Abstract

A growing rate equation for the dry surface layer (DSL) in sand dune fields is developed. This equation makes use of the apparent jump discontinuity in volumetric water content at the boundary between the DSL and the moist underlayer (Δθ), as well as the soil-surface evaporation rate minus the upward water flux in the lower part of moist layers (qm). The evaporation rate exhibits a diurnal variation, while the flux qm decreases exponentially with a half-life much longer than the diurnal time period. Hence, there are diurnal as well as day-to-day variations in the thickness of the DSL. It is also shown that the Δθ exhibits a well-defined variation during the daytime hours, which mainly reflects the change in the soil temperature gradient across the DSL in response to the solar heating of the land surface.

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