The land–atmosphere feedback observatory: a new observational approach for characterizing land–atmosphere feedback

• Published in: Geoscientific instrumentation, methods and data systems methods and data systems, 2023-01, Vol.12 (1), p.25-44
• Main Authors: Späth, Florian, Rajtschan, Verena, Weber, Tobias K. D, Morandage, Shehan, Lange, Diego, Abbas, Syed Saqlain, Behrendt, Andreas, Ingwersen, Joachim, Streck, Thilo, Wulfmeyer, Volker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Atmosphere; Atmospheric boundary layer; Atmospheric models; Bedrock; Boundary layers; Climate change; Climate models; Climate prediction; Differential absorption lidar; Energy; Energy balance; Energy distribution; Feedback; Geoengineering; Growth stage; Heat flux; Heat transfer; Height; Humidity; Instrumentation; Leaf area; Leaf area index; Lidar; Microbalances; Moisture content; Numerical prediction; Numerical weather forecasting; Observatories; Optical radar; Planetary boundary layer; Prediction models; Radiation; Remote sensing; Remote sensing systems; Sensors; Soil; Soil moisture; Soil structure; Soil temperature; Soil water; Statistical methods; Statistics; Surface layers; Temperature; Temperature sensors; Troposphere; Vegetation; Water content; Weather forecasting
• ISSN: 2193-0864; 2193-0856; 2193-0864
• DOI: 10.5194/gi-12-25-2023

Important topics in land-atmosphere (L-A) feedback research are water and energy balances and heterogeneities of fluxes at the land surface and in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL). To target these questions, the Land-Atmosphere Feedback Observatory (LAFO) has been installed in southwestern Germany. The instrumentation allows comprehensive and high-resolution measurements from the bedrock to the lower free troposphere. Grouped into three components, atmosphere, soil and land surface, and vegetation, the LAFO observation strategy aims for simultaneous measurements in all three compartments. For this purpose the LAFO sensor synergy contains lidar systems to measure the atmospheric key variables of humidity, temperature and wind. At the land surface, eddy covariance stations are operated to record the energy distribution of radiation, sensible, latent and ground heat fluxes. Together with a water and temperature sensor network, the soil water content and temperature are monitored in the agricultural investigation area. As for vegetation, crop height, leaf area index and phenological growth stage values are registered.