Project description
A closer look at boreal tree water use
It is known that trees don't only use rainfall water in summer but also snowmelt in winter. However, under climate change, the amount and frequency of winter snowfall and summer rainfall is changing. Will this affect boreal tree water use? To answer this question, the MSCA-funded BoTWU project will study why researchers are challenging the assumption that there is no water isotope fractionation along the boreal tree water use pathway. It will also explore the often-overlooked significance of boreal tree water use on forest soil moisture. The project sets out to be the first to comprehensively consider the biophysical impacts of shifting snow and rain patterns on tree water use from the root level to the individual tree level. The outcomes hold the potential to reshape sustainable forest and water resource management.
Objective
The project ‘Tree water use under changing snow/rain seasonality: The forgotten tree-induced upward fast flow in boreal soils’ aims to go beyond the state-of-the-art in boreal tree water use (TWU) research by (1) challenging the fundamental TWU assumption of no water isotope fractionation along the boreal TWU pathway, (2) unravelling the hydrological importance of the forgotten ‘upwards preferential flow’ in boreal forest soil, and (3) being the first to systematically consider biophysical impacts of changing snow and rain on TWU from the root level to individual level. Under the supervision of Prof. Hannu Marttila (University of Oulu), these aims will be supported by an innovative experiment set-up (high-resolution water isotopes and bi-directional fluxes on roots to stems) and up-to-date methodology and instruments (in-situ non-destructive Water Isotope Probes, Picarro L2140-I isotope analyzer, heat-plus-method sap flow sensors), where the research will be conducted in a boreal forest near the Arctic Circle on three typical boreal species with manipulated snowpack depth. During the project, my expertise in (eco)hydrology will expand from temperate forests and sap flow techniques to boreal forests and stable water isotope techniques, which will be a stepping stone in my long-term academic career plan for becoming a leading and independent ecohydrologist. Meanwhile, my know-how in tree transpiration and tree ecophysiology complements the expertise in northern hydrology at UOULU. The proposed dissemination, exploitation, and communication measures and activities will significantly impact the ecohydrology community and will subsequently contribute to improving sustainable-use, climate-smart forest and water resource management benefitting forest and water resource related stakeholders and lowering climate risks for society.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologyisotope hydrology
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringnatural resources managementwater management
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
90014 Oulu
Finland