TURBULENCE FLUX ESTIMATES OF SENSIBLE AND LATENT HEAT NEAR SHELTERBELTS DURING LOW WIND CONDITIONS

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate sensible and latent heat fluxes near shelterbelts under low wind conditionsusing eddy correlation. The study site was located at the Agricultural Meteorological Research Center in Mead, Nebraskaduring the summer of 1995. A wheat stubble and alfalfa field surrounded by a shelterbelt 12 m in height were instrumentedwith surface energy balance systems using eddy correlation that were located in the windward and leeward side of theshelterbelts for both fields. Estimates of sensible and latent heat fluxes were compared for the windward and leeward sidesof the shelterbelt for both surfaces. Daily sensible heat fluxes tended to be larger in the open location relative to thesheltered while latent heat fluxes tended to be higher behind the shelterbelt. Overall surface energy balance closure duringthe study averaged 0.85 indicating reliable consistent estimates of turbulence flux using eddy correlation near shelterbelts.