Energy Balance & Water Balance

Topics
1. Review & Introduction Readings:
2. Conduction & Convection A&B: Ch. 3
3. Energy Balance equation (p. 60-69)
4. Process terms in Energy Lab 5
Balance equation
a. Soil Heat Flux
b. Sensible Heat Flux
c. Latent Heat Flux
5. The Global Energy Balance
G109: Weather and Climate

Review & Introduction

Past section was concerned with radiant
energy that was transferred by radiation
Net radiation
=

Surplus energy at the surface is absorbed

and converted to heat
Heat is transported away from the surface
(other than by radiation) by


Heat is used to heat air, heat the ground &
evaporate water ( )
G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance
 Conduction

Conduction:

In fluids: conduction slow compared to convection

In solids (e.g., ground): conduction is the only
transport mechanism
Conduction transfers heat from the surface to:

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

Convection
Convection:

Convection occurs when there is

in the atmosphere:
Air in contact with the surface gains heat by
conduction and expands and starts to rise.
As it rises it mixes with cooler air and exchanges
its heat.
The air that rises is replaced by slowly sinking
cooler air from above, and the process starts
again.
Convection transfers heat from:

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

 Convection

Free convection
Due to :
less dense fluid
rises
Enhanced by
heating at the
surface

Forced convection
Due to
by obstacles
Enhanced by high
wind speeds

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

The Surface Energy Balance Equation

Q* = QG + QH + QE [W m-2]
QG =
QH =
QE =
Q*=
Q* = (K - K) + (L - L)

Sign Convention
Arrows indicate the direction of
the positive fluxes:
Q*: toward the surface
QH,QE,QG: away from the surface
G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance
 Energy Balance: Process Terms

Q* = QG + QH + QE

As in the radiation balance equation, each

term in the surface energy balance equation
represents an energy transport process

Ratios of QH : QE : QG depend on surface

properties and available water

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

Energy Balance: Soil & Sensible Heat Fluxes

i. QG = Soil heat flux = conductive flux

Depends on:
Thermal properties of the material
Strength of the temperature gradient across
material
ii. QH = Sensible Heat Flux = turbulent/
convective flux

Depends on:
State of atmospheric turbulence
Strength of the vertical temperature
difference
G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance
 Energy Balance: Latent Heat Flux

iii. QE = Latent Heat Flux = turbulent/

convective flux

Does not result in

Depends on:
State of atmospheric turbulence (i.e., degree
of convection)
strength of the vertical moisture difference

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

Energy Balance: Latent Heat Flux

iii. QE = Latent Heat Flux = turbulent/

convective flux
Without convection:
Air immediately above the surface quickly
becomes saturated with water vapor.
No more water vapor can be evaporated from
the surface
No more energy exchange takes place via
latent heat flux.
Exchange of latent heat is greatest when

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

 Latent Heat of Vaporization (Lv)
Phase Changes of water:
Change of water from: solid liquid gas phase
Requires input of energy
Change of water from: gas liquid solid phase
Involves the release of energy
Lv : amount of energy (per mass) required to change
the phase of a substance from liquid to gaseous
Energy surplus at the surface can be used to:
Melt ice: energy remains at the surface but is absorbed in
the conversion of ice to liquid water
Evaporate water or sublimate ice: energy is stored as latent
heat in the water vapor, which can be transported in the
atmosphere
Thus, evaporation represents both

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

The Global Energy Balance

-5 -25 +100 -66 -4 =0

-66
Atmosphere: +25 +100 +22 +7 =0
-88

Surface: +45 +88 -104 -22 -7 =0

Shortwave Longwave Latent Sensible

Radiation Radiation Heat Flux Heat Flux

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance

 Global Water Cycle

Evaporation
surplus over
warm ocean
Condensation
& precipitation
surplus over
mid-latitude evaporation condensation
land vapor:
latent heat
Global air Ocean Land
(mid-lat.)
conditioner or (tropics) runoff: liquid water in
rivers/ groundwater
heat pump cooling warming
heat energy

G109: Weather and Climate 5: Energy & Water Balance