ENERGY BALANCE ON A WHEAT CROP IN THE SOUTHEAST OF THE BUENOS AIRES PROVINCE
Silvina Righetti, Mara Isabel Gassmann
Departamento de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y los Océeanos. FCEN. UBA.
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Buenos Aires, Argentina
Manuscipt received on 6 December 2011, in final form on 4 February 2013
ABSTRACT
Having observational values of net radiation flux, sensible and latent heat flux in the air, and soil heat flux for varied land uses allows us to adjust and validate atmospheric models. This paper presents the estimated results of the aforementioned fluxes for a surface having a wheat crop, based on micrometeorological data observed in the south-east area of the Pampas region in Argentina. The analysis of the obtained information shows that sensible and latent heat turbulent fluxes and soil heat flux have a variability which is associated with both atmospheric conditions and development stage of the crop. These are mainly determined by energy availability in the modelled system through net radiation, and also with the canopy structure variability caused by the various crop phenological stages. Findings show a correlation between the maximum values of momentum flux and latent heat ux. During the vegetative and flowering stages the latent heat flux dominates energy partitioning, while during filling and ripening fruit its role is smaller, and become more important the sensible heat and soil fluxes.