Resolving seasonal and diel dynamics of non-rainfall water inputs in a Mediterranean ecosystem using lysimeters

Abstract. The input of liquid water to terrestrial ecosystems is composed rain and non-rainfall (NRW). latter comprises dew, fog, the adsorption atmospheric vapor on soil particle surfaces. Although NRW inputs can be relevant support ecosystem functioning in seasonally dry ecosystems, they are understudied, being relatively small, therefore hard measure. In this study, we apply a partitioning routine focusing over 1 year data from large, high-precision weighing lysimeters at semi-arid Mediterranean site. occur for least 3 h 297 d (81 % year), with mean diel duration 6 h. They reflect pronounced seasonality as modulated by environmental conditions (i.e., temperature net radiation). During wet season, both dew fog dominate NRW, while during season it mostly vapor. contributes only 7.4 annual input, 15 weeks, mainly season. Benefitting comprehensive set measurements our experimental site, show that findings line (i) independent (ii) model simulations forced (near-) surface energy moisture measurements. Furthermore, discuss simultaneous occurrence negative eddy-covariance-derived latent heat fluxes. This study shows reliably detected through high-resolution few additional Their main nighttime underlines necessity consider fluxes high temporal resolution 24 coverage.