HR: 1340h
AN: H53E-0529    [Abstracts]
TI: Climatological Implications of Deep-Rooting in Water-Limited Ecosystems
AU: * Amenu, G G
EM: amenu@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 United States
AU: Kumar, P
EM: kumar1@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois, 205 N. Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 United States
AB: In vegetated ecosystems, plants are the primary channels that connect the soil with the atmosphere (through water, energy, carbon, and nutrient cycles), with plant roots controlling the below-ground dynamics. Recently, several observational evidences are emerging which suggests the existence of plant roots much deeper in the soil/rock profile than the depth usually perceived in existing hydroclimatological and hydroecological models. In this study, using land surface model, we assess the effects of vegetation deep-rooting on (a) moisture and temperature redistribution in the soil profile, (b) energy flux partitioning at the land surface, and (c) net primary productivity of vegetated ecosystems. Three sites characterized by different vegetation, soil, and climate (all located in arid to sub-humid regions of the United States) were studied. The sites include the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, the Edwards Plateau in Texas, and the Southern Piedmont in Georgia. Soil depths of up to 10 m are investigated. Results of this modeling effort and its implications for climatological modeling will be presented.
DE: 0426 Biosphere/atmosphere interactions (0315)
DE: 1843 Land/atmosphere interactions (1218, 1631, 3322)
DE: 1866 Soil moisture
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005