Computation of Ground Surface Conduction Heat Flux by Fourier Analysis of Surface Temperature

Abstract

A method for computing the ground surface heat flux density is tested at two places in West Africa during the rainy season and during the dry season. This method is based upon the Fourier analysis of the experimental ground surface temperature. The only required parameter is the soil thermal inertia. The results of these calculations agree with the measurements. This method avoids the use of empirical formulas relating the ground heat flux density to other terms of the surface energy budget. It is shown that these relations are not universal.