transpiration

Water Moves Through Plants Faster Than Ever Imagined, Scientists Discover

Water Moves Through Plants Faster Than Ever Imagined, Scientists Discover

Super interesting: “The study reveals that Earth’s vegetation holds approximately 786 cubic kilometers of water—just 0.002% of the planet’s total freshwater supply. Additionally, the study shows that the time it takes for water to move through plants, known as transit or turnover time, is one of the fastest processes in the global water cycle. This duration ranges from as little as five days in croplands to 18 days in evergreen needleleaf forests.

The transit of water through plants is particularly fast in croplands, grasslands, and savannas. The results underscore vegetation’s dynamic role in the water cycle. In comparison to the global annual median of 8.1 days for water to transit through plants from entry to exit, the water in lakes is estimated to take 17 years, and the water in glaciers is estimated to take 1600 years.

… the transit of water through the atmosphere (about 8-10 days) and the transit time of water through soil before being taken up by plants (about 60 to 90 days)”

https://scitechdaily.com/water-moves-through-plants-faster-than-ever-imagined-scientists-discover/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44221-024-00365-9

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Root functioning modifies seasonal climate

Root functioning modifies seasonal climate

Very interesting:

Model results show that photosynthesis and evapotranspiration increase significantly in the Amazon during the dry season when plants are allowed to redistribute soil water. Plants draw water up and deposit it into the surface layers, and this water subsidy sustains transpiration at rates that deep roots alone cannot accomplish. The water used for dry season transpiration is from the deep storage layers in the soil, recharged during the previous wet season. We estimate that hydraulic redistribution (HR) increases dry season (July to November) transpiration by ~40% over the Amazon. Our model also indicates that such an increase in transpiration over the Amazon and other drought-stressed regions affects the seasonal cycles of temperature through changes in latent heat, thereby establishing a direct link between plant root functioning and climate.

And, hey, join us for the Climate Landscapes Conference, 18.-19.10.2022.

Posted by Stefan in Allgemein, 0 comments