Hydrologic connectivity constrains partitioning of global terrestrial water fluxes

Abstract

Mobile surface waters and soil waters are relatively disconnected on a global scale. Water on land is eventually lost by surface runoff into the oceans or is ultimately sent back to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration processes. Good et al. determined that 65% of continental water evaporation is from soils, which includes water taken up and transpired by plants (see the Perspective by Brooks). Although just a small fraction of global surface waters pass through soils, individual stream ecosystems may be affected by water quality changes in nearby soils.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Jul 10, 2015
Source ID
10.1126/science.aaa5931

Entities

People

  • David Noone
  • Gabriel Bowen
  • Stephen P. Good

Organizations

  • Oregon State University
  • United States Department of Defense
  • University of Utah

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Coastal and Marine Engineering/Sediment Transport/Hydraulic Engineering
  • Educational Psychology
  • Ocean-Atmosphere Mesoscale Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Flux Boundary Layers