Abstract: In this study, the concept, research value, and research advances of tree transpiration were concisely narrated. From the perspective of measurement and estimation, we summarized the main calculation methods for water consumption of tree transpiration. By comparing the advantages, disadvantages, applicability, limitations, application status, and applicable scale of different methods, we showed that the measurement methods could be applied to the measurement of water consumption at multiple spatial scales, and that the estimation methods were often applied to the measurement of evapotranspiration at large spatial scales. As the measurement method was the basis of the estimation method, it is necessary to carry out reasonable quality control and evaluation of the measured results of measurement methods, in order to provide data basis for the estimation results of the correction estimation method. Whether it was at a particular large spatial scale or at different spatial scales, the combination of measurement methods and estimation methods could improve the accuracy of evapotranspiration measurement. Improving the accuracy of calculating the dispersion of trees at a large spatial scale in complex underlying surface and harsh climate environments would become a research hotspot but may also be a difficulty in the future. With the continuous progress of science and technology, both measurement devices and methods would be improved, and new methods for accurately measuring the water consumption of forest transpiration would be available.

Key words: water consumption of tree transpiration, measurement method, estimation method