Micrometeorological and Soil Data for 

Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, 

Nevada Test Site, Nevada, 2002–05

Open-File Report 2006-1312

Prepared in cooperation with the Nevada Operation Office of the U.S. Department

of Energy, under Interagency agreement DE-AI52-01NV13944

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover: Photograph of the Rainier Brush site looking northwest, Nevada Test Site, 

Nevada. (Photograph taken by Gary L. Otto, U.S. Geological Survey, date unknown.)
Micrometeorological and Soil Data for 

Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier 

Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, 2002–05

By Guy A. DeMeo, Alan L. Flint, Randell J. Laczniak, and Walter E. Nylund

Prepared in cooperation with the Nevada Operation Office of the U.S. Department 

of Energy, under Interagency Agreement DE-AI52-01NV13944

Open-File Report 2006-1312

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Mark D. Myers, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2006

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

DeMeo, G.A., Flint, A.L., Laczniak, R.J., and Nylund, W.E., 2006, Micrometeorological and soil data for calculating 

evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, 2002–05: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2006-1312, 12 p.
iii

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction.....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2

Study Area and Climatic Setting .................................................................................................................2

Description of Instrumentation Sites..........................................................................................................2

Micrometeorological and Soil Data............................................................................................................3

Evapotranspiration Estimates......................................................................................................................6

Summary........................................................................................................................................................10

References Cited..........................................................................................................................................10

Appendix A: Micrometeorological, Soil, and Evapotranspiration Data Workbooks.........................11

Figures

Figure 1. Map showing location of Death Valley Ground-Water Regional Flow System

and the Nevada Test Site .................................................................. 1

Figure 2. Map showing location of tree and brush sites, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site ... 2

Figure 3. Photographs of (A) tree and (B) brush sites, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site ...... 3

Figure 4. Graphs showing examples of daily average micrometeorological data

collected at brush site, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, January 1, 2002 –

August 23, 2005 .............................................................................. 4

Figure 5. Schematic showing (A) placement of soil-water content probes at tree and

brush sites and (B) vertical structure of deeper hole and placement of heatdissipation probes used at both sites, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site ............ 5

Figure 6. Graphs showing daily average volumetric soil-water content and daily

average matric water potential at the brush site, shallow hole 1, Rainier

Mesa, Nevada Test Site, January 1, 2002 – August 23, 2005 ........................... 5

Figure 7. Graph showing total annual precipitation measured at Rainier Mesa, Nevada

Test Site, 2002–05 ........................................................................... 6

Figure 8. Schematics of (A) Bowen ratio and (B) eddy covariance instrumentation used

at tree and brush sites on Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site ........................... 6

Figure 9. Graphs showing daily evapotranspiration at brush and tree sites computed

from data using eddy covariance and Bowen ratio methods, Rainier Mesa,

Nevada Test Site, January 1, 2002 – August 23, 2005.................................... 8
iv

Conversion Factors, Datum, and Symbols and Acronyms

Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft)

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

square hectometer (km2) 247.1 acre

square kilometer (km2) 0.3861 square mile (mi2)

cubic hectometer (hm3) 810.7 acre-foot (acre-ft)

kilopascal (kPa) 

bar

0.1450

100

pound per square inch (lb/in2)

kilopascal (kPa)

meter per second (m/s) 2.237 mile per hour (mi/hr)

meter per second (m/s) 3.281 foot per second (ft/s)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32.

