Richard Bello - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Richard Bello
Arctic Science, 2019
Monthly and annual component fluxes of the surface radiation and energy budgets for the two-decad... more Monthly and annual component fluxes of the surface radiation and energy budgets for the two-decade period from 1997 to 2016 are compared with the climate normal period (1981–2010) for the marine system consisting of James Bay, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Foxe Basin using estimates from the North American regional reanalysis model. Reflected solar radiation has declined unevenly, primarily offshore of major rivers, in polynyas and along shore leads, both during earlier melt and later freeze up. Annually, net radiation increases are driven by albedo decreases during the summer. Over 94% of the increases in ocean heat gain during the melt season are due to increases in absorbed sunlight. Large enhanced oceanic heat losses in the late fall are almost entirely consumed by intensified convective losses of both sensible and latent heat. All the seas within the Hudson Bay Complex show a reduced rate of ocean warming over the past two decades. This outcome can be partially reconciled with ...
Arctic Science, 2016
Eddy covariance (EC) estimates of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and the surface energy balance wer... more Eddy covariance (EC) estimates of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and the surface energy balance were gathered from an elevated peat plateau within the Hudson Bay Lowlands near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada (58°43′46″N, 93°49′57″W) during the growing season of 2007. Data were segregated into onshore and offshore wind regimes to assess the advective influence of the generally cold and moist Hudson Bay air masses compared to generally warm and dry air masses of nonmarine origin. Monthly average NEE ranged from an uptake of 0.2 µmol·m−2·s−1 in September to 5.6 µmol·m−2·s−1 in July. Over the growing season, onshore winds from Hudson Bay contributed to an average 4.2 °C reduction in air temperature and an NEE increase of 27%. When normalized with respect to sunlight receipt, the ratio of gross primary production to photosynthetically active radiation (GPP/PAR) was 26% stronger for offshore regimes than for onshore, while the ratio of ecosystem respiration to PAR (ER/PAR) was 71% stronger for ...
ARCTIC, 2002
Three separate research efforts conducted in the same wetland-peatland system in the northern Hud... more Three separate research efforts conducted in the same wetland-peatland system in the northern Hudson Bay Lowland near the town of Churchill, Manitoba, allow a comparison of two carbon budget estimates, one derived from long-term growth rates of organic soil and the other based on shorter-term flux measurements. For a tundra fen and an open subarctic forest, calculations of organic soil accumulation or loss over the last half-century indicate that while the fen on average has lost small amounts of carbon from the ecosystem, the adjacent forest has gained larger amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide. These longerterm data are supported by shorter-term flux measurements and estimates, which also show carbon loss by the fen and carbon uptake by the forest. The shorter-term data indicate that the fen's carbon loss is largely attributable to exceptionally dry years, especially if they are warm. The forest may gain carbon at an increased rate as it matures and during warm growing seasons. Also, the changes in relief of the dynamic hummock-hollow landscape in the fen may inhibit photosynthesis.
Arctic Science, 2019
A hyperspectral approach to quantify algal biomass was studied across 30 shallow ponds in the Hud... more A hyperspectral approach to quantify algal biomass was studied across 30 shallow ponds in the Hudson Bay Lowlands near Churchill, MB. Normalized difference algal indices (NDAI) were calculated based on hyperspectral measurements of the reflectance collected on shore with a hand-held spectrometer in parallel to estimations of biomass with an in vivo fluorometer designed for benthic algae. Algal biomass and coarse assemblages were differentiated through their spectral reflectance as a demonstration of concept for future upscaling that would be necessary for regional monitoring using remote sensing technology. Results indicated strong agreements between the calculated NDAI for measured reflectance from each pond and that of the isolated benthic zone. Cyanobacteria were the dominant component of the algal community for most ponds. As such, measures of reflectance and use of simple NDAIs may be able to characterize the total biomass of northern ponds. However, the distinction between alg...
Arctic and Alpine Research, 1993
... Adrian V. Renzetti Watershed Ecosystems, Trent Univer-sity, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Ca... more ... Adrian V. Renzetti Watershed Ecosystems, Trent Univer-sity, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada. Richard Bello ... The present study examines seasonal changes in the radi-ation regimes of tundra and contiguous open forest near Chur-chill, Manitoba, Canada. ...
