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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #397316
Research Project: Adapting Agricultural Production Systems and Soil and Water Conservation Practices to Climate Change and Variability in Southern Great Plains

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Assessing land-atmosphere interactions over irrigated and non-irrigated croplands using selected coupling metrics: Results from GRAINEX in Nebraska, USA

Author
item WHITESEL, DANIEL - University Of Nebraska
item MAHMOOD, REZAUL - University Of Nebraska
item ROUNDY, JOSHUA - University Of Kansas
item Flanagan, Paul
item SANTANELLO, JOSEPH - National Aeronautics And Space Administration (NASA)
item RAPPIN, ERIC - Western Kentucky University
item NAIR, UDAYSANKAR - University Of Alabama
item PIELKE SR., ROGER - University Of Colorado

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Meteorological Society Conference on Applied
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2022
Publication Date: 1/10/2023
Citation: Whitesel, D., Mahmood, R., Roundy, J.K., Flanagan, P.X., Santanello, J.A., Rappin, E., Nair, U., Pielke Sr., R.A. 2023. Assessing land-atmosphere interactions over irrigated and non-irrigated croplands using selected coupling metrics: Results from GRAINEX in Nebraska, USA. Proceedings of the American Meteorological Society Conference on Applied. 103rd American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting, Jan 8-12, 2023, Denver, CO.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: Land use land cover change affects weather and climate. This presentation will quantify land-atmosphere (L-A) interactions over irrigated and non-irrigated cropland during the Great Plains Irrigation Experiment (GRAINEX). Three coupling metrics were used to quantify L-A interactions as they relate to convection: the Convective Triggering Potential (CTP), the Low-Level Humidity Index (HIlow), and the LCL Deficit. These metrics were calculated from data obtained from the Integrated Sounding Systems (ISS) at Roger’s Farm and York Airport. Each of the metrics were categorized by Intensive Observation Period (IOP), cloud cover, and the time of day. These metrics were then used to determine the intensity and frequency of convection that occurred during GRAINEX, with CTP and HIlow showing the intensity and LCL Deficit the frequency. For most cases, it is found that irrigated cropland had higher CTP, lower HIlow, lower planetary boundary layer heights, and higher LCL deficits compared to non-irrigated cropland. Thus, irrigated cropland can feature more intense but less frequent convection compared to non-irrigated cropland. Four case studies were analyzed, each days that featured severe weather across the GRAINEX domain. Utilization of the coupling metrics were helpful in understanding why these events occurred and how irrigated and non-irrigated agricultural land contributed.