Swiss Alps
WaldLab Forest Experimental Site
At the WaldLab Forest Experimental Site, researchers monitor water dynamics across the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum. The objective is to observe the quantity and chemical composition of all water fluxes across the forest water cycle, to better understand the dominant processes of water transport and mixing. The research focuses on analysing how forests influence the water cycle, where trees source water for transpiration and how they adapt to dry spells.
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The WaldLab Forest Experimental Site, located on ETH Zurich’s Hönggerberg Campus, has been pivotal in advancing understanding of forest hydrology, particularly in the context of climate change. Researchers at WaldLab have focused on the intricate dynamics of water movement through forest ecosystems, yielding several significant findings.
WaldLab employs an extensive measurement and monitoring system to trace water fluxes among soil, vegetation, and atmosphere. This system has been instrumental in quantifying the various pathways and storage components of water within the forest ecosystem. These findings have significant implications for forest management and conservation strategies, particularly under changing climate conditions. By enhancing the understanding of water dynamics in forest ecosystems, WaldLab contributes to the development of more effective approaches to maintain forest health and resilience.
WaldLab studies have revealed that forest-floor litter and deadwood can retain and evaporate up to 18% of annual precipitation, a much higher proportion than previously recognized. This retention significantly reduces the amount of water infiltrating the soil, thereby affecting the water available for tree transpiration and groundwater recharge. In addition, the research centre has studied seasonal water availability for trees, yielding important insights into the ‘old water paradox’ and the notably low proportion of rainfall that infiltrates forest soils. WaldLab findings underscore the key role of winter precipitation for forest resilience during times of drought, as trees depend disproportionately on older, stored soil water rather than recent rainfall.
