Relationship between canopy height and the reference value of surface conductance for closed coniferous stands

Abstract

When estimating the dry-canopy evaporation rate of coniferous stands using the Penman-Monteith equation, it is crucial to determine the reference value of surface conductance Gs. This paper examines the relationship between canopy height and the reference value of Gs based on the maximum value of Gs with a vapour pressure deficit ≥ 1.0 kPa, Ĝsmax. There is a clear correlation between canopy height and Ĝsmax when the projected leaf area index ≥3.0. This suggests that using this relationship will enable more accurate determination of the reference value of Gs for closed stands. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.