Gobabeb
Tower upside down
Flower in the desert
Not a flower in the desert
Still not a flower in the desert
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Project descriptionGobaBas is the term for Micrometeorological Research of the University of Basel in Gobabeb or if you want Gobabebian Research of University of Basel. We contribute with GobaBas to the understanding of the micrometeorology/-climatology of the exceptional environments in and around Gobabeb. Components of the surface energy balance are measured on a longterm basis which is rare in desert landscapes. We take advantage of the excellent infrastructure of the Gobabeb Research and Training Centre to carry out flux measurements. Furthermore, we cooperate with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) which observes land surface temperatures. The surface energy balance equation can be simplified to Rn + G = H + LE, where Rn is the net radiation, G the soil heat flux, H the turblent sensible heat flux and LE the turbulent latent heat flux. All terms are in W m-2. The left hand side can be regarded as the available energy and is partitioned into turbulent heat fluxes on the right hand side. Net radiation Rn is measured at the 30 m tower close to Gobabeb by KIT at a height of 3.5m using a CNR1. Since July 2011 the MCR measures Rn also at 30 m height with a CNR4. Initially we planned to measure the soil heat flux G and the sensible heat flux H in order to estimate LE as a residual term. But due to remaining uncertainties, measurements of the latent heat flux were added as well. Since March 2011 all components of the surface energy balance are registered. GobabebThe Gobabeb Research and Training Centre is located in western Namibia at the transition between the southern Namib sand desert and the northern Namib gravel plains. This location near the Kuiseb River, which seperated sharply sand desert from gravel plains over just a few hundred meters, enables the observation of a wide range of environmental characteristics even on a small scale. Gobabeb lies approximately 40 km eastward from the Namibian coastal line, where the Benguala current flows northwards along the west African coast. The cold water of the Benguela current not only determines the dry climate but also provides the most important source of water for most of the living entity due to early morning fog belts. Gobabeb was founded in 1962 as the Namib Desert Reasearch Station by Dr. Charles Koch (1904-1970). During the last 50 years Gobabeb always represented an important oasis and provided the opportunity to conduct research on environmental systems for different purposes. Today, Gobabeb is a internationally well known reasearch station, as many scientists from all over the world visted the station to perform their respective research projects. Nowadays, Gobabeb also provides training programs. The research and educational work in Gobabeb is highly regarded and very important in terms of sustainable development and environmental awareness on a global scale. More information about Gobabeb is available on the official web page at https://www.gobabebtrc.org/ |
MicroMet Tower since Nov 2012
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Instrumental SetupEnergy Balance Measurements are taken at the 30 m tower which is located 1.5 km north of Gobabeb in the Namib gravelplains ( GoogleMaps). Since early 2008 the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) maintains there a LST reference site recording surface temperature, net radiation and auxiliary meteorological measurements. End of July 2009 MCR added instruments to measure surface energy balance. Further changes in set-up and additions are documented in the table below.
Data from KIT are sampled with a CR1000 (Campbell). Data from MCR are sampled with a CR3000. Fluxes are calculated online and are stored as 1 min and 30 min averages. Raw data time series are stored most of the time. *= before 12.7.2011 scan rate was 1 s. November 2012 fast and slow measurements from MCR were separated to two CR3000. |
BSRN on the rock(s)
Tracker close-up
Time flies like an arrow some flies do disturb us
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Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN)Practically all energy comes through radiation from the sun to our Earth. On average 1360 W m-2 arrive on top of the atmosphere. On its travel part of it interacts with the atmosphere (reflection, scattering, absorption) and the Earth's surface receives direct and diffuse solar (shortwave) radiation from the sun and long-wave radiation from the atmosphere. From the surface part of the shortwave incoming is reflected and long-wave radiation is emitted. A detailed knowledge of the incoming and outgoing radiation fluxes at the Earth's surface is essential for modeling weather and climate. Therefore such data "are of primary importance in supporting the validation and confirmation of satellite and computer model estimates of these quantities." The BSRN fulfills this task. "At a small number of stations (currently about 40) in contrasting climatic zones, covering a latitude range from 80°N to 90°S, solar and atmospheric radiation is measured with instruments of the highest available accuracy and with high time resolution (1 to 3 minutes). "BSRN is a project of the Radiation Panel from the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment GEWEX under the umbrella of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and as such is aimed at detecting important changes in the Earth's radiation field at the Earth's surface which may be related to climate changes. MCR from University of Basel together with Gobabeb and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) installed a BSRN compatible station in Gobabeb on the prominent "radiation rock" where in former times global radiation was measured with an analog Fuess-Robitzsch bimetal radiation recorder. In a technical assistance agreement these three institutions made a solemn vow to carry out these measurements at least for six years (end 2018). More details can be picked from the BSRN project page and data can be seen on Dolueg |
Thermocouples
Studying in Gobabeb
Students Field Course
Data Logger
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Field Course on Meteorological Measurement and InstrumentionMCR Lab offers a field course on meteorological measurement and instrumentation on an annual basis for BSc students in Geosciences at the University of Basel. In August 2010 the course took place for the first time in Gobabeb and was held also in August 2012 and 2014. In the future every second year a group of 10-20 students will come to Gobabeb to learn with practical field work how to set up meteorological measurement systems, sample and analyze the data and present results in a final little scientific conference. Further the students have to analyse and present scientific data of their own measurements during several sessions. The 8 days field course finishes with a 4 day bus excursion in the area of the lower Kuiseb river, Swakopmund and Erongo. |
PublicationsArticles (peer-reviewed)
Masters Thesis
Bachelor Thesis
Talks
Posters
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Gobabas CalendarThe following list provides an overview of the stations history and future projects.
Guests:
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