Phenology- and light-based parameterization of stomatal conductance model for urban woody species in northern China

Abstract

Surface ozone (O3) poses a significant threat to urban vegetation health, and assessing the O3 risk across woody species is of vital importance for maintaining the health of urban infrastructure. In the present study, Jarvis-type stomatal conductance model was parameterized for ten urban species in northern China. Incorporating the effects of time of day and diurnal O3 concentration significantly enhanced the model performance. For different plant functional types (greening trees, greening shrubs, and orchard-grown trees), three parameterizations were established to estimate stomatal O3 uptake (POD1, phytotoxic O3 dose over an hourly threshold of 1 nmol m−2 s−1). The differences in POD1 between greening trees and shrubs were primarily due to the difference in their stomatal sensitivity to light. Orchard-grown trees displayed the lowest O3 removal capacity (lowest value of POD1) because of their shorter growing season despite of high stomatal conductance. These results indicated that plant phenology and light responsiveness determined stomatal O3 uptake, and the three parameterizations developed here could be applicable to various urban species in northern regions. Among climatic factors for O3 risk assessment, O3 concentration was the most important factor determining annual variation of POD1, which was primarily driven by air temperature. However, when O3 pollution decreased, O3 concentration exhibited less dependence on temperature and more dependence on light. These findings provide crucial insights for urban policy-makers and environmental scientists aiming to mitigate O3 pollution effects and enhance urban vegetation health.