Energy balance studies over varying ground cover of the Colorado River riparian zone below Glen Canyon Dam, Part I: seasonal albedo relationships
Marcus MG, Brazel AJ, Schiller RJ. 1995. Energy balance studies over varying ground cover of the Colorado River riparian zone below Glen Canyon Dam, Part I: seasonal albedo relationships. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 76(2):167
Energy balance components of surface boundary layer climate were measured seasonally at four sites along the Colorado River below Glen Canyon Dam: river miles -14.5, 43, 55, and 194. Observations were made over 24-36 hour sampling periods across a transect from the river through riparian vegetation to the xeric zone. These were accomplished during the spring growing season (April, 1994), the pre-monsoon dry season (June-July, 1994), the monsoon season (August, 1994), and winter (January 1995). Albedo (a) is a key indicator of available solar (K) and photosynthetic radiation at the surface, as well as net radiation (Q*). These components were measured approximately every two hours diurnally along each transect with eight to eleven sample sites depending on riparian assemblages at each river mile location. Significant variations occur between the sample sites and, in tum, for each site seasonally. The entrenched solar horizon characteristics of the canyon also affect daily albedo patterns. These albedo results are presented numerically and graphically in the poster. For example, at river mile 55, albedo in April varied from 10-18% among the sites or 60-100 W/m2 variation of Q*.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Marcus, Melvin; Brazel, Anthony; Schiller, Richard
- Units
- GRCA
- Keywords
- Albedo, Climate, Colorado River, Grand Canyon, IAR, Riparian, Riparian Zone, Seasonal, Variation, Wetland/Riparian