Sensitivity of forest water balance and physiological drought predictions to soil and vegetation parameters - A model-based study

Varying parameter values within plausible ranges led to differences of several hundreds of mm/year in predicted long-term evaporation. Root zone storage is the most important parameter at drier stations, whereas canopy and stomatal parameters become more important where soil moisture is less limiting. Physiological drought also depends strongly on root zone properties, while canopy structure only matters at the drier sites. Stomatal sensitivity to dry air substantially contributed to drought stress at the more humid sites.