The Sinczone observatory
An Open-Air Laboratory for Eco-Physiological and Geo-Hydrological Monitoring in the Sibillini National Park
SINCZONE is an open-air laboratory where we study a number of different aspect related to the water and carbon cycle. SINCZONE comprehend the the Ussita river, a tributary of the Nera River located in the Apennines chain in the Monti Sibillini National Park (Central Italy).
The area is characterized by fractured calcareous rocks reflecting a groundwater – dominated hydrological regime.
The lower part of the catchment is heavily forested with oaks (Quercus robur) on southern faces and beech trees (Fagus Sylvatica) on northern hillslopes whereas higher elevations (>1400 m) are characterized by grassland.
The catchment is instrumented with:
- 1. two weather stations;
- 2. five stream gauges from upstream to downstream;
- 3. five stream gauges from upstream to downstream;
- 4. one piezometer;
- 5. two snow gauges;
- 6. 18 soil moisture probes measuring soil moisture at five locations at 10 and 30 cm depths (under different land covers, e.g., beech trees, oak trees);
- 7. four throughfall automatic collectors.
Water stable isotope samples of oxygen and hydrogen are collected every month from precipitation at four elevations, stream at four locations, soil and groundwater at one location.
The main research topics of the observatory are:
- Runoff generation mechanisms
- Aquifer recharge
- Throughfall dynamic
- Chemical weathering mechanism
- Forest dynamic
- Hydrological droughts
- Surface-groundwater interactions
Location
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/J5QVWv7FzzrVyutz7
- Latitude: 42.94
- Longitude: 13.14
- Elevation: 700-2200 m a.s.l
- Biome: Mediterranean mountainous basin
- Grants:
