Bowen ratio estimation of surface energy fluxes in a humid tropical agricultural site, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

The Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) is a micrometeorological technique often used for estimating the surface energy fluxes (i.e. latent heat, sensible heat fluxes) because of its simplicity, robustness, and affordability. The same method has been applied in this study to partition the available energy (Rո – G₊) at a humid tropical agricultural site in Ile-Ife, Nigeria (7º33'N, 4º33'E) during the transition period (wet and dry) between 25 and 29 Feb. 2004. Results obtained for the diurnal variations of the energy fluxes in relation to changing surface condition are satisfactory. For the relatively dry days, the sensible heat flux is comparatively of the same magnitude as the latent heat flux except on a day when it was a little higher, but it is less during the wet days. It is therefore obvious from this study that for a tropical weather, evaporation is the next essential factor after radiation in the energy balance due to the prevailing humid conditions in the zone.