Datum

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

Symbols and Acronyms

Symbols and Acronyms Meaning

DVRFS Death Valley Regional Ground-Water Flow System

E Rate of water evaporation

ET Evapotranspiration

Gs Soil heat flux

H Sensible heat flux

HDP Heat-dissipation probe

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NTS Nevada Test Site

Rn Net radiation

USGS United States Geological Survey

WCR water-content reflectometer

λ Latent heat of vaporization for water

λE Latent heat flux (or evaporative flux)

Tables

Table 1. Measured parameter and manufacturer name and model number used for

the Bowen ratio, eddy covariance, and soil-moisture calculations, Rainier

Mesa, Nevada Test Site..................................................................... 3

Table 2. Number of days per month that evapotranspiration rates are available during

the collection period for the Bowen ratio and eddy covariance methods at

the tree and brush sites, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, January 2002 –

August 2005 ................................................................................. 7

Table 3. Calculated monthly evapotranspiration at the tree and brush sites, Rainier

Mesa, Nevada Test Site, January 2002 – August 2005 ................................. 9
Abstract

Micrometeorological and soil-moisture data were 

collected at two instrumented sites on Rainier Mesa at the 

Nevada Test Site, January 1, 2002 – August 23, 2005. Data 

collected at each site include net radiation, air temperature, 

and relative humidity at two heights; wind speed and direction; 

subsurface soil heat flux; subsurface soil temperature; 

volumetric soil water; and matric water potential. These data 

were used to estimate 20-minute average and daily average 

evapotranspiration values. The data presented in this report are 

collected and calculated evapotranspiration rates.

Introduction

Rainier Mesa, in the north-central part of the Nevada 

Test Site (NTS), is in the Death Valley Regional GroundWater Flow System (DVRFS), a major flow system in the 

Great Basin Regional aquifer system (Harrill and Prudic, 

1998; fig. 1). Ground water in this flow system is recharged 

locally by precipitation that falls on high-altitude areas, such 

as Rainier Mesa. About 60 underground nuclear devices 

were detonated in tunnels within unsaturated volcanic rock 

beneath Rainier Mesa (U.S. Department of Energy, 2000). 

Radionuclides generated as a consequence of nuclear testing 

could be carried downward by water infiltrating from the 

ground surface to the water table. However, few data are 

available from which to characterize infiltration at Rainier 

Mesa. A better understanding of the distribution and rate of 

infiltration is necessary to evaluate the potential for migration 

of radionuclides.

Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating 

Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 

Nevada, 2002–05

By Guy A. DeMeo, Alan L. Flint, Randell J. Laczniak, and Walter E. Nylund

Figure 1. Location of Death Valley Regional Ground-Water Flow 

System and the Nevada Test Site.

Nevada

Test

Site

Death Valley Regional Ground-Water Flow System boundary—

Modified from Harrill and others (1988)

EXPLANATION

Lincoln County

Clark County

Inyo County

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

San Bernardino County

Nye County

Nye County

Esmeralda County

Lincoln County

Death

Amargosa Desert

Valley

Amargosa Range

Pahrump Valley

Kawich Range

Panamint Range

Yucca

Mtn

Beatty

Pahrump Spring Mountains

Las

Vegas

Tecopa

Tonopah

Franklin

well

area

Amargosa Desert

River

Amargosa

NEVADA

Map

area CALIFORNIA

35°

36°

37°

38°

118° 117° 116° 115°

Base from U.S. Geological Survey digital data, 1:100,000, 1978-89: 

Universal Transverse Mercator Projection, Zone 11,

North American Datum of 1983

Shaded relief base from 1:250,000-scale Digital Elevation Model; 

sun illumination from northwest at 30 degrees above horizon

0 20 40 KILOMETERS

0 20 40 MILES
Purpose and Scope

This report documents micrometeorological and soil 

data collected at two instrumented sites on Rainier Mesa, 

NTS. Twenty-minute micrometeorological data and hourly 

soil-moisture data were collected from January 1, 2002, to 

August 23, 2005, and are summarized in Microsoft Excel 

workbooks (appendix A). These data were used to compute 

evapotranspiration (ET) rates, volumetric soil-water content, 

and matric water potential. Plots of daily maxima and minima 

atmospheric parameters, daily average volumetric soilwater content, matric water potential, and daily ET rates are 

provided in appendix A.

Study Area and Climatic Setting

Rainier Mesa is about 140 km northwest of Las Vegas, 

Nev. (fig. 2). The mesa covers an area of about 11 km2 and 

has an average altitude of 2,200 m (Russell and others, 2001). 

