Modeling transpiration patterns of vegetation along south and north facing slopes during the subtropical dry season

Segal, M.; Mahrer, Y.; Pielke, R. A.; Ookouchi, Yasumasa

doi:10.1016/0168-1923(85)90062-0

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The differential ET rates for slopes with contrasting north and south aspects were identified as due to the cumulative effects of differences in incident radiation, consistent with Segal et al . []. Throughout this work, we found direct evidence of the differences in the micrometeorology, energy, and water fluxes induced by aspect variations and their co‐evolved soil and vegetation conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

On the observed ecohydrologic dynamics of a semiarid basin with aspect-delimited ecosystems

et al. 2013

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[1] In semiarid complex terrain, the combination of elevation and aspect promotes variations in the water and energy balance, resulting in slopes with distinct ecologic and hydrologic properties. Quantifying the differential energy and water dynamics of opposing slopes can provide essential information on the potential effects of climate variability on landscapes. In this study, we use observations from a network of hydrologic sensors deployed on the slopes of a semiarid catchment in central New Mexico, USA, to quantify the ecohydrologic dynamics of two coexisting and contrasting ecosystems : a juniper (Juniperus monosperma) savanna on a north facing slope (NFS) and a creosote (Larrea tridentata) shrubland on a south facing slope (SFS). Our analyses show that: (1) energy loads exert a first-order control on the dynamics of evapotranspiration and soil moisture residence times in the catchment, with vegetation imposing a second-order control at the onset of the growing season; (2) soils exhibit a characteristic progression of moisture and temperature along the slope-aspect continuum that is preserved throughout the year, going from a wetter and cooler NFS to a drier and warmer SFS; (3) there are remarkable differences in the runoff dynamics among the catchment slopes, with a smaller precipitation threshold triggering larger SFS runoff amounts than at its NFS counterpart; and (4) seasonal water balances of the NFS and SFS follow opposite trajectories in the year and point to distinct soil water pools for evapotranspiration demands. The results of this study have important implications for understanding landscape changes in areas of complex topography under current and future climate variability.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 53%

On the observed ecohydrologic dynamics of a semiarid basin with aspect-delimited ecosystems

et al. 2013

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“…Therefore it is important to understand the quantitative relationships between the surface micrometeorological properties and the surface topography and to understand how slope and aspect affect the surface energy balance. Recently, there have been studies of the energy balance on sloping surfaces for short periods of time [Segal et al, 1985;Gay, 1986;Wendler et al, 1987;Whiteman et al, 1989].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface energy fluxes on four slope sites during FIFE 1988

Nie

Demetriades-Shah²,

Kanemasu³

1992

J. Geophys. Res.

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Four slopes (facing north, south, east, and west) in the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area were selected to study the effect of topography on surface energy balance and other micrometeorological variables. Energy fluxes, air temperature, and vapor pressure were measured on the slopes throughout the 1988 growing season. Net radiation was highest on the south facing slope and lowest on the north facing slope, and the difference was more than 150 W m−2 (20–30%) at solar noon. For daily averages the difference was about 25 W m−2 (15%) early in the season and increased to about 60 W m−2 (30–50%) in September. Soil heat fluxes were similar for all the slopes. The absolute values of sensible heat flux (H) were consistently lower on the north facing slope compared with other slopes. The south facing slope had the greatest day‐to‐day fluctuation in latent heat flux as a result of the interaction of net radiation, soil moisture, and green leaf area. Differences were found in the partitioning of the available energy among the slopes, and the north facing slope had a higher percentage of energy dissipated into latent heat flux. The north facing slope had higher air temperatures during the day and higher vapor pressures both during the day and at night when the wind was from the south.

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Studies of surface energy balance of sloping terrain

Oliver¹

1992

Intl Journal of Climatology

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Measurements of radiation and soil energy balance components were made for a complete solar season on a south and north facing slope on the edge of the Chilterns, England.The contrasts between the two slopes are illustrated on both the diurnal and seasonal time-scale. It is shown that a consistent relationship exists between daily solar and net radiation totals for the slopes throughout the year but that soil heat flux cannot be modelled easily. Further, it is shown that it is possible to derive a simple model of solar radiation on to a slope from measurements made on the horizontal.Combining these conclusions points the way towards simple routine calculation of slope radiation balances for use in energy and evaporation models over undulating terrain.

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Modeling transpiration patterns of vegetation along south and north facing slopes during the subtropical dry season

Cited by 8 publications

References 14 publications

On the observed ecohydrologic dynamics of a semiarid basin with aspect-delimited ecosystems

On the observed ecohydrologic dynamics of a semiarid basin with aspect-delimited ecosystems

Surface energy fluxes on four slope sites during FIFE 1988

Studies of surface energy balance of sloping terrain

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