Topographic Effects on the Surface Radiation Balance in and around Arizona’s Meteor Crater

Abstract

Abstract The individual components of the slope-parallel surface radiation balance were measured in and around Arizona’s Meteor Crater to investigate the effects of topography on the radiation balance. The crater basin has a diameter of 1.2 km and a depth of 170 m. The observations cover the crater floor, the crater rim, four sites on the inner sidewalls on an east–west transect, and two sites outside the crater. Interpretation of the role of topography on radiation differences among the sites on a representative clear day is facilitated by the unique symmetric crater topography. The shortwave radiation balance was affected by the topographic effects of terrain exposure, terrain shading, and terrain reflections, and by surface albedo variations. Terrain exposure caused a site on the steeper upper eastern sidewall of the crater to receive 6% more daily integrated shortwave energy than a site on the lower part of the same slope. Terrain shading had a larger effect on the lower slopes than on the upper slopes. At the lower western slope site the daily total was reduced by 6%. Measurements indicate a diffuse radiation enhancement due to sidewall reflections. The longwave radiation balance was affected by counterradiation from the crater sidewalls and by reduced emissions due to the formation of a nighttime temperature inversion. The total nighttime longwave energy loss at the crater floor was 72% of the loss observed at the crater rim.