Vegetation on the mesa is characterized by pinyon pine 

(Pinus edulis) and juniper (Juniperus sp.) trees, rabbitbrush 

(Chrysothamnus sp.), perennial grasses, and high-desert scrub 

brush.

Precipitation on Rainier Mesa principally is from coolseason Pacific storms and from warm-season convective 

storms when moist tropical air flows northward from 

the southeastern North Pacific Ocean. Average annual 

precipitation on Rainier Mesa is approximately 330.0 mm, 

much of which falls as snow. The maximum recorded annual 

precipitation for 1964–2005 was 682.5 mm in 1983 and 

the minimum recorded annual precipitation was 9.6 mm 

in 2002. Precipitation data and a general description of the 

NTS climate, which includes a discussion of the higher 

terrain areas representative of Rainier Mesa, are available at 

http://www.sord.nv.doe.gov/raingage/Monthly/Rainer_Mesa_

Monthly_Data.txt and at http://www.sord.nv.doe.gov/climate/

climate.nts.general.pdf (National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration, 2006).

Description of Instrumentation Sites

Data-collection platforms, equipped with instrumentation 

that continuously measures and logs micrometeorological and 

soil-moisture parameters, were installed at two sites. These 

data were used to compute ET and also can be used to develop 

infiltration profiles.

One platform, referred to in this report as the tree site, 

is in a sparse to moderately dense pinyon and juniper forest. 

The site is characterized by a vegetation cover of about 20 to 

30 percent (fig. 3A) and is colocated with a meteorological 

tower operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA) Air Resources Laboratory. The 

site is at a latitude of 37o11'28.5"N and a longitude of 

116o12'59.4"W, and at an altitude of 2,283 m above sea level.

A second platform, referred to in this report as the 

brush site, is in a sparsely vegetated community of perennial 

grasses and high-desert scrub brush (fig. 3B). This site is 

dominated by rabbitbrush and characterized by a vegetation 

cover of about 10 to 20 percent. It lies in an open field within 

a small bowl-shaped valley at a latitude of 37o10'48.4"N and 

a longitude of 116o12'25.27"W, and at an altitude of 2,290 m 

above sea level.

NV16-0056_Fig02

Base from USGS digital data 1:100,000 1979-89

Universal Transverse Mercator projection, Zone 11, 

North American Datum of 1983.

Shaded-relief base from National Elevation Data (NED); 

sun-illumination from northwest at 45 degrees above horizon.

0 1 2 MILES

0 1 2 KILOMETERS

Rainier

Mesa

AREA 19

AREA 18

AREA 12

AREA

2

AREA

4

AREA 17

Brush site

Tree site

116°15' 116°10'

37°06'

37°12'

37°10'

Nevada

Test Site

Map

area

Figure 2. Location of tree and brush sites, Rainier 

Mesa, Nevada Test Site.

2 Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 2002-05
Micrometeorological and Soil Data

Micrometeorological and soil data were collected at 

each platform. The data include air temperature, dewpoint 

temperature, and vapor pressure (measured at two heights 

above land surface), average relative humidity, net radiation, 

soil temperature, 20-minute temperature change in soil, soil 

heat flux (sampled at 30-second intervals), and wind speed and 

direction (sampled at 10-second intervals) (see appendix A). 

These data were used to calculate ET using the Bowen ratio 

method over a 20-minute period. Examples of select maximum 

and minimum 20-minute averaged micrometeorological data 

for the brush site are shown in figure 4. Periodic gaps in the 

data set exist due to adverse weather conditions and instrument 

failure.

