Summary
The influence of desert-fringe vegetation on the daytime sensible heat flux is examined. The calculations are based on a previously developed surface albedo model for the plants/soil surface and the soil heat flux observational data for both bare and vegetated areas. It is found that the sensible heat flux from an ecosystem in a fenced-off area (exclosure) in the Sinai is larger than that from bare soil (overgrazed areas outside the exclosure) by a factor of 1.5 to 2.0, depending on the solar zenith angle. The contributions to this enhanced flux from the albedo reduction and the soil heat flux reduction are of the same magnitude.
Various studies have established that a larger heat flux increases daytime convection and boundary layer growth, and thus an enhanced flux increases the probabilities for precipitation even in a parched region when moisture is advected from outside. The results of this investigation therefore suggest that removal of desert-fringe vegetation can reduce precipitation and promote drought.
Zusammenfassung
Es wird der Einfluß der Vegetation am Rande der Wüste auf den tagsüber fühlbaren Wärmefluß untersucht. Die Rechnungen basieren auf einem früher entwickelten Modell für die Oberflächenalbedo der Pflanzen-/Erdoberfläche und auf Meßwerten für den Wärmefluß von vegetationslosen und bewachsenen Flächen. Wir finden, daß der fühlbare Wärmefluß eines abgezäunten Ökosystems in der Sinai um einen Faktor 1,5 bis 2,0 größer ist (abhängig vom Sonnenstand) als der Wärmefluß von einer unbewachsenen, abgegrasten Fläche außerhalb der Einzäunung. Die Beiträge zu diesem verstärkten Fluß kommen zu gleichen Teilen von der Reduktion der Albedo und des Wärmeflusses in den Erdboden.
Mehrere Studien haben gezeigt, daß ein größerer Wärmefluß die Konvektion am Tage verstärkt, zu einer höheren Grenzschicht führt und daß deshalb ein verstärkter Wärmefluß eine Zunahme der Niederschlagswahrscheinlichkeit sogar in ausgetrockneten Gebieten bewirkt, wenn die Feuchtigkeit von außen durch Advektion zugeführt wird. Das Ergebnis dieser Untersuchung zeigt, daß die Vernichtung von Vegetation am Rande der Wüste zu einer Verringerung der Niederschläge führen kann und die Austrocknung gefördert wird.
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Otterman, J. Enhancement of surface-atmosphere fluxes by desert-fringe vegetation through reduction of surface albedo and of soil heat flux. Theor Appl Climatol 40, 67–79 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00867793
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00867793