Spatial distribution of sensible and latent heat flux in the URBANFLUXES case study city Basel (Switzerland)

Turbulent sensible and latent heat fluxes are calculated by a combined method using micrometeorological approaches (the Aerodynamic Resistance Method ARM), Earth Observation (EO) data and GIS-Techniques. The spatial distributions of turbulent heat fluxes were analyzed for 22 for the city of Basel (Switzerland), covering all seasons and different meteorological conditions. Seasonal variations in heat fluxes are strongly dependent on meteorological conditions, i.e. air temperature, water vapor saturation deficit and wind speed. The agreement of measured fluxes (by the Eddy Covariance method) with modeled fluxes in the weighted source area of the flux towers is moderate due to known drawbacks in the modelling approach and uncertainties inherent to EC measurements, particularly also in urban areas.