Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomes

Abstract A large variability (35–90%) in the ratio of transpiration to total evapotranspiration (referred here as T:ET) across biomes or even at the global scale has been documented by a number of studies carried out with different methodologies. Previous empirical results also suggest that T:ET doe...

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Main Authors: Simone Fatichi, Christoforos Pappas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2017-07-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074041
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author Simone Fatichi
Christoforos Pappas
author_facet Simone Fatichi
Christoforos Pappas
author_sort Simone Fatichi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A large variability (35–90%) in the ratio of transpiration to total evapotranspiration (referred here as T:ET) across biomes or even at the global scale has been documented by a number of studies carried out with different methodologies. Previous empirical results also suggest that T:ET does not covary with mean precipitation and has a positive dependence on leaf area index (LAI). Here we use a mechanistic ecohydrological model, with a refined process‐based description of evaporation from the soil surface, to investigate the variability of T:ET across biomes. Numerical results reveal a more constrained range and higher mean of T:ET (70 ± 9%, mean ± standard deviation) when compared to observation‐based estimates. T:ET is confirmed to be independent from mean precipitation, while it is found to be correlated with LAI seasonally but uncorrelated across multiple sites. Larger LAI increases evaporation from interception but diminishes ground evaporation with the two effects largely compensating each other. These results offer mechanistic model‐based evidence to the ongoing research about the patterns of T:ET and the factors influencing its magnitude across biomes.
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spelling doaj-art-fd2a813cb2d844ee9b83fc0a382ee3cc2025-08-20T02:31:40ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072017-07-0144136795680310.1002/2017GL074041Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomesSimone Fatichi0Christoforos Pappas1Institute of Environmental Engineering ETH Zurich Zurich SwitzerlandDépartement de Géographie and Centre d'études nordiques Université de Montréal Montreal Quebec CanadaAbstract A large variability (35–90%) in the ratio of transpiration to total evapotranspiration (referred here as T:ET) across biomes or even at the global scale has been documented by a number of studies carried out with different methodologies. Previous empirical results also suggest that T:ET does not covary with mean precipitation and has a positive dependence on leaf area index (LAI). Here we use a mechanistic ecohydrological model, with a refined process‐based description of evaporation from the soil surface, to investigate the variability of T:ET across biomes. Numerical results reveal a more constrained range and higher mean of T:ET (70 ± 9%, mean ± standard deviation) when compared to observation‐based estimates. T:ET is confirmed to be independent from mean precipitation, while it is found to be correlated with LAI seasonally but uncorrelated across multiple sites. Larger LAI increases evaporation from interception but diminishes ground evaporation with the two effects largely compensating each other. These results offer mechanistic model‐based evidence to the ongoing research about the patterns of T:ET and the factors influencing its magnitude across biomes.https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074041evaporationtranspirationinterceptionmodelingecohydrologywater budget
spellingShingle Simone Fatichi
Christoforos Pappas
Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomes
Geophysical Research Letters
evaporation
transpiration
interception
modeling
ecohydrology
water budget
title Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomes
title_full Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomes
title_fullStr Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomes
title_full_unstemmed Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomes
title_short Constrained variability of modeled T:ET ratio across biomes
title_sort constrained variability of modeled t et ratio across biomes
topic evaporation
transpiration
interception
modeling
ecohydrology
water budget
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074041
work_keys_str_mv AT simonefatichi constrainedvariabilityofmodeledtetratioacrossbiomes
AT christoforospappas constrainedvariabilityofmodeledtetratioacrossbiomes