Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Surface energy and water vapor fluxes observed on a megadune in the Badain Jaran Desert, China

  • Published:
Journal of Arid Land Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alongi D M, Sasekumar A, Chong V C, et al. 2004. Sediment accumulation and organic material flux in a managed mangrove ecosystem: estimates of land-ocean-atmosphere exchange in peninsular Malaysia. Marine Geology, 208(2–4): 383–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arain M A, Black T A, Barr A G, et al. 2004. Year-round observations of the energy and water vapour fluxes above a boreal black spruce forest. Hydrological Processes, 17(18): 3581–3600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aubinet M, Grelle A, Ibrom A, et al. 1999. Estimates of the annual net carbon and water exchange of forests: the EUROFLUX methodology. Advances in Ecological Research, 30: 113–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldocchi D, Kelliher F M, Black T A. 2000. Climate and vegetation controls on boreal zone energy exchange. Global Change Biology, 6(S1): 69–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beringer J, Tapper N J. 2000. The influence of subtropical cold fronts on the surface energy balance of a semi-arid site. Journal of Arid Environments, 44(4): 437–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bittelli M, Ventura F, Campbell G S, et al. 2008. Coupling of heat, water vapor, and liquid water fluxes to compute evaporation in bare soils. Journal of Hydrology, 362(3): 191–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J, Zhao X, Sheng X, et al. 2006. Formation mechanisms of mega-dunes and lakes in the Badain Jaran Desert, Inner Mongolia. Chinese Science Bulletin, 51(24): 3026–3034.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J S, Li L, Wang J Y, et al. 2004. Water resources: groundwater maintains dune landscape. Nature, 432(7016): 459–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong Z, Wang T, Wang X. 2004. Geomorphology of the mega-dunes in the Badain Jaran Desert. Geomorphology. 60(1): 191–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong Z B, Qian G Q, Luo W Y, et al. 2009. Geomorphological hierarchies for complex mega-dunes and their implications for mega-dune evolution in the Badain Jaran Desert. Geomorphology, 106(3): 180–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gash J H C, Dolman A J. 2003. Sonic anemometer (co)sine response and flux measurement I. The potential for (co)sine error to affect sonic anemometer-based flux measurements. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 119(3): 195–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu S, Tang Y, Cui X, et al. 2005. Energy exchange between the atmosphere and a meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 129(3): 175–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta S K, Ritchey N A, Wilber A C, et al. 1999. A climatology of surface radiation budget derived from satellite data. Journal of Climate, 12(8): 2691–2710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanks P J, Ashcroft G L. 1980. Applied Soil Physics: Soil Water and Temperature Applications. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 159–160.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Huang R H, Chen W, Zhang Q, et al. 2011. Land-atmosphere Interactions in the Arid Northwest China and their Impacts on Climate Change in East Asia. Beijing: China Meteorological Press, 1–356. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt J E, Kelliher F M, McSeveny T M. 2002. Evaporation and carbon dioxide exchange between the atmosphere and a tussock grassland during a summer drought. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 111(1): 65–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IPCC. 2007. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge, UK and New York, USA: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iziomon M G, Mayer H, Wicke W. 2001. Radiation balance over low-lying and mountainous areas in south-west Germany. Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 68(3–4): 219–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iziomon M G, Mayer H, 2002. Characterisation of the shortwave radiation regime for locations at different altitudes in south-west Germany. Climate Research, 20(3): 203–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalthoff N, Fiebig-Wittmaack M, Meißner C, et al. 2006. The energy balance, evapo-transpiration and nocturnal dew deposition of an arid valley in the Andes. Journal of Arid Environments, 65(3): 420–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kampf S K, Tyler S W, Ortiz C A, et al. 2005. Evaporation and land surface energy budget at the Salar de Atacama, Northern Chile. Journal of Hydrology, 310(1–4): 236–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellner E. 2001. Surface energy fluxes and control of evapotranspiration from a Swedish Sphagnum mire. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 110(2): 101–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kustas W P, Prueger J H, Hatfield J L, et al. 2000. Variability in soil heat flux from a mesquite dune site. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 103(3): 249–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma N, Wang N A, Zhao L Q, et al. 2014. Observation of mega-dune evaporation after various rain events in the hinterland of Badain Jaran Desert. Chinese Science Bulletin, 59(2): 162–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manabe S, Delworth T. 1990. The temporal variability of soil wetness and its impact on climate. Climatic Change, 16(2): 185–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mohr K I, Tao W K, Chern J D, et al. 2013. The NASA-Goddard multi-scale modeling framework-land information system: global land/atmosphere interaction with resolved convection. Environmental Modelling & Software, 39: 103–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moncrieff J, Clement R, Finnigan J, et al. 2005. Averaging, detrending, and filtering of eddy covariance time series. Atmospheric and Oceanographic Sciences Library, 29: 7–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery R B. 1948. Vertical eddy flux of heat in the atmosphere. Journal of Meteorology, 5(6): 265–274.