Uncertainties in transpiration estimates

arising from S. Jasechko et al. Nature 496, 347-350 (2013)10.1038/nature11983How best to assess the respective importance of plant transpiration over evaporation from open waters, soils and short-term storage such as tree canopies and understories (interception) has long been debated. On the basis o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Nature (London) 2014-02, Vol.506 (7487), p.E1-E2
Main Authors:	Coenders-Gerrits, A M J, van der Ent, R J, Bogaard, T A, Wang-Erlandsson, L, Hrachowitz, M, Savenije, H H G
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Carbon dioxide Efficiency Estimates Fresh Water - analysis Physiological research Plant physiology Plant Transpiration - physiology Plants Plants - metabolism Rain Science Transpiration Water Movements
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	arising from S. Jasechko et al. Nature 496, 347-350 (2013)10.1038/nature11983How best to assess the respective importance of plant transpiration over evaporation from open waters, soils and short-term storage such as tree canopies and understories (interception) has long been debated. On the basis of data from lake catchments, Jasechko et al. conclude that transpiration accounts for 80-90% of total land evaporation globally (Fig. 1a). However, another choice of input data, together with more conservative accounting of the related uncertainties, reduces and widens the transpiration ratio estimation to 35-80%. Hence, climate models do not necessarily conflict with observations, but more measurements on the catchment scale are needed to reduce the uncertainty range. There is a Reply to this Brief Communications Arising by Jasechko, S. et al. Nature 506, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12926 (2014).
ISSN:	0028-0836 1476-4687