches were used. Typically, a reference grass cover 0.12 m high standard for Europe. On the other hand, in the USA it is common to use also alfalfa (0.50 m high). ETo of grass was 296.3 mm and ETo of alfalfa was 351.4 mm. Maximum Plant Area Index occurred in June and its value was 4.1. Mean Kc in May was 1.17 for reference grass and 1.03 for alfalfa. Similarly in June, Kc was equal to 1.16 (grass) and 1.03 (alfalfa). Finally in July, for reference grass Kc was 0.55 and 0.48 for alfalfa. The decline at the end of the growing season was caused by dry weather and ripe stage of spring barley.
|
host ::
RSS.