On the concept of leaf boundary layer resistance for forced convection

The definition of leaf boundary layer resistance is reconsidered in respect of the three-dimensional diffusion-controlled mass transport region just above the leaf surface. Due to the existence of this superstomatal air layer, the conventional convective boundary layer is not in direct contact with the surface. Thus, in terms of plant physiology, the diffusive "end correction" to the stomatal resistance should be included in the boundary layer resistance. This is true for laminar as well as turbulent flows. When the surface mole fraction of an exchanged gas is estimated using the boundary layer resistance ignoring the diffusive term may lead to a noticeable error. The self-consistent approach is used to clarify the problems of the boundary layer formation and stomatal interference. If the correction is taken into account, the boundary layer resistance becomes dependent also on stomatal shape and distribution on the leaf. The traditional semiempirical formula corrected by the superstomatal diffusion is applied in numerical calculations. In estimates of the water vapour mole fraction on the surface of a transpiring leaf the relative error ranges from insignificant (quiescent air, large leaf and large stomatal pores) to 20% (low humidity, strong wind, small leaf and small elliptic pores). The boundary layer resistance can decrease by a factor of 3 when the semiaxis lengths of the stomata increase from 1 and 0.5 mu m to 10 and 5 mu m. The effective thickness of the superstomatal air layer is maximally several millimetres (small stomatal surface concentration and small pores). (C) 1998 Academic Press.