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Radiative and precipitation controls on root zone soil moisture spectra

Publication ,  Journal Article
Nakai, T; Katul, GG; Kotani, A; Igarashi, Y; Ohta, T; Suzuki, M; Kumagai, T
Published in: Geophysical Research Letters
November 16, 2014

Temporal variability in root zone soil moisture content (w) exhibits a Lorentzian spectrum with memory dictated by a damping term when forced with white-noise precipitation. In the context of regional dimming, radiation and precipitation variability are needed to reproduce w trends prompting interest in how the w memory is altered by radiative forcing. A hierarchy of models that sequentially introduce the spectrum of precipitation, net radiation, and the effect of w on evaporative and drainage losses was used to analyze the spectrum of w at subtropical and temperate forested sites. Reproducing the w spectra at long time scales necessitated simultaneous precipitation and net radiation measurements depending on site conditions. The w memory inferred from observed w spectra was 25-38 days, larger than that determined from maximum wet evapotranspiration and field capacity. The w memory can be reasonably inferred from the Lorentzian spectrum when precipitation and evapotranspiration are in phase. Key PointsClimate models predict Lorentzian temporal spectra for root zone soil moisture wLong-term site measurements deviate from Lorentzian and report shorter w memoryPrecipitation and net radiation impact w spectra and its memory at long scales

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Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

November 16, 2014

Volume

41

Issue

21

Start / End Page

7546 / 7554

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
 

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Nakai, T., Katul, G. G., Kotani, A., Igarashi, Y., Ohta, T., Suzuki, M., & Kumagai, T. (2014). Radiative and precipitation controls on root zone soil moisture spectra. Geophysical Research Letters, 41(21), 7546–7554. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GL061745
Nakai, T., G. G. Katul, A. Kotani, Y. Igarashi, T. Ohta, M. Suzuki, and T. Kumagai. “Radiative and precipitation controls on root zone soil moisture spectra.” Geophysical Research Letters 41, no. 21 (November 16, 2014): 7546–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GL061745.
Nakai T, Katul GG, Kotani A, Igarashi Y, Ohta T, Suzuki M, et al. Radiative and precipitation controls on root zone soil moisture spectra. Geophysical Research Letters. 2014 Nov 16;41(21):7546–54.
Nakai, T., et al. “Radiative and precipitation controls on root zone soil moisture spectra.” Geophysical Research Letters, vol. 41, no. 21, Nov. 2014, pp. 7546–54. Scopus, doi:10.1002/2014GL061745.
Nakai T, Katul GG, Kotani A, Igarashi Y, Ohta T, Suzuki M, Kumagai T. Radiative and precipitation controls on root zone soil moisture spectra. Geophysical Research Letters. 2014 Nov 16;41(21):7546–7554.
Journal cover image

Published In

Geophysical Research Letters

DOI

EISSN

1944-8007

ISSN

0094-8276

Publication Date

November 16, 2014

Volume

41

Issue

21

Start / End Page

7546 / 7554

Related Subject Headings

  • Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences