Effects of land management and topography on land surface energy fluxes of ecosystems at different latitudes Book Chapter

Melesse, AM, Wang, X, McClain, M. (2011). Effects of land management and topography on land surface energy fluxes of ecosystems at different latitudes . 83-103.

cited authors

  • Melesse, AM; Wang, X; McClain, M

authors

abstract

  • Energy (e.g., latent and sensible heats) fluxes are important components of the landatmosphere processes governing the hydrologic cycle. Understanding these energy fluxes as a function of topography and land management for ecosystems at different latitudes is essential to estimating water-energy exchanges between land surface and atmosphere.This chapter presents the dependence of energy fluxes on physical, geographical, and temporal factors. In addition, this chapter also discusses the estimation and evaluation of latent heat, sensible heat, evaporative energy flux, and non-evaporative energy flux for three selected sites at different latitudes. Microtopography can regulate soil moisture content and its spatial distribution, as indicated by a good correlation between topographic index and latent heat flux. The results indicate that vegetation controls the partition of energy fluxes in the three sites considered in this analysis located at different latitudes. Remote sensing can be very useful for evaluating the moisture availability,vegetative cover in wetland and grassland ecosystems, and microtopographic effects. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

publication date

  • January 1, 2011

start page

  • 83

end page

  • 103