Comparing Model Representations of Physiological Limits on Transpiration at a Semi‐Arid Ponderosa Pine Site

Mechanistic representations of biogeochemical processes in ecosystem models are rapidly advancing, requiring advancements model evaluation approaches. Here we quantify multiple aspects functional performance to evaluate improved process models. We compare semi-empirical stomatal with hydraulic constraints against more mechanistic and functioning at a semi-arid pine site using suite metrics analytical tools. find that generally perform similarly under unstressed conditions, but diverges atmospheric soil drought. The empirical better capture synergistic information flows between water potential vapor pressure deficit transpiration, while the overly deterministic. Although can be parameterized yield similar performance, alternate parameterizations could not overcome structural underestimate unique contained about transpiration. Additionally, both multilayer canopy big-leaf were unable magnitude temperature divergence from air temperature, demonstrate errors leaf propagate considerable error simulated This study demonstrates value merging underutilized observational data streams emerging tools characterize function discriminate among representations.