MICROMETEOROLOGY OF AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS

Authors: Hatfield, Jerry; Baker, John

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Monograph Series
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2004
Publication Date: 8/8/2005
Citation: Hatfield, J.L., Baker, J.M., (Editors) 2005. Micrometeorology of Agricultural Systems. American Society of Agronomy Monograph Series No. 47. ASA-CSSA-SSSA. Madison, WI. p. 584.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The exchanges of energy and matter between the earth's surface and its atmosphere represent a complex set of processes involving radiation, latent heat, sensible heat, and gaseous transport. These exchanges determine the survival and growth of plants and animals, indeed all living organisms, so their measurement is important to a broad array of agricultural scientists and ecologists. This monograph is an effort to summarize the current state of knowledge about these transport processes that occur within the upper layers of the soil profile and the lowest part of the atmosphere. The volume covers the measurement of traditional agronomic weather variables, the components of the surface energy balance, relevant plant properties and processes, trace gases, particulates, and a variety of specialized measurements such as frost depth and leaf wetness. Particular emphasis is placed on flux measurements, with separate chapters covering a number of the more widely used methods, as well as inverse numerical approaches that permit estimation of source emissions on the basis of sparse concentration measurements. A compendium of micrometeorological equations is included as a useful reference source for students and field scientists.