Comparative study of energy balance in urban and forest areas in Central Amazonia

Abstract

Data from two experimental sites in central Amazonia were used, one located in a forested region and the other in an urban region. The values of the radiation and energy balance components were measured at both sites. The observed components of the radiation balance in the forest, and urban areas were quite different. The city, the radiative (albedo and emissivity) and thermal (absorptivity) parameters of the surface produced greater reflection of solar radiation and emission of longwave radiation. Urban pollution reduced the incident solar radiation and increased the longwave radiation emitted by the atmosphere. The energy balance presented marked differences in the partition between sensible and latent heat flux between forest and city. In the forest, much of the available energy is converted into latent heat flux, due to the process of evapotranspiration. Whereas, in the city, energy is equally divided into sensible and latent heat fluxes.