Radiative controls by clouds and thermodynamics shape surface temperatures and turbulent fluxes over land.

ABSTRACT: Land surface temperatures (LSTs) are strongly shaped by radiation but are modulated by turbulent fluxes and hydrologic cycling as the presence of water vapor in the atmosphere (clouds) and at the surface (evaporation) affects temperatures across regions. Here, we used a thermodynamic systems framework forced with independent observations to show that the climatological variations in LSTs across dry and humid regions are mainly mediated through radiative effects. We first show that the turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat are constrained by thermodynamics and the local radiative conditions. This constraint arises from the ability of radiative heating at the surface to perform work to maintain turbulent fluxes and sustain vertical mixing within the convective boundary layer. This imp

SUBMITTER: Ghausi SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10629566 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature