Multiple Equations

Hi, I'm really rather new to Matlab, and totally confused. I'm trying to write some equations for evapotranspiration, and I'm rather stuck. I've got my constants and my equations written as below:

gs = 0.108; %stomatal conductance m^-1%
ga = 0.002; %atmospheric conductance m^-1%
G = 0; %soil heat flux W m^-2)%
rho = 1.22; %density of air Kg m^-3%
cp = 1006; %specific heat of air J Kg^-1 degrees C^-1%
gamma = 0.655; %psychrometric constant%
pw = 998; %density of water KG m^-3%
lambda = 2495000; %latent heat for vapourisation J/kg%
Dry = -100 : 100; %Dry Bulb temperature degree C%
sat = 0.611 * exp ((17.27 * Dry)/... %Saturated vapour pressure KPa%
    237.3 + Dry); 
delta = 4098 * sat / ...%slope of vapour pressure curve at air temperature%
(237.3 + Dry)*(237.3 + Dry);
Rs = 0 : 40000; %Incoming Radiation W m^-2%
Wet = -100 : 100; %Wet Bulb temperature degree C%
Rn = -18.308 + 0.681 * Rs; %Net radiation W M^2%
Unsat = 0.611 * exp ((17.27 * Wet) /... %Unsaturated vapour pressure KPa%
    (237.3 + Wet)); 
Vap = Dry - Wet; % Vapour Pressure Deficit KPa%
Soil = Rn * 0.2; % Soil heat flux%
E= (delta * (Rn - Soil) + (rho * cp * Vap * ga)...
    / (delta + lambda * (1 +(ga/gs))))
Hours = 1:1:23; % Hours in a day%
Secs = Hours * 3600; %seconds in an hour%
Evap = (E/ (lambda * pw)) * 1000 * Secs %Evapotranspiration (mm per day)

My problem however is now that I want to be able to enter my 4 variables, Dry, Rs, Wet and Hours, and solve the equations, but I don't really know how to do it.

I eventually hope to make it into a GUI but I'm just trying to take it one step at a time. Any pointers would be much welcome.

Thanks

Answer 1

[Sam G.]

If you want to enter the variables in the command window, you can use the input command. For example, to prompt the user for the value of Dry you would use the line of code

Dry = input('Dry bulb temperature (deg C): ');

Then whenever you run the m-file you will be prompted for the values of each variable. If you want a more efficient (but less descriptive) approach, you could define your m-file as a function of the four variables that you mention. You would put the following in the first line of the m-file.

function Evap = funName(Dry, Rs, Wet, Hours)

Assuming Evap is the result you are interested in. Then, in the command window, you would enter

funName(50, 30, 80, 10)

to evaluate the function. You could also call the function in a GUI if you make one in the future.

[Doug Hull]

for testing purposes, input gets old fast. If you go that route, be sure to have a way to avoid having to type those in each time you run it during development. Usually commenting out the inputs and uncommenting some default values works.

[Claire]

Thanks Sam, much appreciated. Still fighting with my code, as it keeps giving the wrong answer, but at least it actually runs now.

Doug, can you explain what you mean by commenting in and uncommenting please? I'm really new to this, sorry.

[Paulo Silva]

%Dry = input('Dry bulb temperature (deg C): ');

Dry=1 %or other test value