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Title: Effects of Improved Simulation of Precipitation on Evapotranspiration and Its Partitioning Over Land

Journal Article · · Geophysical Research Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021gl097353· OSTI ID:1978527

Abstract Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key component of the global hydrological cycle, which is strongly modulated by the occurrence of different rainfall intensities. Global climate models (GCMs) commonly suffer from “too much light rain” and a negative bias in the ratio of transpiration (T) to ET (T/ET). It is unclear whether these biases are related. Here we show that with the improved simulation of probability density functions of rainfall intensity by suppressing light‐rain occurrence using a stochastic convection parameterization in the NCAR CESM1.2, the canopy T increases in tropical forests while evaporation from canopy interception and bare soil decreases. The simulated T/ET is increased by 2.5% globally and up to 8% regionally, primarily attributable to reduced fraction of wet leaves due to less frequent light rain despite its weak intensity. These results imply that excessive light rain is an important cause of the negative T/ET bias in GCMs.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0022064; AGS-2054697
OSTI ID:
1978527
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1854970
Journal Information:
Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 49, Issue 5; ISSN 0094-8276
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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