An argument for the use of two-layer SVAT schemes to simulate terrestrial carbon dioxide fluxes

Abstract. An order-of-magnitude argument shows that the different surface temperatures of soil and sparse vegetation affect carbon assimilation and soil respiration significantly. However, regulation of assimilation through associated modulation of in-canopy carbon dioxide levels is weak.
It is shown that for many vegetation types, the use of a two-layer representation of vegetation is essential to predict, accurately, terrestrial carbon fluxes, primarily through allowing different surface energy balances.