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Diurnal and seasonal variations of surface albedo in a spring wheat field of arid lands of Northwestern China

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Abstract

Surface albedo greatly affects the radiation energy balance of croplands and is a significant factor in crop growth monitoring and yield estimation. Precise determination of surface albedo is thus important. This study aimed to examine the influence of growth stages (tillering, jointing, heading, filling and maturity) on albedo and its diurnal asymmetry by measuring diurnal albedo variations. Results indicated that the daily mean surface albedo generally exhibited an increased tendency during tillering to heading but decreased after heading. Surface albedos were much higher in the morning than the corresponding values of the same solar elevation angles in the afternoon when the solar elevation angle was less than 40°, indicating a diurnal asymmetry in surface albedo. However, less difference was found in surface albedos between forenoon and afternoon when the solar elevation angle was greater than 40°. Dew droplets on the leaf surface in the morning were assumed to be the main factor resulting in the diurnal asymmetry in albedo of spring wheat.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the 100-talents Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31070415) and the Joint Scholar Project of Western (China) Lightening Talent Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Ya-feng Zhang, Xin-ping Wang, Yan-xia Pan & Rui Hu

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Ya-feng Zhang & Rui Hu

Authors
  1. Ya-feng Zhang
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  2. Xin-ping Wang
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  3. Yan-xia Pan
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  4. Rui Hu
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Correspondence to Xin-ping Wang.

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Zhang, Yf., Wang, Xp., Pan, Yx. et al. Diurnal and seasonal variations of surface albedo in a spring wheat field of arid lands of Northwestern China. Int J Biometeorol 57, 67–73 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0534-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00484-012-0534-x

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