Title

Controls on sensible heat and latent energy fluxes from a short-hydroperiod Florida Everglades marsh

Authors

Jessica L. Schedlbauer, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityFollow
Steven F. Oberbauer, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University and Fairchild Tropical Botanic GardenFollow
Gregory Starr, Department of Biological Sciences, University of AlabamaFollow
Kristine L. Jimenez, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama

Abstract

Little is known of energy balance in low latitude wetlands where there is a year-round growing season and a climate best defined by wet and dry seasons. The Florida Everglades is a highly managed and extensive subtropical wetland that exerts a substantial influence on the hydrology and climate of the south Florida region. However, the effects of seasonality and active water management on energy balance in the Everglades ecosystem are poorly understood. An eddy covariance and micrometeorological tower was established in a short-hydroperiod Everglades marsh to examine the dominant environmental controls on sensible heat (H) and latent energy (LE) fluxes, as well as the effects of seasonality on these parameters. Seasonality differentially affected H and LE fluxes in this marsh, such that H was principally dominant in the dry season and LE was strongly dominant in the wet season. The Bowen ratio was high for much of the dry season (1.5–2.4), but relatively low (H and LE fluxes across nearly all seasons and years (). However, the 2009 dry season LE data were not consistent with this relationship () because of low seasonal variation in LE following a prolonged end to the previous wet season. In addition to net radiation, H and LE fluxes were significantly related to soil volumetric water content (VWC), water depth, air temperature, and occasionally vapor pressure deficit. Given that VWC and water depth were determined in part by water management decisions, it is clear that human actions have the ability to influence the mode of energy dissipation from this ecosystem. Impending modifications to water management under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan may shift the dominant turbulent flux from this ecosystem further toward LE, and this change will likely affect local hydrology and climate.

Comments

Post Print Version.

Copyright © 2011 Elsevier.

The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online a http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2011.10.014

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Publisher Version: Schedlbauer, J., S. Oberbauer, G. Starr, K.L. Jimenez. 2011. Controls on sensible heat and latent energy fluxes from a short-hydroperiod Florida Everglades marsh. Journal of Hydrology 411: 331-341.