Heat-dissipation-probe (HDP; Campbell Scientific, Inc., 

1998) and water-content-reflectometer (WCR; Campbell 

Scientific, Inc., 1996) instrumentation were used to collect 

matric water potential and volumetric soil-water content data, 

respectively (table 1). To collect these data, three shallow 

holes, approximately 0.30 m deep were dug at each site. Two 

HDP sensors were placed in each hole between 0.05 and 

0.20 m below land surface. Additionally, one WCR sensor was 

placed in each of the holes with the HDP sensors and inserted 

into the soil at about a 30 degree angle to collect data from 

the top 0.15 m of soil. In July 2004, three additional holes, 

approximately 12.2 m deep, were excavated at each site using 

a pneumatic rock hammer. Two HDP sensors were placed 

in each of these holes at about 0.46 and 1.07 m below land 

surface. These sensors were installed at greater depths than 

the initial HDP sensors to gain a better understanding of how 

water moves through the soil. Figure 5 shows the setup of the 

Figure 3. Photographs of (A) tree and (B) brush sites, 

Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site. Photograph taken by Gary 

Otto, U.S. Geological Survey, spring 2002.

Table 1. Measured parameter and manufacturer name and model number used for the Bowen 

ratio, eddy covariance, and soil-moisture calculations, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site.

[Abbreviations: REBS, Radiation and Energy Balance Systems; RMY, R.M. Young Company; CSI, Campbell 

Scientific, Inc.; –, not applicable]

Measured parameter

Instrument, manufacturer, and model

Bowen ratio Eddy covariance Soil moisture

Air temperature REBS THP-1 Rotronics MP 101A –

Relative humidity REBS THP-1 Rotronics MP 101A –

Net radiation REBS Q-7.1 REBS Q-7.1 –

Soil heat flux REBS HFT3 REBS HFT3 –

Wind speed and direction RMY model 05106 MA – –

Soil temperature CSI TCAV CSI TCAV –

Eddy fluxes – CSI 3D Sonic anemometer

CSI Krypton hygrometer

 –

Matric water potential – – CSI HDP

Volumetric soil-water content CSI CS616 CSI CS616 CSI CS616

NV16-0056_Fig03

B—Brush site

A—Tree site

soil-water sensors in the holes. 

An example of volumetric soilwater content and matric water 

potential data at the brush site is 

shown in figure 6.

During the period of record 

(2002–05) presented in this 

report, 20-minute averaged airtemperature data (from the upper 

temperature probe) ranged from 

31.8 to -16.4oC. The recorded 

maximum 20-minute averaged 

wind-speed data was 20.7 m/s. 

The daily average matric waterpotential data ranged from a 

maximum of -0.0001 bars to a 

minimum of -10,000 bars. The 

volumetric soil-water content 

data ranged from 99 to 6.5 

percent. Annual precipitation 

on Rainier Mesa recorded by 

NOAA ranged from 85.8 to 

436.0 mm (fig. 7).

Micrometeorological and Soil Data 3
nv16-0056_Fig04

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

2002 2003 2004 2005

 0

 10

 20

 30

 40

 50

 60

 70

 80

 90

100

RELATIVE HUMIDITY,

IN PERCENT -200

 0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

NET RADIATION, 

IN WATTS PER SQUARE METER

SOIL TEMPERATURE,

IN DEGREES CELSIUS

-20

 0

20

40

60

80

-20

 0

20

40

60

80

AIR TEMPERATURE,

IN DEGREES CELSIUS

WIND SPEED,

IN METERS PER SECOND

Air temperature

Soil temperature

Net radiation

Wind speed

Relative humidity

 0

 5

10

15

20

Maximum

Minimum

Figure 4. Examples of daily average micrometeorological data collected at brush site, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 

January 1, 2002 – August 23, 2005.

4 Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 2002-05
Figure 5. Schematic showing (A) placement of soil-water content 

probes at tree and brush sites and (B) vertical structure of deeper hole 

and placement of heat-dissipation probes used at both sites, Rainier 

Mesa, Nevada Test Site.

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

2002 2003 2004 2005

MATRIC WATER POTENTIAL,

IN BARS

DAILY AVERAGE SOIL-WATER

CONTENT, IN

FRACTIONAL PERCENT

 0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

 0.01

 0.1

 1

 10

 100

1000

Soil-water content

Matric water potential

Figure 6. Daily average volumetric soil-water content and daily average matric water potential at the brush site, shallow 

hole 1, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, January 1, 2002 – August 23, 2005.

