Surface Fluxes from a Large Reservoir in Relation to Episodic and Mesoscale Factors

Abstract:

Jackson State University has operated an eddy covariance flux station in the middle of Ross Barnett Reservoir in Mississippi since 2007. Analysis of turbulent flux calculations from the site has shown a disproportionate contribution to the energy budget from episodic events such as cold frontal passages. Over the last two years the flux site, which is 2 km from the nearest shoreline, has been complemented by an automated weather station on nearby land, occasional mobile observations, and water quality measurements. These observations together comprise the Coordinated Mesoscale Measurements in Mississippi (CM3) framework, which is planned to also include unmanned aerial systems for 3-dimensional sampling over the reservoir. Mesoscale variability of turbulent flux forcing and responses over and in the vicinity of the reservoir are being evaluated for both strongly forced (e.g. cold fronts, thunderstorms) and quiescent scenarios.