Katrin Meusburger, member of the WATSON network, just received funding through a COST funding scheme for scientific projects of the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
IN SItu tracking of water fluxes in Forest ecosystems through novel high-resolution monitoring of stable water isotopes (INSIghtForest)
INSlghtForest will accompany the Cost Action WATSON “WATer Isotopes In the critical zONe” by establishing a unique data set of high-frequency in-situ measured water isotopes located in a long-term irrigation experiment in the naturally dry valley of Valais, Switzerland. Unlike many other manipulation experiments, we can take advantage of mature trees and the possibility to label the system and increase water potential- and isotopic gradients. The isotope dataset will be analyzed with a mechanistic data assimilation approach using a Soll-Vegetation-Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) model recently advanced by an isotopic transport module. Ultimately, the foreseen deliverables of the project will advance our understanding of root water uptake plasticity that, in combination with an SVAT parameter set, can be used to upscale climatic impact on forest health and acclimation potential.
For more information, visit the Webpage of the project!
Affiliation:
Dr. Katrin Meusburger
Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research – WSL
Forest soils and biogeochemistry
Biogeochemistry Group
Zürcherstrasse 111
CH-8903 Birmensdorf
email: Katrin.Meusburger@wsl.ch
phone: +41 44 739 2490
