REBAL '92 - a cooperative radiation and energy balance field study for imagery and electromagnetic propagation

Abstract

This study was conducted to improve current understanding of the partitioning of energy at the ground surface of a bare soil field and its influence on the character and intensity of optical turbulence as represented by the refractive index structure parameter, C2n, and to improve micrometeorological models of the surface energy balance. The following were collected: diurnal radiation; evaporation (directly measured by large weighing lysimeters); five-level micrometeorological profiles of wind speed, air temperature, and relative humidity; soil temperature and volumetric water content; soil heat flux; optical turbulence (scintillometer); and near- and far-field infrared imager data over wet and dry bare soil for clear and cloudy sky conditions. Initial results from the modeling efforts indicate excellent agreement between measured and modeled values of radiation/energy balance fluxes and C2n, for one day. -from Authors