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Influence of soil moisture content on surface albedo and soil thermal parameters at a tropical station

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Abstract

Half hourly data of soil moisture content, soil temperature, solar irradiance, and reflectance are measured during April 2010 to March 2011 at a tropical station, viz., Astronomical Observatory, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (76°59’E longitude and 8°29’N latitude). The monthly, seasonal and seasonal mean diurnal variation of soil moisture content is analyzed in detail and is correlated with the rainfall measured at the same site during the period of study. The large variability in the soil moisture content is attributed to the rainfall during all the seasons and also to the evaporation/movement of water to deeper layers. The relationship of surface albedo on soil moisture content on different time scales are studied and the influence of solar elevation angle and cloud cover are also investigated. Surface albedo is found to fall exponentially with increase in soil moisture content. Soil thermal diffusivity and soil thermal conductivity are also estimated from the subsoil temperature profile. Log normal dependence of thermal diffusivity and power law dependence of thermal conductivity on soil moisture content are confirmed.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors Neena Sugathan acknowledges financial assistance from University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India for fellowship under the Faculty Development Programme (FDP). Authors acknowledge Central Soil Analytical Laboratory (Government of Kerala), Thiruvananthapuram for soil analysis and India Meteorological Department (IMD), Thiruvananthapuram for rainfall and cloud cover data. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Kerala, Kariavattom Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 581, Kerala, India.

    Neena Sugathan, V Biju & G Renuka

  2. Department of Physics, Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 014, Kerala, India.

    Neena Sugathan

  3. Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Sasthra Bhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 004, Kerala, India.

    G Renuka

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  1. Neena Sugathan
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  2. V Biju
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  3. G Renuka
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Correspondence to G Renuka.

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Sugathan, N., Biju, V. & Renuka, G. Influence of soil moisture content on surface albedo and soil thermal parameters at a tropical station. J Earth Syst Sci 123, 1115–1128 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0452-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-014-0452-x

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