Summary
Water that evaporates from ground surfaces cannot contribute to plant growth, streamflow or groundwater. Understanding the factors that control evaporation is therefore critical for predicting water availability and related natural resources. Plant litter—the leaves and twigs that accumulate on forest floors—plays a complex and poorly understood role. Some research shows plant litter acts like mulch in a garden bed, covering and shading soils to reduce evaporation. However, prior research also shows that plant litter can capture and store rainfall, causing much of it to evaporate before reachi
