New method revolutionizes accurate measurement of heat fluxes over large areas.
The two-wavelength scintillometer method combines two types of instruments to measure heat fluxes over large areas with varied terrain. By using different wavelengths, it can detect both temperature and water vapor fluctuations in the atmosphere. Recent studies have shown that using absolute humidity to measure water vapor content can lead to errors, especially in dry conditions. This method can provide two solutions in such cases, requiring additional information like available energy estimates. The researchers are exploring the possibility of using only one type of instrument to measure latent heat flux and are planning future field campaigns to further investigate this method.