Hydrological Processes, 2010
Assessing moisture contents of lichens and mosses using ground‐based high‐spectral resolution spe... more Assessing moisture contents of lichens and mosses using ground‐based high‐spectral resolution spectrometers offers immense opportunities for a comprehensive monitoring of peatland moisture status by satellite/airborne imagery. This study investigates the impact of various moisture conditions of the lichens Cladina stellaris and Cladina rangiferina, and the mosses Dicranum elongatum and Tomenthypnum nitens on the spectral signatures obtained. Reflectance and moisture content measurements of these species were made in a laboratory setting, while maintaining the natural moisture conditions of the samples; once the moisture and spectral measurements were complete, the samples were returned to the field and placed in their natural setting, continuously receiving moisture from precipitation and groundwater and losing water through evaporation and drainage. Previously, we correlated the present spectral indices with the moisture contents of the above species, whereas the current study deve...
Wind Energy Science Discussions, 2016
Micro-scale/small wind turbines, unlike larger utility-scale turbines, produce electricity at a r... more Micro-scale/small wind turbines, unlike larger utility-scale turbines, produce electricity at a rate of 300 W to 10 kW at their rated wind speed and are typically below 30 m in hub-height. These wind turbines have much more flexibility in their costs, maintenance and siting owing to their size and can provided wind energy in areas much less suited for direct supply to the grid system. The small wind industry has been substantially slow to progress in Ontario, Canada, and there is much debate over their viability in a growing energy dependent economy. In an effort to diversify the energy sector in Canada, it is crucial that some preliminary research be conducted in regards to the relevance of changing winds as they impact small wind turbines; this study seeks to demonstrate the performance of two small wind turbines, and speculate on the potential power output and its trend over Ontario historically over the last 33 years using the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) data. We a...
Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 1990
When shielded from the sun and exposed to the ambient wind regime, Piché atmometers accurately re... more When shielded from the sun and exposed to the ambient wind regime, Piché atmometers accurately reproduce estimates of the ventilation term of the Penman model using conventional psychrometry and anemometry. Results show that 98% of the variability in conventional estimates are accounted for by the variability in the atmometers when a square-root dependence on wind speed is incorporated into calculations of the evaporative flux from the atmometers. The potential for using a fairly simple instrument for the spatial extension of latent heat flux estimates from freely evaporating surfaces is discussed.
Arctic Science, 2019
Monthly and annual component fluxes of the surface radiation and energy budgets for the two-decad... more Monthly and annual component fluxes of the surface radiation and energy budgets for the two-decade period from 1997 to 2016 are compared with the climate normal period (1981–2010) for the marine system consisting of James Bay, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait and Foxe Basin using estimates from the North American regional reanalysis model. Reflected solar radiation has declined unevenly, primarily offshore of major rivers, in polynyas and along shore leads, both during earlier melt and later freeze up. Annually, net radiation increases are driven by albedo decreases during the summer. Over 94% of the increases in ocean heat gain during the melt season are due to increases in absorbed sunlight. Large enhanced oceanic heat losses in the late fall are almost entirely consumed by intensified convective losses of both sensible and latent heat. All the seas within the Hudson Bay Complex show a reduced rate of ocean warming over the past two decades. This outcome can be partially reconciled with ...
Arctic Science, 2016
Eddy covariance (EC) estimates of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and the surface energy balance wer... more Eddy covariance (EC) estimates of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) and the surface energy balance were gathered from an elevated peat plateau within the Hudson Bay Lowlands near Churchill, Manitoba, Canada (58°43′46″N, 93°49′57″W) during the growing season of 2007. Data were segregated into onshore and offshore wind regimes to assess the advective influence of the generally cold and moist Hudson Bay air masses compared to generally warm and dry air masses of nonmarine origin. Monthly average NEE ranged from an uptake of 0.2 µmol·m−2·s−1 in September to 5.6 µmol·m−2·s−1 in July. Over the growing season, onshore winds from Hudson Bay contributed to an average 4.2 °C reduction in air temperature and an NEE increase of 27%. When normalized with respect to sunlight receipt, the ratio of gross primary production to photosynthetically active radiation (GPP/PAR) was 26% stronger for offshore regimes than for onshore, while the ratio of ecosystem respiration to PAR (ER/PAR) was 71% stronger for ...
