title: Evapotranspiration Cycles in a High Latitude Agroecosystem: Potential Warming Role.
abstract: As the acreages of agricultural lands increase, changes in surface energetics and evapotranspiration (ET) rates may arise consequently affecting regional climate regimes. The objective of this study was to evaluate summertime ET dynamics and surface energy processes in a subarctic agricultural farm in Interior Alaska. The study includes micrometeorological and hydrological data. Results covering the period from June to September 2012 and 2013 indicated consistent energy fractions: LE/Rnet (67%), G/Rnet (6%), H/Rnet (27%) where LE is latent heat flux, Rnet is the surface net radiation, G is ground heat flux and H is the sensible heat flux. Additionally actual surface evapotranspiration from potential evaporation was found to be in the range of 59 to 66%. After comparing these rates with those of most prominent high latitude ecosystems it is argued here that if agroecosystem in high latitudes become an emerging feature in the land-use, the regional surface energy balance will significantly shift in comparison to existing Arctic natural ecosystems.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America, 99775.
authors.forename: Watcharee
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ruairuen
authors.affiliation: Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Geophysical Institute and College of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America, 99775.
authors.forename: Gilberto J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fochesatto
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America, 99775; International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America, 99775.
authors.forename: Elena B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Sparrow
authors.affiliation: Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America, 99775.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schnabel
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Extension, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America, 99775.
authors.forename: Mingchu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: International Arctic Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America, 99775.
authors.forename: Yongwon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D000413:Alaska; D001110:Arctic Regions; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D008685:Meteorological Concepts; D018526:Plant Transpiration; D058438:Water Cycle