Analyzing the Impact of Synoptic Weather on the Surface Energy Budget of a Large Inland Water Body

A large inland water body’s energy budget is a delicate system and can be subject to a variety of changing conditions. A large water body’s surface energy budget consists of net radiation, latent heat, sensible heat, and terrestrial radiation. Therefore it is important to understand how the surface energy budget is impacted by varying factors. Data were collected from an eddy covariance system located within the Ross Barnett Reservoir in Ridgeland, MS. These data are being used to analyze diurnal and monthly changes in latent heat, sensible heat, and net radiation, all of which are key components of the surface energy budget. We chose data from the spring months of March and April of 2008. The reservoir is subject to many synoptic weather systems, which can impact the water’s surface energy budget. Therefore, dates when frontal systems would pass through the area are of significance to this study. We expect that weather systems will negatively impact the reservoir’s surface energy budget, leading to less heat and energy output than on a normal day. The primary objective of this study is to examine any direct impacts weather has on the reservoir’s surface energy budget, and what other variables, such as humidity and temperature, are affected.