Monthly Latent and Sensible Heat Flux Estimates for Australia 2000-2023

Spatially and temporally dynamic monthly estimates of latent heat flux (λE) and sensible heat flux (H) for Australia on a 0.005° spatial grid (~500 m) from March 2000 through June 2023. The model was derived by scaling MODIS-based covariates with TERN OzFlux Surface Energy Balance data and validated using three independent flux tower sites.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of latent heat flux (λE) across Australia's 0.005° grid to study regional evapotranspiration dynamics.
• Model the surface energy balance by combining the provided λE and sensible heat flux (H) datasets to derive available energy (A).
• Validate remote sensing energy models using the reported mean absolute difference (MAD) metrics for λE, H, and A from three flux tower sites.
• Investigate long-term trends in sensible heat flux (H) from March 2000 to June 2023 to assess land-atmosphere interaction changes.

Strengths

• Covers a long temporal range from March 2000 through June 2023.
• Provides data on a fine spatial grid of 0.005° (approximately 500 m resolution).
• Model validation includes specific Mean Absolute Difference (MAD) metrics: 0.37 mm/d for λE, 0.39 mm/d for H, and 0.34 mm/d for A.
• Uses data from the TERN OzFlux network of eddy covariance flux towers for model calibration.

Limitations

• Data is provided as monthly aggregates, limiting analysis of sub-monthly or diurnal energy flux variations.
• Spatial model accuracy may be lower in regions distant from the OzFlux calibration tower network.
• The primary outputs are gridded model estimates, not direct flux tower measurements.

Provenance

Source

Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network's Data Discovery

Collection Method

MODEL: A Spatial and Temporal General Linear Model (ST-GLM) scaled MODIS-based covariates using TERN OzFlux Surface Energy Balance data from eddy covariance flux towers.

Time Range

March 2000 through June 2023

Freshness

Data covers up to June 2023, with metadata last updated in March 2026.

Geography

All of Australia