Preliminary assessment of land–air energy transfers in tropical forest and agro-ecosystems

Abstract

This study aims to show preliminary results of meteorology and surface energy transfers in tropical forests and agroecosystems and their associations with vegetation canopy and soil water content. Field observations were conducted at the selected vegetation sites and adjacent sparse vegetation sites in the Northeast of Thailand from the summer season to early rainy season. The study results showed that diurnal variations on spatial soil temperature gradient between bare soil and vegetation soil was significant but not much for air temperature and humidity. Influenced by season and cropping cycle, soil water content (SWC) could induce greater spatial air temperature and humidity differences and moderated the spatial soil temperature gradient. Among various vegetation covers, diurnal patterns on energy transfers and associations between SWC and latent heat were clearly different and they suggest substantial microclimate changes associated with the conversion of forests into croplands.

Keywords

• latent heat
• sensible heat
• agro-ecosystem
• soil water content