Surface boundary layer characteristics over caatinga vegetation in tropical semiarid region of N-E Brazil

Abstract

Some characteristic features of the atmospheric surface layer over a tropical semiarid station Petrolina (9.9°S, 40.22°W, 365.5 m) in N-E Brazil, are investigated, using data collected from a micrometeorological tower of 9 m height. This study utilizes the wind, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide (CO2) data obtained for the month of July 2004. The diurnal variation of mean parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and CO2 are studied. Turbulent statistics are computed using the eddy correlation technique, and are studied under the framework of Monin-Obukhov similarity theory with results compared with other experimental studies reported in the literature. © Società Italiana di Fisica.