Incorporating atmospheric boundary layer processes in an integrated surface/subsurface flow and transport model
Abstract
Traditional land surface-atmosphere models idealize variably-saturated subsurface flow by parameterizing the non-linear processes. Many previous models reduce the subsurface systems to either one-dimensional infiltration or constant-value boundary conditions. Consequently, the shortfalls of the currently available models constrain our ability to estimate the role of a spatially and temporally dynamic subsurface flow on atmospheric processes. In order to overcome these limitations, we developed a coupled atmospheric boundary layer model, which is a zero-dimensional energy balance model, with HydroGeoSphere, a three-dimensional integrated surface/variably-saturated subsurface flow and energy transport model. The atmospheric boundary layer model calculates the net radiation, air temperature, moisture content, and precipitation in the atmosphere and relays the information directly to HydroGeoSphere to compute the water flow, land surface and subsurface temperatures, and evapotranspiration. As an illustration, the coupled model is applied to land-use change in a Mediterranean climate transitioning from irrigated agriculture to urban communities to evaluate the variation in latent and sensible heat fluxes. Finally, our model's performance and results are compared to those of the traditional land surface models.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFM.H31N..04D
- Keywords:
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- 1836 HYDROLOGY / Hydrological cycles and budgets;
- 1843 HYDROLOGY / Land/atmosphere interactions;
- 1847 HYDROLOGY / Modeling;
- 3322 ATMOSPHERIC PROCESSES / Land/atmosphere interactions