A Surface Energy Budget Model Modifying Heat Flow by Foliage Effects

Abstract

Propagation of energy (either acoustic or electromagnetic energy) through the region of the atmosphere close to the earth's surface depends on estimates of the vertical structure of wind, pressure, temperature, humidity, and refractive index near the earth's surface. To help predict these vertical structures, the TGRAD model has been developed. The model is based on flux- profile methods, requiring simple meteorological inputs as functions of time. The model's original purpose was to predict the vertical temperature gradient profile, hence the name TGRAD. The TGRAD model has been compared against a predecessor model (the Deardorff model) and has proven to characterize the near- surface atmosphere much better under foliated conditions. It characterizes the daytime atmosphere well under all conditions studied. It characterizes the nocturnal atmosphere well until the critical Richardson number is reached. For stronger nocturnal inversions an approach is discussed that may be capable of treating these conditions. The principal improvement provided by this model is the development of sensible and latent heat flux equations that more accurately account for a surface layer partially covered by foliage.... Boundary layer, Surface energy, Budget, Foliage sensible heat

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA268598

Entities

People

  • David H. Tofsted

Organizations

  • United States Army Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Boundary Layer
  • Computational Science
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Energy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Equations
  • Heat Energy
  • Heat Flux
  • Latent Heat
  • Meteorology
  • Refraction
  • Refractive Index
  • Specific Heat
  • Surface Energy
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Turbulent Mixing

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Forest Ecology
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers