Dataset Information

Patterns and drivers of evapotranspiration in South American wetlands.

ABSTRACT: Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key process linking surface and atmospheric energy budgets, yet its drivers and patterns across wetlandscapes are poorly understood worldwide. Here we assess the ET dynamics in 12 wetland complexes across South America, revealing major differences under temperate, tropical, and equatorial climates. While net radiation is a dominant driver of ET seasonality in most environments, flooding also contributes strongly to ET in tropical and equatorial wetlands, especially in meeting the evaporative demand. Moreover, significant water losses through wetlands and ET differences between wetlands and uplands occur in temperate, more water-limited environments and in highly flooded areas such as the Pantanal, where slow river flood propagation drives the ET dynamics. Finally, floodplain forests produce the greatest ET in all environments except the Amazon River floodplains, where upland forests sustain high rates year round. Our findings highlight the unique hydrological functioning and ecosystem services provided by wetlands on a continental scale.

SUBMITTER: Fleischmann AS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10589351 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Patterns and drivers of evapotranspiration in South American wetlands.

Fleischmann Ayan Santos AS Laipelt Leonardo L Papa Fabrice F Paiva Rodrigo Cauduro Dias de RCD de Andrade Bruno Comini BC Collischonn Walter W Biudes Marcelo Sacardi MS Kayser Rafael R Prigent Catherine C Cosio Eric E Machado Nadja Gomes NG Ruhoff Anderson A

Nature communications 20231020 1

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key process linking surface and atmospheric energy budgets, yet its drivers and patterns across wetlandscapes are poorly understood worldwide. Here we assess the ET dynamics in 12 wetland complexes across South America, revealing major differences under temperate, tropical, and equatorial climates. While net radiation is a dominant driver of ET seasonality in most environments, flooding also contributes strongly to ET in tropical and equatorial wetlands, especially i ...[more]

PMID: 37863899

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Dataset Information

Patterns and drivers of evapotranspiration in South American wetlands.

Publications

Patterns and drivers of evapotranspiration in South American wetlands.

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