The ratio of sensible heat (the heat exchanged by a body or thermodynamic system that has as its sole effect a change of temperature) to latent heat. The Bowen ratio is the mathematical method generally used to calculate heat lost (or gained) in a substance. When the magnitude of B is less than one, a greater proportion of the available energy at the surface is passed to the atmosphere as latent heat than as sensible heat, and the converse is true for values of B greater than one.