Abstract
AbstractTrees influence the partitioning of water between catchment water yield and evapotranspiration through mediation of soil water via root water uptake (RWU). Recent research has estimated the depth of RWU for a variety of tree species at plot scales with measurements of stable isotopes in water and sap flux. Though informative, there are some challenges bridging the gap between plot‐ and catchment‐scale water fluxes. We estimated catchment‐scale tree RWU behavior for 139 forested catchments across the continental United States from continuous streamflow records with inverse ecohydrological modeling. Our catchment‐scale RWU estimates agreed well with existing plot‐scale research. Monoculture catchments dense with trees reliant on shallow soil water exhibited reduced transpiration losses compared to deep‐rooted and mixed‐species forests within the Budkyo framework. This research highlights the importance of representing plant characteristics that define RWU control of transpiration in land surface and earth systems models.
Highlights
Global forest loss has occurred at a rapid pace over the past several decades (Hansen et al, 2013), driven by industry and wildfires (Curtis et al, 2018)
Trees influence the partitioning of water between catchment water yield and evapotranspiration through mediation of soil water via root water uptake (RWU)
Recent research has estimated the depth of RWU for a variety of tree species at plot scales with measurements of stable isotopes in water and sap flux
Summary
Global forest loss has occurred at a rapid pace over the past several decades (Hansen et al, 2013), driven by industry (e.g., agriculture and timber harvesting) and wildfires (Curtis et al, 2018). The loss of forest ecosystems and growing atmospheric carbon have necessitated intergovernmental action toward forest preservation and restoration such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2019) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN, 2016). Quantifying the potential economic and environmental benefits of forested landscapes, remains problematic for forestry practitioners (Chazdon & Brancalion, 2019; Ellison et al, 2017), with respect to sustainable water resources management. Understanding how trees uptake and transpire catchment‐stored water is necessary for developing reliable forecasts of future fresh water availability (Filoso et al, 2017; McDonnell et al, 2018; Zhang et al, 2017), flood hazards (Ellison et al, 2017), and riverine ecosystem stability (Poff et al, 2010) following forest cover and climate change. Evaporation of canopy intercepted water, and transpiration following root water uptake (RWU) of soil water return a substantial proportion of continental precipitation to the atmosphere (Good et al, 2015), decreasing the proportion of rainfall that becomes streamflow
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