Articles | Volume 28, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-4477-2024
© Author(s) 2024. 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-28-4477-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Review article
| 
14 Oct 2024
Review article |
| 14 Oct 2024
| 14 Oct 2024
Root zone in the Earth system
Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Markus Hrachowitz
Water Resources Section, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Lan Wang-Erlandsson
Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Member of the Leibniz Association, Potsdam, Germany
Fabrizio Fenicia
Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dubendorf, Switzerland
Qiaojuan Xi
Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Jianyang Xia
Zhejiang Tiantong Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
Wei Shao
Key Laboratory of Hydrometeorological Disaster Mechanism and Warning, Ministry of Water Resources/School of Hydrology and Water Resources, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China
Ge Sun
Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station, Research Triangle Park, Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Hubert H. G. Savenije
Water Resources Section, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Viewed
Total article views: 3,267 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 20 Feb 2024)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,671 | 462 | 134 | 3,267 | 48 | 53 |
- HTML: 2,671
- PDF: 462
- XML: 134
- Total: 3,267
- BibTeX: 48
- EndNote: 53
Total article views: 2,074 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 14 Oct 2024)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,795 | 194 | 85 | 2,074 | 19 | 25 |
- HTML: 1,795
- PDF: 194
- XML: 85
- Total: 2,074
- BibTeX: 19
- EndNote: 25
Total article views: 1,193 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 20 Feb 2024)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 876 | 268 | 49 | 1,193 | 29 | 28 |
- HTML: 876
- PDF: 268
- XML: 49
- Total: 1,193
- BibTeX: 29
- EndNote: 28
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 3,267 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,157 with geography defined
and 110 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 2,074 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,979 with geography defined
and 95 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 1,193 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 1,178 with geography defined
and 15 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
14 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Time-lag and accumulation responses of vegetation to precipitation in the Jinsha River dry-hot valley at multiple spatial–temporal scales J. Feng et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133605
- Land use and climate change exacerbate the root zone maximum water deficit in the Loess Plateau Z. Zhao et al. 10.1007/s11430-025-1583-9
- A Null Model for Global Root Depth Distributions: Analytical Solution and Comparison to Data C. Harman & D. Lapides 10.1002/eco.70023
- Causal relationships of vegetation productivity with root zone water availability and atmospheric dryness at the catchment scale G. Abeshu et al. 10.5194/hess-29-1847-2025
- Water table depth contributes to tropical Eucalyptus plantation yields in sandstone-derived landscapes J. Stape & C. Alvares 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122771
- An extension of the logistic function to account for nonstationary drought losses T. Zhao et al. 10.5194/hess-29-2429-2025
- Soil moisture dominates the severe decline in gross primary productivity during a 2023–2024 compound heatwave-drought event over the Amazon T. Yang et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/adb0e1
- Seasonal patterns and hydrological regulations of root zone storage capacity across United States S. Du et al. 10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110428
- STERE: a framework for addressing ecosystem degradation using an integrated hydrology approach W. Qu et al. 10.1016/j.scib.2025.01.038
- 土地利用和气候变化加剧黄土高原根区最大水分亏缺 梓. 赵 et al. 10.1360/SSTe-2025-0005
- Rooting depth projections of global plant functional types and driving factors analysis based on a hybrid modeling framework Q. Han et al. 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113674
- Substantial root-zone water storage capacity observed by GRACE and GRACE/FO M. Zhao et al. 10.5194/hess-29-2293-2025
- Red maple tree root water uptake depths are influenced by neighboring tree species composition M. Sobota et al. 10.1093/treephys/tpaf049
- Multi-decadal fluctuations in root zone storage capacity through vegetation adaptation to hydro-climatic variability have minor effects on the hydrological response in the Neckar River basin, Germany S. Wang et al. 10.5194/hess-28-4011-2024
13 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Time-lag and accumulation responses of vegetation to precipitation in the Jinsha River dry-hot valley at multiple spatial–temporal scales J. Feng et al. 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.133605
- Land use and climate change exacerbate the root zone maximum water deficit in the Loess Plateau Z. Zhao et al. 10.1007/s11430-025-1583-9
- A Null Model for Global Root Depth Distributions: Analytical Solution and Comparison to Data C. Harman & D. Lapides 10.1002/eco.70023
- Causal relationships of vegetation productivity with root zone water availability and atmospheric dryness at the catchment scale G. Abeshu et al. 10.5194/hess-29-1847-2025
- Water table depth contributes to tropical Eucalyptus plantation yields in sandstone-derived landscapes J. Stape & C. Alvares 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122771
- An extension of the logistic function to account for nonstationary drought losses T. Zhao et al. 10.5194/hess-29-2429-2025
- Soil moisture dominates the severe decline in gross primary productivity during a 2023–2024 compound heatwave-drought event over the Amazon T. Yang et al. 10.1088/1748-9326/adb0e1
- Seasonal patterns and hydrological regulations of root zone storage capacity across United States S. Du et al. 10.1016/j.agrformet.2025.110428
- STERE: a framework for addressing ecosystem degradation using an integrated hydrology approach W. Qu et al. 10.1016/j.scib.2025.01.038
- 土地利用和气候变化加剧黄土高原根区最大水分亏缺 梓. 赵 et al. 10.1360/SSTe-2025-0005
- Rooting depth projections of global plant functional types and driving factors analysis based on a hybrid modeling framework Q. Han et al. 10.1016/j.ecolind.2025.113674
- Substantial root-zone water storage capacity observed by GRACE and GRACE/FO M. Zhao et al. 10.5194/hess-29-2293-2025
- Red maple tree root water uptake depths are influenced by neighboring tree species composition M. Sobota et al. 10.1093/treephys/tpaf049
Latest update: 30 Jun 2025
Short summary
The concept of the root zone is widely used but lacks a precise definition. Its importance in Earth system science is not well elaborated upon. Here, we clarified its definition with several similar terms to bridge the multi-disciplinary gap. We underscore the key role of the root zone in the Earth system, which links the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, and anthroposphere. To better represent the root zone, we advocate for a paradigm shift towards ecosystem-centred modelling.
The concept of the root zone is widely used but lacks a precise definition. Its importance in...
