Abstract:Land surface energy fluxes are required in many environmental studies, including hydrology, agronomy and meteorology. Surface energy balance models simulate microscale energy exchange processes between the ground surface and the atmospheric layer near ground level. Spatial variability of energy fluxes limits point measurements to be used for larger areas. Remote sensing provides the basis for spatial mapping of energy fluxes. Remote-sensing-based surface energy flux-mapping was conducted using seven Landsat images from 1997 to 2002 at four contiguous crop fields located in Polk County, northwestern Minnesota. Spatially distributed surface energy fluxes were estimated and mapped at 30 m pixel level from Landsat Thematic Mapper and Enhanced Thematic Mapper images and weather information. Net radiation was determined using the surface energy balance algorithm for land (SEBAL) procedure. Applying the two-source energy balance (TSEB) model, the surface temperature and the latent and sensible heat fluxes were partitioned into vegetation and soil components and estimated at the pixel level. Yield data for wheat and soybean from 1997 to 2002 were mapped and compared with latent heat (evapotranspiration) for four of the fields at pixel level. The spatial distribution and the relation of latent heat flux and Bowen ratio (ratio of sensible heat to latent heat) to crop yield were studied. The root-mean-square error and the mean absolute percentage of error between the observed and predicted energy fluxes were between 7 and 22 W m 2 and 12 and 24% respectively. Results show that latent heat flux and Bowen ratio were correlated (positive and negative) to the yield data. Wheat and soybean yields were predicted using latent heat flux with mean R 2 D 0Ð67 and 0Ð70 respectively, average residual means of 4Ð2 bushels/acre and 0Ð11 bushels/acre respectively, and average residual standard deviations of 16Ð2 bushels/acre and 16Ð6 bushels/acre respectively (1 bushel/acre ³ 0Ð087 m 3 ha 1 ). The flux estimation procedure from the SEBAL-TSEB model was useful and applicable to agricultural fields.

Abstract:Among the various indicators of success in wetland restoration, hydrology is the most important and relatively easy to monitor. Evapotranspiration (ET) was used to assess the ecohydrologic changes at the Glacial Ridge prairie restoration site in northwestern Minnesota. Twelve Landsat images from 2000-03 for the months of June, July and August were used to study the spatial ET changes. Spatial monthly and seasonal ET were estimated using a surface energy budget technique from Landsat images. Five sub-basins within the study area were delineated to represent the different conditions of the wetlands. Their spatial and temporal ET responses to the restoration activities (native species planting, burning and ditch closures) were studied. Spatial statistics showing mean and standard deviation of monthly ET were computed. Comparisons were made between these watersheds and the preserved sub-watershed of the study area. The average annual ET increases for the five sub-basins were in the range of 9% (2002-03) to 25% (2001-02). Over the study period, ET increased by nearly 50%. After considering the effect of variations in precipitation, wind speed and solar radiation on the resulting ET, the results show that ET increased in recent years as result of the restoration activities.

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