Evaporation over a tropical tidal salt flat

Measurements of temperature, wind speed and humidity within 6 mof the surface of a mangrove-fringed tidal tropical salt flatwere performed. Using the aerodynamic method, this data was usedto infer evaporation rates from the salt flat. For a few daysafter tidal inundation or rain, the salt flats were wet andevaporation rates of about 5×10^-3 m day^-1 prevailed. By 8 daysafter tidal inundation and with no rain, evaporation rates haddropped to less than 2×10^-3 m day^-1. The monthly evaporation ratewas about 7×10^-2 m. This generates high salinity which, togetherwith surface temperatures exceeding 50°C, prevents colonisationof these areas by mangroves.