https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4252

Evapotranspiration (ET) is the dominant hydrologic flux in wetlands, and partitioning into transpiration (T) and evaporation (E) is essential for understanding water and carbon dynamics, guiding sustainable water management practices, and predicting responses to climate change in these systems. However, the presence of moss layers in many wetlands challenges the assumptions of commonly used partitioning methods. This study evaluates the performance of nine eddy covariance (EC)-based ET partitioning approaches across multiple moss-covered wetland sites located in boreal and the Canadian Rocky Mountains. The partitioning results from each approach were compared against independent measurement-based estimates, which were obtained using flux chamber, micro-lysimeters, sap flow sensors, and EC systems. Results showed that none of the evaluated methods provided both accurate and precise estimates of ET partitioning (T:ET), and no single method emerged as the most suitable for studied ecosystems. Despite this, the general agreement between modelled and measured T:ET values indicates that many of these approaches still provide valuable insights. Applying multiple methods concurrently is recommended, where possible, to enhance confidence in partitioning results. For researchers with access to high-frequency EC data, priority should be given to high-frequency EC-based methods due to their more consistent performance across sites. The findings also highlight the limitations of current partitioning approaches under evaporation-dominated conditions, and underscore the need to examine the mechanistic role of mosses, as well as to improve how optimal stomatal conductance theory is conceptualized and implemented in model formulations.

Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Biogeosciences (BG).

https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-4252