Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces
Bulk aerodynamic methods have been shown to perform poorly in computing turbulent heat fluxes at glacier surfaces during shallow katabatic winds. Katabatic surface layers have different wind shear and flux profiles to the surface layers for which the bulk methods were developed, potentially invalida...
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S002214302400039X/type/journal_article |
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| author | Cole Lord-May Valentina Radić |
| author_facet | Cole Lord-May Valentina Radić |
| author_sort | Cole Lord-May |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bulk aerodynamic methods have been shown to perform poorly in computing turbulent heat fluxes at glacier surfaces during shallow katabatic winds. Katabatic surface layers have different wind shear and flux profiles to the surface layers for which the bulk methods were developed, potentially invalidating their use in these conditions. In addition, eddy covariance-derived turbulent heat fluxes are unlikely to be representative of surface conditions when eddy covariance data are collected close to the wind speed maximum (WSM). Here we utilize two months of eddy covariance and meteorological data measured at three different heights (1 m, 2 m, and 3 m) at Kaskawulsh Glacier in the Yukon, Canada, to re-examine the performance of bulk methods relative to eddy covariance-derived fluxes under different near-surface flow regimes. We propose a new set of processing methods for one-level eddy covariance data to ensure the validity of calculated fluxes during highly variable flows and low-level wind speed maxima, which leads to improved agreement between eddy covariance-derived and modelled fluxes across all flow regimes, with the best agreement (correlation >0.9) 1 m above the surface. Contrary to previous studies, these results show that adequately processed eddy covariance data collected at or above the WSM can provide valid estimates of surface heat fluxes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2bbddedd2344a07a408ebf58b2794ad |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2bbddedd2344a07a408ebf58b2794ad2025-01-16T21:47:31ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522024-01-017010.1017/jog.2024.39Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfacesCole Lord-May0Valentina Radić1Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaDepartment of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, CanadaBulk aerodynamic methods have been shown to perform poorly in computing turbulent heat fluxes at glacier surfaces during shallow katabatic winds. Katabatic surface layers have different wind shear and flux profiles to the surface layers for which the bulk methods were developed, potentially invalidating their use in these conditions. In addition, eddy covariance-derived turbulent heat fluxes are unlikely to be representative of surface conditions when eddy covariance data are collected close to the wind speed maximum (WSM). Here we utilize two months of eddy covariance and meteorological data measured at three different heights (1 m, 2 m, and 3 m) at Kaskawulsh Glacier in the Yukon, Canada, to re-examine the performance of bulk methods relative to eddy covariance-derived fluxes under different near-surface flow regimes. We propose a new set of processing methods for one-level eddy covariance data to ensure the validity of calculated fluxes during highly variable flows and low-level wind speed maxima, which leads to improved agreement between eddy covariance-derived and modelled fluxes across all flow regimes, with the best agreement (correlation >0.9) 1 m above the surface. Contrary to previous studies, these results show that adequately processed eddy covariance data collected at or above the WSM can provide valid estimates of surface heat fluxes.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S002214302400039X/type/journal_articleEnergy balanceglacier meteorologyice/atmosphere interactionsmountain glaciers |
| spellingShingle | Cole Lord-May Valentina Radić Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces Journal of Glaciology Energy balance glacier meteorology ice/atmosphere interactions mountain glaciers |
| title | Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces |
| title_full | Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces |
| title_fullStr | Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces |
| title_short | Improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces |
| title_sort | improved processing methods for eddy covariance measurements in calculating sensible heat fluxes at glacier surfaces |
| topic | Energy balance glacier meteorology ice/atmosphere interactions mountain glaciers |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S002214302400039X/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT colelordmay improvedprocessingmethodsforeddycovariancemeasurementsincalculatingsensibleheatfluxesatglaciersurfaces AT valentinaradic improvedprocessingmethodsforeddycovariancemeasurementsincalculatingsensibleheatfluxesatglaciersurfaces |