Abstract

The feasibility of measuring sensible heat flux by optical scintillation observations along a horizontal path has been demonstrated in the past (Wyngaard et al., 1978). The major advantage of the method is that it gives a line-averaged measurement. In contrast, other methods like temperature profiles, Bowen ratio or eddy correlation are point measurements. Line- or area-averaged measurements are often desirable for e.g. water balance studies and mesoscale meteorological investigations. A drawback of the scintillation method is that a semi-empirical relationship between the heat flux and the optically measured temperature structure parameter (C_T²) is involved. This relation seems to be established only for an unstable atmosphere (Wyngaard and Clifford, 1978).

© 1983 Optical Society of America