NV16-0056_Fig05

Probe identifiers 

ending in D indicate 

deep and S indicate 

shallow.

~2 meters

~1 meter

Evapotranspiration

platform

Evapotranspiration

platform

B

Soil

Grout

Land surface

Grout

Grout

Heat-dissipation probe

Heat-dissipation probe

Soil

Sand

Sand

N

A Tree site Brush site

H3_D

H3_D

H3_S H3_S

H2_D

H2_D

H2_S

H2_S H1_D

H1_D

H1_S

H1_S

Micrometeorological and Soil Data 5
Evapotranspiration Estimates

Evapotranspiration is a process by which water from the 

Earth’s surface is transferred to the atmosphere. The transfer 

requires that water change from a liquid to a vapor state, which 

consumes energy. As a result, any change in the rate of water 

loss by ET is reflected by a change in energy. This relation 

between water loss and energy consumption is the basis for 

many of the methods used to estimate ET. Evapotranspiration, 

as used in this report, includes evaporation from the soil 

surface, transpiration from plants, and sublimation from 

snowpack.

Energy at the surface of the Earth can be described as a 

budget, in which a balance is sought between the incoming 

and outgoing energy components. The available incoming 

or net radiation is the energy provided by the sun minus the 

radiation that is reflected back. This net radiation is equal to 

the energy used to heat the soil (soil heat flux), plus the energy 

used to heat the air (sensible heat flux), plus the energy used to 

evaporate water (latent heat flux). Terms related to the flux of 

energy can be expressed mathematically as:

Rn = Gs + H + λE , (1)

where

Rn is net radiation, in Watts per square meter,

Gs is soil heat flux, in Watts per square meter,

H is sensible heat flux, in Watts per square meter, and

λE is latent heat flux, in Watts per square meter.

In this study, the Bowen ratio (Bowen, 1926) and eddy 

covariance (Stull, 1988) methods were applied to calculate 

ET rates. The Bowen ratio method requires measurements of 

air temperature and relative humidity at two heights above 

the ground. These measurements are used to calculate airtemperature and vapor-pressure gradients between the two 

sample heights (fig. 8A, table 1). The Bowen ratio works on 

the principle that the temperature and vapor-pressure gradients 

and the available energy regulate the latent heat flux. The eddy 

covariance method requires measurements of vertical wind 

speed and fluctuations in water vapor sampled at 0.1-second 

nv16-0056_Fig07

85.85 mm

256.54 mm

436.12 mm 441.45 mm

46-YEAR AVERAGE PRECIPITATION

325.63 mm

0

100

200

300

400

500

2002 2003 2004 2005

ANNUAL PRECIPITATION, IN MILLIMETERS (mm)

Figure 7. Total annual precipitation measured at Rainier 

Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 2002–05. Data are from National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Special Operation 

and Research Division, 2006.

Figure 8. Schematics of (A) Bowen ratio and (B) eddy 

covariance instrumentation used at tree and brush sites on 

Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site.

~0.1 m

~1.2 m

Fine wire 

thermocouple

3-D sonic 

anemometer

Krypton

hygrometer

A—Data collection instruments for use in the 

Bowen ratio method to calculate evapotranspiration

B—Data collection instruments for use in the eddy 

covariance method to calculate evapotranspiration

Upper

air-temperature 

humidity probe

Net radiometer

(net radiation)

Anemometer

(wind speed 

and direction)

Lower

air-temperature 

humidity probe

Soil-moisture probe

(soil moisture)

Soil-temperature probes

(average soil temperature)

Soil heat-flux plate

(soil heat flux)

Automatic exchange 

mechanism

~5.0 cm

~0.5 m

~1.5 m

~1.0 m

6 Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 2002-05
intervals using a three-dimensional sonic anemometer and 

a krypton hygrometer, respectively (fig. 8B, table 1). The 

eddy covariance method works on the principle that water 

vapor and heat are transported through the air by turbulence 

and that estimates of latent heat flux can be calculated by 

measuring changes in vertical wind speed, air temperature, 

and water vapor during short intervals of time. Corrections 

for temperature-induced fluctuations in air density (Webb and 

others, 1980) and for the sensitivity of the krypton hygrometer 

to oxygen (Tanner and Greene, 1989) were used to estimate 

latent heat flux. More detailed discussions on the Bowen ratio 

and eddy covariance methods are given in Laczniak and others 

(1999), and DeMeo and others (2003), respectively.

