Articles | Volume 25, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5175-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-25-5175-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
24 Sep 2021
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 24 Sep 2021
| 24 Sep 2021
Relative humidity gradients as a key constraint on terrestrial water and energy fluxes
Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z4, Canada
Monica Garcia
Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of
Denmark, Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
Laura Morillas
Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z4, Canada
Ulrich Weber
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry, Hans-Knöll-Straße 10,
07745 Jena, Germany
T. Andrew Black
Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia,
Vancouver, V6T1Z4, Canada
Mark S. Johnson
Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z4, Canada
Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z4, Canada
Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T1Z4, Canada
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Cited
12 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Improving canopy transpiration model performance by considering concurrent hot and dry conditions D. Chen et al. 10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103957
- Physically-constrained evapotranspiration models with machine learning parameterization outperform pure machine learning: Critical role of domain knowledge Y. Kim et al. 10.1371/journal.pone.0328798
- Observations of surface energy fluxes and meteorology in the seasonally snow-covered high-elevation East River watershed during SPLASH, 2021–2023 C. Cox et al. 10.5194/essd-17-1481-2025
- Spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of evapotranspiration in China simulated by the Priestley–Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory model Z. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114183
- Land‐Atmosphere Coupling Constrains Increases to Potential Evaporation in a Warming Climate: Implications at Local and Global Scales Y. Kim et al. 10.1029/2022EF002886
- A non-parametric method combined with surface flux equilibrium for estimating terrestrial evapotranspiration: Validation at eddy covariance sites X. Pan et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130682
- Future drought overestimations due to no constraints of CO2 physiological effect and land-atmosphere coupling on potential evapotranspiration X. An et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad8c67
- Deciphering the role of evapotranspiration in declining relative humidity trends over land Y. Kim & M. Johnson 10.1038/s43247-025-02076-9
- Partitioning and controlling factors of evapotranspiration: 2. Dynamics and controls of ratio of transpiration to evapotranspiration at multiple timescales in agroforestry system B. Li et al. 10.1016/j.agee.2024.109192
- A two-source non-parametric method for estimating terrestrial evapotranspiration: Validation at eddy covariance sites X. Pan et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132278
- Assessing the Complementary Role of Surface Flux Equilibrium (SFE) Theory and Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) Principle in the Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration Y. Kim et al. 10.1029/2022MS003224
- Overview of humidity impacts and predictive models for hygrothermal comfort classification A. Ben yahia et al. 10.1007/s00704-025-05513-z
12 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Improving canopy transpiration model performance by considering concurrent hot and dry conditions D. Chen et al. 10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103957
- Physically-constrained evapotranspiration models with machine learning parameterization outperform pure machine learning: Critical role of domain knowledge Y. Kim et al. 10.1371/journal.pone.0328798
- Observations of surface energy fluxes and meteorology in the seasonally snow-covered high-elevation East River watershed during SPLASH, 2021–2023 C. Cox et al. 10.5194/essd-17-1481-2025
- Spatiotemporal patterns and driving mechanisms of evapotranspiration in China simulated by the Priestley–Taylor Jet Propulsion Laboratory model Z. Zhang et al. 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.114183
- Land‐Atmosphere Coupling Constrains Increases to Potential Evaporation in a Warming Climate: Implications at Local and Global Scales Y. Kim et al. 10.1029/2022EF002886
- A non-parametric method combined with surface flux equilibrium for estimating terrestrial evapotranspiration: Validation at eddy covariance sites X. Pan et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.130682
- Future drought overestimations due to no constraints of CO2 physiological effect and land-atmosphere coupling on potential evapotranspiration X. An et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/ad8c67
- Deciphering the role of evapotranspiration in declining relative humidity trends over land Y. Kim & M. Johnson 10.1038/s43247-025-02076-9
- Partitioning and controlling factors of evapotranspiration: 2. Dynamics and controls of ratio of transpiration to evapotranspiration at multiple timescales in agroforestry system B. Li et al. 10.1016/j.agee.2024.109192
- A two-source non-parametric method for estimating terrestrial evapotranspiration: Validation at eddy covariance sites X. Pan et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132278
- Assessing the Complementary Role of Surface Flux Equilibrium (SFE) Theory and Maximum Entropy Production (MEP) Principle in the Estimation of Actual Evapotranspiration Y. Kim et al. 10.1029/2022MS003224
- Overview of humidity impacts and predictive models for hygrothermal comfort classification A. Ben yahia et al. 10.1007/s00704-025-05513-z
Latest update: 19 Oct 2025
Short summary
Here, we present a novel physically based evaporation model to demonstrate that vertical relative humidity (RH) gradients from the land surface to the atmosphere tend to evolve towards zero due to land–atmosphere equilibration processes. Collapsing RH gradients on daily to yearly timescales indicate an emergent land–atmosphere equilibrium, making it possible to determine evapotranspiration using only meteorological information, independent of land surface conditions and vegetation controls.
Here, we present a novel physically based evaporation model to demonstrate that vertical...
