Empirical and optimal stomatal controls on leaf and ecosystem level CO2 and H2O exchange rates

Linkage between the leaf-level stomatal conductance (gs) response to environmental stimuli and canopy-level mass exchange processes remains an important research problem to be confronted. How various formulations of gs influence canopy-scale mean scalar concentration and flux profiles of CO2 and H2O within the canopy and how to derive ‘effective’ properties of a ‘big-leaf’ that represents the eco-system mass exchange rates starting from leaf-level parameters were explored. Four widely used formulations for leaf-level gs were combined with a leaf-level photosynthetic demand function, a layer-resolving light attenuation model, and a turbulent closure scheme for scalar fluxes within the canopy air space. The four gs models were the widely used semi-empirical Ball-Berry approach, and its modification, and two solutions to the stomatal optimization theory for autonomous leaves. One of the two solutions to the optimization theory is based on a linearized CO2-demand function while the other does not invoke such simplification. The four stomatal control models were then parameterized against the same shoot-scale gas exchange data collected in a Scots pine forest located at the SMEAR II-station in Hyytiälä, Southern Finland. The predicted CO2 (Fc) and H2O fluxes (Fe) and mean concentration profiles were compared against multi-level eddy-covariance measurements and mean scalar concentration data within and above the canopy. It was shown that Fc comparisons agreed to within 10% and Fe comparisons to within 25%. The optimality approach derived from a linearized photosynthetic demand function predicted the largest CO2 uptake and transpiration rates when compared to eddy-covariance measurements and the other three models. Moreover, within each gs model, the CO2 fluxes were insensitive to gs model parameter variability whereas the transpiration rate estimates were notably more affected. Vertical integration of the layer-averaged results as derived from each gs model was carried out. The sensitivities of the up-scaled bulk canopy conductances were compared against the eddy-covariance derived canopy conductance counterpart. It was shown that canopy level gs appear more sensitive to vapor-pressure deficit than shoot-level gs.