A device for the local measurement of water evaporation rate. (30th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hall, Christopher; Hamilton, Andrea
• Is Part Of: Measurement science & technology. Volume 31:Number 12(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09-30
• Subjects: evaporation -- evaporimeter -- drying -- porous materials; Physical measurements -- Periodicals; Scientific apparatus and instruments -- Periodicals; Equipment and Supplies -- Periodicals; Science -- instrumentation -- Periodicals; Technology -- instrumentation -- Periodicals; Mesures physiques -- Périodiques; Physical measurements; Scientific apparatus and instruments; Periodicals; 502.87
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6501/abb438
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-0233

Abstract

Abstract: Evaporation plays a central but largely invisible role in the moisture dynamics of buildings and urban microenvironments. Local evaporation rates control water flux and material damage, and are altered by climate change. While potential evaporation (PE) (or potential evapotranspiration (PET)) can be estimated on the large-scale, there are few if any methods of making local PE measurements. We describe here a simple device ( patch evaporimeter ) for measuring PE at point locations on the surfaces of built structures. The device combines a sintered-quartz disc as a water reservoir and a low-cost remotely-readable humidity sensor to detect the drying time. The patch evaporimeter may be widely useful in monitoring evaporation rates in a variety of microenvironments.