Abstract
This contribution presents an overview of the activities and results of the INTERFACE project. The project aims to quantify the non-closure of the surface energy balance at different sites in the Alpine environment, where processes related to the lack of closure, i.e., advection due to the development of thermally-driven circulations, are expected to be particularly significant. This objective is addressed by combining flux station and unmanned aerial system (UAS) measurements. The use of the UAS allows spatially distributed measurements around the eddy-covariance sites, which are crucial for the estimation of advection.
The analysis of eddy-covariance data from various sites representative of different Alpine contexts (e.g., valley floor, valley slope, mountain top) and climatic settings (North and South of the main Alpine crest) allows a systematic quantification and comparison of the characteristics of the surface energy balance, including the lack of closure. Particular attention is given to the evaluation of the role of thermally-driven circulations in the non-closure of the surface energy balance, selecting, by means of objective criteria, days with well-developed slope and valley circulations.
The INTERFACE project contributes to the TEAMx international research programme, which aims to improve our understanding of exchange processes in the atmosphere over mountains.