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A Nonequilibrium Thermodynamic Approach for Surface Energy Balance Closure
Author(s) -
Li Peiyuan,
Wang ZhiHua
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2019gl085835
Subject(s) - eddy covariance , sensible heat , energy balance , planetary boundary layer , non equilibrium thermodynamics , heat flux , environmental science , turbulence , dissipation , heat engine , radiosonde , thermodynamic free energy , atmospheric sciences , mechanics , energy budget , closure (psychology) , meteorology , thermodynamics , physics , heat transfer , ecology , ecosystem , biology , economics , market economy
The surface energy imbalance, viz. that the turbulent dissipation does not fully account for available energy, has for long been an outstanding challenge in geophysical studies. In this study, we developed a novel approach based on nonequilibrium thermodynamics by representing the atmospheric boundary layer as a heat engine. In addition, an analytically tractable approach was used to estimate the ground heat flux based on Green's function approach, which in turn determines the available energy that drives the atmospheric heat engine. The proposed model was evaluated using heat fluxes measured by eight AmeriFlux eddy covariance towers with atmospheric temperature profiles recorded at adjacent radiosonde sites. The surface energy balance closure can be improved by ~11% over various landscapes, by including the estimated power production from the atmospheric heat engine.