New experiment at the Re della Pietra catchment for identifying subsurface flow patterns created by roots.
One of the research questions of the Waterstem project https://www.waterstem.org is to understand interactions between roots and water movement in the soil and how they interact each other.
Simone di Prima and Filippo Giadrossich are two experts in the field.
They use georadar to unveil subsurface flow patterns in forested soils. In the last two weeks they build an experiment in a very challenging conditions on a steep slope beech forest in the Re della Pietra watershed in Tuscany Italy managed by the group of Daniele Penna.
They simulate precipitation and stemflow using sprinkler irrigators and measured runoff in a temporary parcel equipped for this.
What they did is amazing in organization, efforts and accuracy in only 10 days.
They are supported and helped by an extraordinary group of researchers from all around the world.
The passion they use in the field is really inspiring and I think the secrets that subsurface hide to us is really at risk with them.. I am looking forward to see data and outcome of their experiments and discuss it in this nice project.
#hydrology #forest #trees #ecohydrology #criticalzone#mediterranean
