Energy and radiation balance of a central European city

TLDR

The network of micrometeorological stations was part of the Basel Urban Boundary Layer Experiment (BUBBLE) carried out in the city of Basel, Switzerland. The partitioning is analysed together with long‑term data to evaluate the magnitude of the urban flux density modification and to document characteristic values in their diurnal and yearly course. The study used seven micrometeorological stations—three urban, one suburban, and three rural—to simultaneously measure turbulent flux densities and radiation over dense urban surfaces, analyze daytime and nocturnal energy balance partitioning, evaluate all four surface radiation budget components, and examine vertical flux density divergences within the urban canopy during one month of summer measurements. Results from the seven stations in and around Basel show that simple empirical relations between flux densities and surface characteristics can be derived. © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society.

Abstract

Abstract Results from an experimental network of seven energy balance stations in and around a European city are presented. The network of micrometeorological stations was part of the Basel Urban Boundary Layer Experiment (BUBBLE) carried out in the city of Basel, Switzerland. Three urban sites provided turbulent flux densities and radiation data over dense urban surfaces. Together with a suburban site and three rural reference sites, this network allowed the simultaneous comparison of urban, suburban, and rural energy balance partitioning during one month of summertime measurements. The partitioning is analysed together with long‐term data to evaluate the magnitude of the urban flux density modification, and to document characteristic values in their diurnal and yearly course. Simple empirical relations between flux densities and surface characteristics are presented. The energy balance partitioning is addressed separately for daytime and nocturnal situations. All four components of the surface radiation budget are analysed. Moreover, the vertical flux density divergences within the urban canopy layer are discussed. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society