Numerous days of Bowen ratio data were missing at 

both sites due to the effects of adverse weather conditions and 

instrumentation failure. In 2003, the tree site was destroyed 

in a wind storm and no data were collected from January 4 

to May 15. A more complete record of ET from the eddy 

covariance instrumentation was made available due to the 

robustness of the equipment. Data collection periods from 

each site, when sufficient data were available to calculate daily 

ET, are listed in table 2.

Daily ET using the Bowen ratio and eddy covariance 

methods was determined by summing 20-minute average ET 

rates for a 24-hour period. Calculated daily ET from 2002 to 

2005 for each site is shown in figure 9. Daily ET was summed 

to calculate monthly and annual ET. Table 3 lists the monthly 

ET collected at each site during the period of record. Annual 

ET for the brush site using the eddy covariance method 

(2002–04) ranged from 243.6 to 347.5 mm. Annual ET for the 

tree site using the eddy covariance method (2002 and 2004) 

ranged from 315.0 to 313.0 mm.

Table 2. Number of days per month that evapotranspiration rates are available during the collection period for the Bowen ratio and 

eddy covariance methods at the tree and brush sites, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, January 2002 – August 2005.

[Symbol: –, missing or bad data]

Data-collection period

ET site Method Year Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Brush Bowen ratio 2002 27 – – – 17 30 31 31 30 31 30 31

Eddy covariance 31 28 31 30 31 30 31 31 30 31 30 29

Tree Bowen ratio 31 28 31 30 31 12 – 31 30 31 30 31

Eddy covariance 31 28 31 30 31 30 31 31 30 31 29 28

Brush Bowen ratio 2003 – – – – – – – 18 30 – – –

Eddy covariance 28 25 30 21 18 30 30 29 30 31 29 26

Tree Bowen ratio 5 – – – 17 30 18 – 7 31 30 24

Eddy covariance 5 – – – 17 30 31 31 30 31 30 24

Brush Bowen ratio 2004 – – – – 10 3 – – – 15 15 14

Eddy covariance 31 19 24 28 31 30 31 31 30 23 28 12

Tree Bowen ratio 28 1 8 – 13 30 31 11 9 – – –

Eddy covariance 29 27 31 30 31 30 31 31 19 28 28 27

Brush Bowen ratio 2005 – – – – 26 30 31 18 – – – –

Eddy covariance – – – – 25 30 31 24 – – – –

Tree Bowen ratio 4 – – – 28 30 31 24 – – – –

Eddy covariance 17 24 31 30 31 30 31 24 – – – –

Evapotranspiration Estimates 7
nv16-0056_Fig09

 3

 2

 1

 0

4

5

6

7

0

1

2

3

4

0

1

2

3

4

0

1

2

3

4

Brush site (Bowen ratio)

J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A

DAILY EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, IN MILLIMETERS

2002 2003 2004 2005

Brush site (eddy covariance)

Tree site (Bowen ratio)

Tree site (eddy covariance)

Figure 9. Daily evapotranspiration at brush and tree sites computed from data using eddy covariance and Bowen ratio 

methods, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, January 1, 2002 – August 23, 2005.

8 Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 2002-05
Table 3. Calculated monthly evapotranspiration at the tree and brush sites, Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 

January 2002 – August 2005.

