Suburban Energy Balance Estimates for Vancouver, B.C., Using the Bowen Ratio-Energy Balance Approach

Abstract

The energy balance of a suburban site in Vancouver, B.C. in late summer is presented. The balance is obtained from direct measurements of net radiation, parameterized heat storage and turbulent fluxes determined according to the Bowen ratio-energy balance method with reversing psychrometers. An error analysis shows the turbulent fluxes are good to within 10–20% by day. Features of the suburban energy balance are found to be intermediate between those previously reported for urban and rural surfaces. Average daytime Bowen ratios are usually in the range 0.5–1.0 with some days as high as 2.5. The daytime sensible heat flux is in-phase with the net radiation. At night this flux is sometimes positive. Evapotranspiration is always an important term in the balance. The role of urban irrigation and microscale heat advection in maintaining evapotranspiration rates is discussed.