Comparison of TKE and Reynolds stress budgets between different forest canopy architectures

The degree of shear and its vertical distribution significantly influences the distribution of turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and Reynolds (Re) stress inside vegetation canopies. The canopy architecture also alters various terms in the energy balance, which in turn dictate the amount of sensible and latent heat reaching the lower canopy levels, thus superimposing to the flow regime an additional buoyancy force with a magnitude of varying significance. The processes involved in the TKE and Re stress budgets inside the canopy are examined and compared between open and closed canopies using data collected at the Florida AmeriFlux site inside a young open slash pine plantation at mid-rotation and data from several closed canopies collected elsewhere. Particular attention is given to the behavior and vertical distribution of the individual terms in these budgets during nocturnal conditions.