[Tree site/Brush site: Evapotranspiration rates only for January 1–August 23, 2005. –, missing or bad data]

Evapotranspiration, in millimeters

Month

2002 2003 2004 2005

Bowen ratio Eddy 

covariance Bowen ratio Eddy covariance Bowen ratio Eddy covariance Bowen ratio Eddy covariance

Tree site

January 18.3 15.5 3.3 3.6 23.1 16.1 0.1 5.9

February 24.0 19.9 – – 0.9 17.9 – 7.7

March 32.1 27.0 – – 13.4 41.1 – 27.2

April 36.8 30.1 – – – 46.0 – 54.9

May 40.2 32.3 23.4 27.7 16.5 47.4 49.6 59.2

June 16.3 23.3 27.6 27.7 36.9 42.2 45.9 57.5

July – 25.0 11.3 37.5 41.9 40.6 42.3 47.5

August 35.5 16.8 – 36.9 10.8 44.2 47.3 38.6

September 24.2 24.5 5.5 39.6 8.7 17.1 – –

October 20.4 9.4 17.8 16.7 – 18.4 – –

November 16.9 7.8 27.6 19.7 – 23.3 – –

December 17.4 18.2 17.2 13.5 – 10.9 – –

Brush site

January 16.7 10.6 – 11.0 – 12.8 – –

February – 14.5 – 10.4 – 9.2 – –

March – 18.9 – 24.9 – 20.2 – –

April – 25.6 – 19.0 – 30.0 – –

May 22.7 34.0 – 34.5 31.3 51.3 63.7 43.9

June 37.1 33.8 – 57.2 9.4 68.8 113.1 82.9

July 38.8 34.8 – 44.1 – 56.8 132.6 90.6

August 24.3 25.2 28.7 39.9 – 44.0 69.0 49.4

September 22.5 20.6 36.6 32.7 – 25.1 – –

October 11.5 8.9 – 14.9 12.8 11.4 – –

November 8.7 6.1 – 13.9 20.0 12.2 – –

December 11.5 10.0 – 11.1 13.1 3.5 – –

Evapotranspiration Estimates 9
Summary

Micrometeorological and soil data were used to estimate 

daily, monthly, and annual ET rates at two instrumented sites 

on Rainier Mesa, January 1, 2002 – August 23, 2005. One 

site is in an area of brush-dominated vegetation and a second 

site is in an area dominated by pinyon pines and juniper trees. 

Micrometeorological, soil, and ET data are presented in this 

report in Microsoft Excel workbooks. These data include air 

temperature, vapor pressure, and dew point temperature at 

two heights; average relative humidity; net radiation; wind 

speed and direction; soil temperature; 20-minute temperature 

change in soil; soil heat flux; and ET rates. Data for both sites 

are presented as 20-minute averages. Volumetric soil-water 

content and matric water potential are presented as 1-hour 

intervals and daily averages.

References Cited

Bowen, I.S., 1926, The ratio of heat losses by conduction and 

by evaporation by any water surface: Physics Review, v. 27, 

p. 779–787.

Campbell Scientific, Inc., 1996, CS615 Water content 

reflectometer instruction manual: Campbell Scientific, Inc., 

12 p.

Campbell Scientific, Inc., 1998, 229-L Soil water potential 

probe instruction manual: Campbell Scientific, Inc., 12 p.

DeMeo, G.A., Laczniak, R.J., Boyd, R.A., Smith, J.L., and 

Nylund, W.E., 2003, Estimated ground-water discharge 

by evapotranspiration from Death Valley, California, 

1997–2001: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources 

Investigations Report 03-4254, 27 p.

Harrill, J.R., Gates, J.S., and Thomas, J.M., 1988, Major 

ground-water flow systems in the Great Basin region 

of Nevada, Utah, and adjacent states: U.S. Geological 

Survey Hydrologic Investigations Atlas HA-694-C, scale 

1:1,000,000, 2 sheets.

Harrill, J.R., and Prudic, D.E., 1998, Aquifer systems in the 

Great Basin region of Nevada, Utah, and adjacent states–

summary report: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 

1409-A, A11 p.

