Evaluating the models of stomatal conductance response to humidity in a tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna, southwest China

The ecosystem-level fluxes of water vapour and carbon dioxide were measured from 2003 to 2006 at a tropical rain forest in Xishuangbanna, southwest China, using the eddy covariance (EC) technique. These flux measurements allowed the canopy-level evaluation of stomatal conductance (g) response to humidity models. The results showed that both the BWB model and the Leuning model discussed here underestimated g at high humidity and overestimated g at the mid-to-low range of humidity. In contrast, the Wang models discussed here (model-ha and model-Da) perfectly described the relationship of g response to humidity. The model comparison results also demonstrated high consistency over all the observation years. The good performance of the Wang model-ha and model-Da indicated that stomatal conductance responds more sensitively to humidity deficit or water vapour pressure deficit than to relative humidity itself at canopy level.

Evaluating the models of stomatal conductance response to humidity in a tropical rain forest of Xishuangbanna, southwest China Journal Articles