A method for direct assessment of the "non rainfall" atmospheric water cycle: Input and evaporation from the soil

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dc.contributor.authorKaseke K.F.
dc.contributor.authorMills A.J.
dc.contributor.authorBrown R.
dc.contributor.authorEsler K.J.
dc.contributor.authorHenschel J.R.
dc.contributor.authorSeely M.K.
dc.date.accessioned2012-06-06T07:59:59Z
dc.date.available2012-06-06T07:59:59Z
dc.date.issued2012
dc.description.abstract"Non rainfall" atmospheric water (dew, fog, vapour adsorption) supplies a small amount of water to the soil surface that may be important for arid soil micro-hydrology and ecology. Research into the direct effects of this water on soil is, however, lacking due to instrument and technical constraints. We report on the design, development, construction and findings of an automated microlysimeter instrument to directly measure this soil water cycle in Stellenbosch, South Africa during winter. Performance of the microlysimeter was satisfactory and results obtained were compared to literature and fell within the expected range. "Non rainfall" atmospheric water input into bare soil (river sand) was between 0.88 and 1.10 mm per night while evaporation was between 1.39 and 2.71 mm per day. The study also attempted to differentiate the composition of "non rainfall" atmospheric water and results showed that vapour adsorption contributed the bulk of this input. © 2011 Springer Basel AG.
dc.identifier.citationPure and Applied Geophysics
dc.identifier.citation169
dc.identifier.citation06-May
dc.identifier.citation847
dc.identifier.citation857
dc.identifier.issn334553
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1007/s00024-011-0328-9
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/21299
dc.subjectDew
dc.subjectMicrolysimeter
dc.subjectNon rainfall atmospheric water
dc.subjectVapour adsorption
dc.titleA method for direct assessment of the "non rainfall" atmospheric water cycle: Input and evaporation from the soil
dc.typeArticle
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