Laczniak, R.J., DeMeo, G.A., Reiner, S.R., Smith, J.L., and 

Nylund, W.E., 1999, Estimates of ground-water discharge 

as determined from measurements of evapotranspiration, 

Ash Meadows area, Nye County, Nevada: U.S. Geological 

Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4079, 

70 p.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Air 

Resources Laboratory—Special Operation and Research 

Division, 2006, Overview of the climate of the Nevada Test 

Site (NTS): Available at URL: <http://www.sord.nv.doe.

gov/raingage/Monthly/Rainer_Mesa_Monthly_Data.txt>; 

and available at URL: <http://www.sord.nv.doe.gov/climate/

climate.nts.general.pdf>.

Russell, C.E., Hess, J.W., and Tyler. S.W., 2001, 

Hydrogeologic investigations of flow in fractured tuffs, 

Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site: American Geophysical 

Union Monograph, v. 42, p. 105–112.

Stull, S.B., 1988, An introduction to boundary layer 

meteorology: Dordrecht, Netherlands, Kluwer Academic 

Publishers, p. 427–428.

Tanner, B.D., and Greene, J.P., 1989, Measurements of 

sensible heat and water vapor fluxes using eddy correlation 

methods: Final report prepared for the U.S. Army Dugway 

Proving Grounds, Dugway, Utah, 17 p.

U.S. Department of Energy, 2000, United States nuclear tests: 

July1945 through September 1992: Washington, D.C., U.S. 

Department of Energy DOE/NV-209, revision 15, 162 p.

Webb, E.K., Pearman, G.I., and Leauning, R., 1980, 

Correction of flux measurements for density effects due 

to heat and water vapor transfer: Quarterly Journal of the 

Royal Meteorological Society, v. 106, p. 85–100.

10 Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 2002-05
Appendix A: Micrometeorological, Soil, and Evapotranspiration Data Workbooks

Micrometeorological and soil-moisture data, and 

evapotranspiration (ET) are presented in Microsoft Excel 

workbooks as part of this report. Two workbooks are available 

for each site; one workbook (http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/

ofr20061312/data/et.zip) contains the micrometeorological 

data, energy-budget fluxes, and daily ET values (calculated 

using both the Bowen ratio and eddy covariance methods) and 

the other workbook (http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/ofr20061312/

data/soil.zip) contains the soil-moisture data.

Microsoft Excel workbook containing the 

micrometeorological data, energy-budget 

fluxes, and ET include:

A. Micrometeorological data worksheet 

(20-minute intervals):

Air temperature, vapor pressure, and dew point 

temperature at two heights,

average relative humidity,

wind speed and direction, and

soil temperature, and time change in air and soil 

temperature.

B. Bowen ratio energy-budget fluxes and ET 

worksheet (20-minute intervals):

Net radiation,

sensible heat flux,

latent heat flux,

soil heat flux, and

ET values.

1.

2.

3.

4.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

C. Eddy covariance fluxes and ET worksheet 

(20-minute intervals):

Net radiation,

sensible heat flux uncorrected,

sensible heat flux Webb (1980) corrected,

latent heat flux uncorrected,

latent heat flux Webb (1980) corrected,

soil heat flux, and

ET values.

D. ET worksheet (daily intervals):

Bowen ratio and

eddy covariance.

E. Plots of daily ET for an annual cycle:

Bowen ratio and

eddy covariance.

Workbook containing soil-moisture values:

A. Soil-moisture worksheet (hourly intervals):

Matric water potential and

volumetric water content.

B. Soil-moisture worksheet (daily average 

values):

Matric water potential and

volumetric water content.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

1.

2.

1.

2.

1.

2.

1.

2.

Appendix A 11
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12 Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, 2002-05
For more information concerning the research in this report, contact the 

Director, Nevada Water Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey, 2730 N. Deer Run Road

Carson City, Nevada 89701

http://nv.water.usgs.gov
OFR 2006-1312 DeMeo and others Micrometeorological and Soil Data for Calculating Evapotranspiration for Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, Nevada, 2002–05