Comparison of reflected solar radiation, air temperature and relative air humidity in different ecosystems: From fishponds and wet meadows to concrete surface

Abstract

Incoming and reflected shortwave solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity of air at 0.3 and 2 m were measured continuously during the vegetation season (from April 1 to September 30, 2008) at six different sites: fishpond, wet meadows, pasture, barley field, village and concrete surface. All six sites are located in the basin of Třeboň Biosphere Region, Czech Republic. For data evaluation the 183 days of the vegetation season were divided into three classes according to the amount of incoming solar energy they received. The albedo of water was two times lower than the albedo of the field and three times lower than the albedo of the concrete surface, which also had the highest average temperature. The lowest average temperature was measured at the wet meadows. The lowest average daily amplitude in temperature (difference between daily maximum and minimum) was measured at the fishpond. The highest difference (3.58°C) in average temperature at 0.3 m among sites was found for wet meadows and concrete surface on clear days and 2.49°C for all days of the vegetation season. Daily time courses of relative air humidity on sunny days show the ability of vegetation to buffer air humidity extremes. We conclude that changes of land cover results in changes of average temperature. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.