ARCTIC, 2002
Three separate research efforts conducted in the same wetland-peatland system in the northern Hud... more Three separate research efforts conducted in the same wetland-peatland system in the northern Hudson Bay Lowland near the town of Churchill, Manitoba, allow a comparison of two carbon budget estimates, one derived from long-term growth rates of organic soil and the other based on shorter-term flux measurements. For a tundra fen and an open subarctic forest, calculations of organic soil accumulation or loss over the last half-century indicate that while the fen on average has lost small amounts of carbon from the ecosystem, the adjacent forest has gained larger amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide. These longerterm data are supported by shorter-term flux measurements and estimates, which also show carbon loss by the fen and carbon uptake by the forest. The shorter-term data indicate that the fen's carbon loss is largely attributable to exceptionally dry years, especially if they are warm. The forest may gain carbon at an increased rate as it matures and during warm growing seasons. Also, the changes in relief of the dynamic hummock-hollow landscape in the fen may inhibit photosynthesis.
Arctic Science, 2019
A hyperspectral approach to quantify algal biomass was studied across 30 shallow ponds in the Hud... more A hyperspectral approach to quantify algal biomass was studied across 30 shallow ponds in the Hudson Bay Lowlands near Churchill, MB. Normalized difference algal indices (NDAI) were calculated based on hyperspectral measurements of the reflectance collected on shore with a hand-held spectrometer in parallel to estimations of biomass with an in vivo fluorometer designed for benthic algae. Algal biomass and coarse assemblages were differentiated through their spectral reflectance as a demonstration of concept for future upscaling that would be necessary for regional monitoring using remote sensing technology. Results indicated strong agreements between the calculated NDAI for measured reflectance from each pond and that of the isolated benthic zone. Cyanobacteria were the dominant component of the algal community for most ponds. As such, measures of reflectance and use of simple NDAIs may be able to characterize the total biomass of northern ponds. However, the distinction between alg...
Arctic and Alpine Research, 1993
... Adrian V. Renzetti Watershed Ecosystems, Trent Univer-sity, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Ca... more ... Adrian V. Renzetti Watershed Ecosystems, Trent Univer-sity, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8, Canada. Richard Bello ... The present study examines seasonal changes in the radi-ation regimes of tundra and contiguous open forest near Chur-chill, Manitoba, Canada. ...
Hydrological Processes, 2010
Assessing moisture contents of lichens and mosses using ground‐based high‐spectral resolution spe... more Assessing moisture contents of lichens and mosses using ground‐based high‐spectral resolution spectrometers offers immense opportunities for a comprehensive monitoring of peatland moisture status by satellite/airborne imagery. This study investigates the impact of various moisture conditions of the lichens Cladina stellaris and Cladina rangiferina, and the mosses Dicranum elongatum and Tomenthypnum nitens on the spectral signatures obtained. Reflectance and moisture content measurements of these species were made in a laboratory setting, while maintaining the natural moisture conditions of the samples; once the moisture and spectral measurements were complete, the samples were returned to the field and placed in their natural setting, continuously receiving moisture from precipitation and groundwater and losing water through evaporation and drainage. Previously, we correlated the present spectral indices with the moisture contents of the above species, whereas the current study deve...
Wind Energy Science Discussions, 2016
Micro-scale/small wind turbines, unlike larger utility-scale turbines, produce electricity at a r... more Micro-scale/small wind turbines, unlike larger utility-scale turbines, produce electricity at a rate of 300 W to 10 kW at their rated wind speed and are typically below 30 m in hub-height. These wind turbines have much more flexibility in their costs, maintenance and siting owing to their size and can provided wind energy in areas much less suited for direct supply to the grid system. The small wind industry has been substantially slow to progress in Ontario, Canada, and there is much debate over their viability in a growing energy dependent economy. In an effort to diversify the energy sector in Canada, it is crucial that some preliminary research be conducted in regards to the relevance of changing winds as they impact small wind turbines; this study seeks to demonstrate the performance of two small wind turbines, and speculate on the potential power output and its trend over Ontario historically over the last 33 years using the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) data. We a...
Boundary-Layer Meteorology, 1990
When shielded from the sun and exposed to the ambient wind regime, Piché atmometers accurately re... more When shielded from the sun and exposed to the ambient wind regime, Piché atmometers accurately reproduce estimates of the ventilation term of the Penman model using conventional psychrometry and anemometry. Results show that 98% of the variability in conventional estimates are accounted for by the variability in the atmometers when a square-root dependence on wind speed is incorporated into calculations of the evaporative flux from the atmometers. The potential for using a fairly simple instrument for the spatial extension of latent heat flux estimates from freely evaporating surfaces is discussed.