A Measure of Inhomogeneity of the Land Surface and Parametrization of Turbulent Fluxes under Natural Conditions

Summary

The effects of surface heterogeneity and nonstationarity on turbulent fluxes are parametrized by introducing an additional roughness length that corrects for deviations from Stationarity and Horizontal Homogeneity (SHH). Using data from the experiments of FIFE, KUREX, TARTEX and SADE, a relationship was detected between the underestimation of turbulent fluxes (the lack of balance in the surface energy budget) and terrain inhomogeneity.

Based on the assumption that the parametrization obtained from these data is applicable for complex terrain surfaces in general, the paper presents some simple relationships for surface turbulent fluxes, bulk transfer coefficients, and roughness lengths.