On the Influence of Vegetation Cover Changes and Vegetation-Runoff Systems on the Simulated Summer Potential Evapotranspiration of Tropical Africa Using RegCM4

Abstract The community land model version 4.5 provides two ways for treating the vegetation cover changes (a static versus an interactive) and runoff schemes tracking soil moisture changes. In this study, we examined sensitivity of simulated boreal summer potential evapotranspiration (PET) to aforementioned options using a regional climate model. Three different experiments with each one covering 16 years have been performed. were designated as SIMTOP (TOP) variable infiltration capacity (VIC). Both coupled carbon–nitrogen (CN) module, thus status can be influenced by Results show that alone affect considerably 2-m mean air temperature (T2M). However, they do not global incident solar radiation (RSDS) PET. Conversely alone, vegetation-runoff systems both T2M RSDS. Therefore, Also, CN-VIC overestimates PET more than CN-TOP compared Climatic Research Unit observational dataset. comparison case CN-VIC, shows least bias Overall, our results system is relevant in constraining PET, though recommended future studies concerning tropical Africa.