Multi-decadal trends in global terrestrial evapotranspiration and its components

• DOI: 10.1038/srep19124
• Publication Date: 2016-01-11T10:17:55Z
• Authors: Yongqiang Zhang; Jorge L. Peña-Ara...; Tim R. McVicar; Francis H. S. Chiew; Jai Vaze; Changming Liu; Xingjie Lu; Hongxing Zheng; Yingping Wang; Yi Y. Liu; Diego G. Miralles; Ming Pan
• Keywords: Water cycle; Water balance

Abstract Evapotranspiration (ET) is the process by which liquid water becomes vapor and energetically this accounts for much of incoming solar radiation. If ET did not occur temperatures would be higher, so understanding trends crucial to predict future temperatures. Recent studies have reported prolonged declines in recent decades, although these may relate climate variability. Here, we used a well-validated diagnostic model estimate daily during 1981–2012 its three components: transpiration from vegetation (E t ), direct evaporation soil s ) vaporization intercepted rainfall i ). During period, over land has increased significantly ( p < 0.01), caused increases E , are partially counteracted decreasing. These contrasting primarily driven leaf area index, dominated greening. The overall increase about twofold decrease . opposing simulated most Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) models highlight importance realistically representing changes earth system predicting energy cycle.