Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/B506143/1
The development and field-trialling of a microwave Scintillometer instrument for the measurement of evaporation at catchment scale.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr R Harding, NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), NERC CEH - Wallingford
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr J Eastment, CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, RCRU
- Grant held at:
- NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), NERC CEH - Wallingford
- Science Area:
- Freshwater
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Freshwater
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Land - Atmosphere Interactions
- Water In The Atmosphere
- Boundary Layer Meteorology
- Hydrological Processes
- Abstract:
- Large Aperture Scintillometers (LAS) uses the scintillations of an infrared beam to estimate fluctuations of temperature in the lower atmosphere and hence the turbulent transport of heat from the surface. These systems have the advantage over other micrometeorologcial techniques that they make an average over long line lengths (up to 5 kilometers) and hence sample a wide range of surface types and turbulent structures. Their disadvantage is that they measure only the turbulent heat flux and in practical hydrological applications the evaporation is required. Evaporation can be estimated from the sensible heat flux if the net radiation and ground heat flux is known - this adds considerably to the data requirements and uncertainties of the method. In the microwave region the variation of refractive index is primarily a function of humidity and hence a microwave scintillometer has the potential to measure evaporation directly. Such instruments have been described in the literature but are not available as proven field instruments. Developments in microwave transmission and detection make it increasingly possible to build a microwave scintillometer for routine field use. We propose to combine the expertise of CEH - acknowledged experts in the measurement and modeling of evaporation - with the microwave expertise of the RCRU at RAL to build such an instrument. It is proposed to evaluate the new instrument against more traditional measurement techniques at an existing site within the Lambourn, a LOCAR experimental catchment.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Aug 2004 - 31 Mar 2008
- Value:
- £96,338 Lead Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/B506143/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Capital Equipment Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Capital Equipment
This grant award has a total value of £96,338
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Staff | Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £61,262 | £2,436 | £4,458 | £28,180 |
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