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Journal of Arid Land  2015, Vol. 7 Issue (5): 579-589    DOI: 10.1007/s40333-015-0129-6
Research Articles     
Surface energy and water vapor fluxes observed on a megadune in the Badain Jaran Desert, China
HU Wenfeng1, WANG Nai’ang1,2, ZHAO Liqiang1, NING Kai1, ZHANG Xunhe1, SUN Jie1
1 Center for Climate Change and Hydrologic Cycle in Arid Region, College of Earth and Environmental Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;
2 College of Geographical Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi 830054, China
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Abstract  The Badain Jaran Desert is the second-largest area of shifting sands in China. Our first measurements of the energy components and water vapor fluxes on a megadune using eddy covariance technology were taken from April 2012 to April 2013. The results indicate that the longwave and shortwave radiative fluxes exhibited large fluctuations and seasonal dynamics. The total radiative energy loss by longwave and shortwave radiation was greater on the megadune than from other underlying surfaces. The radiation partitioning was different in different seasons. The land-atmosphere interaction was primarily represented by the sensible heat flux. The average sensible heat flux (40.1 W/m2) was much larger than the average latent heat flux (14.5 W/m2). Soil heat flux played an important role in the energy balance. The mean actual evaporation was 0.41 mm/d, and the cumulative actual evaporation was approximately 150 mm/a. The water vapor would transport downwardly and appear as dew condensation water. The amount of precipitation determined the actual evaporation. The actual evaporation was supposed to be equal to the precipitation on the megadune and the precipitation was difficult to recharge the groundwater. Our study can provide a foundation for further research on land-atmosphere interactions in this area.

Key wordsevapotranspiration      pan evaporation      water requirement      arid region      oasis-desert transition zone     
Received: 24 November 2014      Published: 05 October 2015
Fund:  

Special Fund for National Environmental Protection Industry Scientific Research in the Public Welfare (201209034), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41371114) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (lzujbky-2-14-275).

Corresponding Authors:
Cite this article:

HU Wenfeng, WANG Nai’ang, ZHAO Liqiang, NING Kai, ZHANG Xunhe, SUN Jie. Surface energy and water vapor fluxes observed on a megadune in the Badain Jaran Desert, China. Journal of Arid Land, 2015, 7(5): 579-589.

URL:

http://jal.xjegi.com/10.1007/s40333-015-0129-6     OR     http://jal.xjegi.com/Y2015/V7/I5/579

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