Assessing a dry surface layer-based soil resistance parameterization for the Community Land Model using GRACE and FLUXNET-MTE data

Compared to the existing CLM soil resistance parameterization, the DSL-based soil resistances for a given soil moisture value are generally larger, especially for moister soils. CLM simulations using the DSL-based soil resistance expression have reduced biases of ET relative to the FLUXNET-MTE (Model Tree Ensemble) data set and TWS relative to Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) observations. Averaged over global semiarid regions, the CLM mean annual amplitude of TWS increases from 26.3 mm to 32.5 mm when the new soil resistance parameterization is used, in good agreement with the GRACE mean annual amplitude for these regions of 32.2 ±2.1 mm.

CLM mean annual ET, averaged over global semiarid regions, decreases from 27.8 mm/month to 23.5 mm/month, closer to the FLUXNET-MTE mean annual ET of 21.1 ± 0.9 mm/month. The seasonal amplitude of CLM ET also decreases, from 23.3 mm/month to 18.3 mm/month compared to 14.9 ± 1.1 mm/month for FLUXNET-MTE.