---
OA_type: closed access
_id: '22476'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: Projections of the future carbon and water cycles rely on knowledge on how
    forests will respond to rising atmospheric CO2. Experiments with elevated CO2
    are logistically challenging and carbon pools and fluxes are difficult to measure
    and upscale due to their spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Therefore, it is important
    to combine the knowledge derived from experimental results with modeling. Here,
    we systematically compare data from a free air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiment
    in a mature deciduous forest in Switzerland with realizations from an ecohydrological
    model (Tethys–Chloris). We test whether a mechanistic ecohydrological model is
    able to simulate physiological plant responses under ambient and elevated CO2
    concentration. We overcome measurement limitations by quantifying differences
    in response to ambient and elevated CO2 over ten years. The reliability of model
    realizations is demonstrated by comparing simulations with field observations
    of stomatal conductance, sap flow, leaf and fruit litter, and stem growth. The
    model successfully captures the observed CO2-induced difference in stomatal conductance
    and transpiration and its sensitivity to atmospheric demand, as well as qualitative
    changes in soil moisture. The simulated differences between CO2 scenarios generally
    fall within the uncertainty of experimental observations, both for the carbon
    and water balance. Simulated total evapotranspiration is 2.8% (18 mm yr−1) lower
    and soil moisture 1.2% higher in the CO2-enriched scenario. Latent and sensible
    heat are modified by ca. 1 W m−2. Net primary production is simulated to increase
    by 19.8% and allocation to stem growth is 53 gC yr−1 m−2 higher in the elevated
    CO2 scenario, which represents the limit of the detection threshold of the experiment.
    Results show that while ecohydrological models can be used to reliably simulate
    multi-year energy, water, and carbon fluxes at the stand level, testing carbon
    allocation remains critical with current accuracy of field measurements. Uncertainties
    due to the simplified carbon allocation scheme are shown to be more significant
    for carbon than for energy and water fluxes. Generally, we conclude that for this
    type of forest, differences in annual energy and water fluxes induced by elevated
    CO2 are likely to be less than 10%.
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Simone
  full_name: Fatichi, Simone
  id: cf8e546b-a9b0-11f0-a43b-aa89ed1b56d6
  last_name: Fatichi
- first_name: Sebastian
  full_name: Leuzinger, Sebastian
  last_name: Leuzinger
citation:
  ama: 'Fatichi S, Leuzinger S. Reconciling observations with modeling: The fate of
    water and carbon allocation in a mature deciduous forest exposed to elevated CO2.
    <i>Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</i>. 2013;174-175:144-157. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005">10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005</a>'
  apa: 'Fatichi, S., &#38; Leuzinger, S. (2013). Reconciling observations with modeling:
    The fate of water and carbon allocation in a mature deciduous forest exposed to
    elevated CO2. <i>Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</i>. Elsevier. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005</a>'
  chicago: 'Fatichi, Simone, and Sebastian Leuzinger. “Reconciling Observations with
    Modeling: The Fate of Water and Carbon Allocation in a Mature Deciduous Forest
    Exposed to Elevated CO2.” <i>Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</i>. Elsevier,
    2013. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005</a>.'
  ieee: 'S. Fatichi and S. Leuzinger, “Reconciling observations with modeling: The
    fate of water and carbon allocation in a mature deciduous forest exposed to elevated
    CO2,” <i>Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</i>, vol. 174–175. Elsevier, pp.
    144–157, 2013.'
  ista: 'Fatichi S, Leuzinger S. 2013. Reconciling observations with modeling: The
    fate of water and carbon allocation in a mature deciduous forest exposed to elevated
    CO2. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 174–175, 144–157.'
  mla: 'Fatichi, Simone, and Sebastian Leuzinger. “Reconciling Observations with Modeling:
    The Fate of Water and Carbon Allocation in a Mature Deciduous Forest Exposed to
    Elevated CO2.” <i>Agricultural and Forest Meteorology</i>, vol. 174–175, Elsevier,
    2013, pp. 144–57, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005">10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005</a>.'
  short: S. Fatichi, S. Leuzinger, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 174–175 (2013)
    144–157.
das_tickbox: '1'
date_created: 2026-07-27T12:30:23Z
date_published: 2013-06-15T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2026-08-12T13:59:36Z
day: '15'
doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2013.02.005
extern: '1'
keyword:
- Ecohydrological modeling
- Plant water relations
- FACE experiments
- Forest productivity
- CO2 enrichment
- Swiss Canopy Crane
language:
- iso: eng
month: '06'
oa_version: None
page: 144-157
publication: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1873-2240
  issn:
  - 0168-1923
publication_status: published
publisher: Elsevier
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: 'Reconciling observations with modeling: The fate of water and carbon allocation
  in a mature deciduous forest exposed to elevated CO2'
type: journal_article
user_id: ba8df636-2132-11f1-aed0-ed93e2281fdd
volume: 174-175
year: '2013'
...