5:15 PM - 6:45 PM
[AHW22-P17] Observations of soil moisture dynamics in forests in Ishikawa, Japan
Keywords:Forest, Soil moisture, Water uptake, Snow
Observations of soil moisture dynamics in forested watersheds are fundamentally important for understanding the mechanisms of water runoff, mass transport, and water consumption by trees. In this study, we observe soil moisture dynamics using tensiometers consisting of a porous cup and a pressure sensor in a forest in Ishikawa Prefecture, Hokuriku District, where precipitation is high throughout the year and snow accumulation and melting occur simultaneously in winter. Porous cups were placed at depths of 20, 40, 70, and 110 cm, and soil matric potential was measured at 1-hour intervals.
Reflecting the high precipitation, the soils tend to kept moist, however when the region experienced record low rainfall in the summer of 2023, the matric potential decreased below the limit of the tensiometer measurement even at a depth of 110 cm, and upward water movement prevailed.
Under winter snow cover, the soil remained particularly wet, and cyclic changes were observed in which downward water movement increased during the day when air temperatures increase.
Reflecting the high precipitation, the soils tend to kept moist, however when the region experienced record low rainfall in the summer of 2023, the matric potential decreased below the limit of the tensiometer measurement even at a depth of 110 cm, and upward water movement prevailed.
Under winter snow cover, the soil remained particularly wet, and cyclic changes were observed in which downward water movement increased during the day when air temperatures increase.