Ren et al. (2025) Differential seasonal patterns and driving mechanisms of evapotranspiration components in a subtropical monsoon forest

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-11-25
• Authors: Yunlai Ren, Xinyu Zhao, Yingjie Feng, Pei-Ling Liu, Lu Zhang, Di Yang, Fangfang Huang, Weiqiang Zhang, Xiaodong Liu
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134644

Research Groups

• College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
• Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, Guangzhou, China

Short Summary

This study quantified and partitioned evapotranspiration (ET) components (canopy rainfall interception evaporation (Ei), transpiration (Et), and soil evaporation (Es)) and their driving mechanisms in a subtropical monsoon forest over two years. It found that Et (46.2%) and Ei (43.9%) were the major components, with distinct seasonal patterns and drivers (precipitation characteristics for Ei, energy factors for Et, and a mix for Es), highlighting the significant role of Ei in wet-hot subtropical regions.

Objective

• To quantify and partition evapotranspiration (ET) components (canopy rainfall interception evaporation (Ei), transpiration (Et), and soil evaporation (Es)) and investigate their differential seasonal patterns and driving mechanisms in a subtropical monsoon forest.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: A typical subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest ecosystem in southern subtropical China.
• Temporal Scale: Two years (2022–2023).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Not explicitly stated for partitioning; field measurements were used to quantify components.
• Data sources: Detailed field measurements including eddy covariance, canopy water balance, sap flow, and soil lysimeter methods.

Main Results

• The annual average ET accounted for 63.8 % of the mean annual precipitation, indicating ET as the predominant pathway for water loss.
• Transpiration (Et) contributed 46.2 % and canopy rainfall interception evaporation (Ei) contributed 43.9 % to total ET, making them the two major components.
• The proportion of Ei to ET was particularly notable in this wet-hot subtropical region.
• Soil evaporation (Es) constituted a small proportion of ET (9.9 %) and lacked a distinct seasonal pattern, likely due to high soil moisture and numerous rainless days during dry seasons.
• Precipitation characteristics (precipitation and precipitation intensity) were the decisive drivers for Ei on a daily scale in both wet and dry seasons.
• Transpiration (Et) was primarily influenced by energy factors (net radiation and photosynthetic active radiation).
• Soil evaporation (Es) was mainly affected by energy factors during the wet season and by soil moisture conditions during the dry season.

Contributions

• Provided a precise quantification and partitioning of ET components (Et, Ei, Es) in a subtropical monsoon forest, highlighting the significant contribution of Ei in wet-hot subtropical regions.
• Identified the differential seasonal patterns and primary environmental drivers for each ET component, offering a detailed understanding of their complex responses.
• Offered a scientific basis for managing water resources in forested watersheds, particularly relevant for climate change adaptation in subtropical regions.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Ren2025Differential,
  author = {Ren, Yunlai and Zhao, Xinyu and Feng, Yingjie and Liu, Pei-Ling and Zhang, Lu and Yang, Di and Huang, Fangfang and Zhang, Weiqiang and Liu, Xiaodong},
  title = {Differential seasonal patterns and driving mechanisms of evapotranspiration components in a subtropical monsoon forest},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134644},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134644}
}