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakai T, van der Molen M K, Gash J H C, et al. 2006. Correction of sonic anemometer angle of attack errors. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 136(1): 19–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Obukho A M. 1951. Charakteristiki mikrostruktury vetra v prizemnom sloje atmosfery (characteristic of the micro-structure of the wind in the surface layer of the atmosphere). Izvestia AN SSSR seria Geofizika, 3: 49–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliphant A, Zawar-Reza P, Azizi G, et al. 2011. Surface energy and water vapor fluxes observed in a desert plantation in central Iran. Journal of Arid Environments, 75(10): 926–935.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prater M R, DeLucia E H. 2006. Non-native grasses alter evapotranspiration and energy balance in Great Basin sagebrush communities. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 139(1): 154–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosset M, Riedo M, Grub A, et al. 1997. Seasonal variation in radiation and energy balances of permanent pastures at different altitudes. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 86(3): 245–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwärzel K, Menzer A, Clausnitzer F, et al. 2009. Soil water content measurements deliver reliable estimates of water fluxes: a comparative study in a beech and a spruce stand in the Tharandt Forest (Saxony, Germany). Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 149(11): 1994–2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturman A P, McGowan H A. 2009. Observations of dry season surface energy exchanges over a desert clay pan, Queensland, Australia. Journal of Arid Environments, 73(1): 74–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van der Molen M K, Gash J H C, Elbers J A. 2004. Sonic anemometer (co)sine response and flux measurement: II. The effect of introducing an angle of attack dependent calibration. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 122(1): 95–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Dijk A, Moene A, de Bruin H. 2004. The Principles of Surface Flux Physics: Theory, Practice and Description of the ECPACK Library. Wageningen: University of Wageningen, 99–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner. 2004. Desert Meteorology. Cambridge, United Kingdom: the Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge, 48–49.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Webb E K, Pearman G I, Leuning R. 1980. Correction of flux measurements for density effects due to heat and water-vapor transfer. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 106(447): 85–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wever L A, Flanagan L B, Carlson P J. 2002. Seasonal and interannual variation in evapotranspiration, energy balance and surface conductance in a northern temperate grassland. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 112(1): 31–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson K B, Baldocchi D D. 2000. Seasonal and interannual variability of energy fluxes over a broadleaved temperate deciduous forest in North America. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 100(1): 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang X, Williams M A. 2003. The ion chemistry of lakes and late Holocene desiccation in the Badain Jaran Desert, Inner Mongolia, China. Catena, 51(1): 45–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang X P, Scuderi L, Liu T, et al. 2011. Formation of the highest sand dunes on Earth. Geomorphology, 135(1): 108–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeh T C, Wetherald R T, Manabe S. 1984. The effect of soil-moisture on the short-term climate and hydrology change—a numerical experiment. Monthly Weather Review, 112(3): 474–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z Y, Wang N A, Ma N, et al. 2012. Lakes area change in Badain Juran Desert hinterland and Influence factors during the recent 40 years. Journal of Desert Research, 32(6): 1743–1749. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu J F. 2010. Monitoring of desertification on the edge of Badain Jaran Desert in recent 20 years based on remote sensing imagery. MSc Thesis. Lanzhou: Lanzhou University. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Climate Change and Hydrologic Cycle in Arid Region, College of Earth and Environmental Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Wenfeng Hu, Nai’ang Wang, Liqiang Zhao, Kai Ning, Xunhe Zhang & Jie Sun

  2. College of Geographical Science and Tourism, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China

    Nai’ang Wang

Authors
  1. Wenfeng Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nai’ang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Liqiang Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kai Ning
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xunhe Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jie Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nai’ang Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hu, W., Wang, N., Zhao, L. et al. Surface energy and water vapor fluxes observed on a megadune in the Badain Jaran Desert, China. J. Arid Land 7, 579–589 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-015-0129-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40333-015-0129-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation