The topography of a landscape is a key feature of the Earth’s surface, as it regulates the spatial distribution of water and energy states which are the main drivers of vegetation and nutrient dynamics as well as soil organic matter distribution. For example, the amount of solar radiation intercepted by a surface is affected by local slope and aspect, while surface and subsurface water redistribution is strongly influenced by micro-topographic attributes such as landscape connectivity, curvature, slope, and drainage area, thus regulating the local soil moisture available to plants.
In this project, we work on the development of coupled ecohydrological, biogeochemical, and geomorphological frameworks to evaluate the dynamics of catchment-scale soil carbon and nutrient redistribution, fluxes, and stocks in response to future rainfall patterns, as well as to gain a detailed understanding of the role of topography and its spatial variability in mediating these interconnected processes.
People: Taiqi Lian