Surface-layer fluxes measured using the C2T-profile method

Abstract

The first experimental test of obtaining heat and momentum fluxes from measurements of the profile of the temperature structure parameter C2T is performed. The parameter C2T is obtained from resistance-wire thermometers as well as from optical scintillation measurements, the latter produces averaged values over a 606m propagation path. Use of optical scintillation can produce spatial averaging over propagation paths as long as several kilometers. Deducing the fluxes requires the Monin-Obukhov similarity theory of the horizontally homgeneous atmospheric surface layer. The results show agreement with eddy-correlation measurements of the fluxes for homogeneous and stationary micrometeorological conditions. The accuracy of optical scintillometers must, however, be improved to obtain reliable fluxes by this method. -Authors