Using in-situ water stable isotope measurements to understand soil water infiltration and distribution patterns under different forest stands

Water stable isotopes are a powerful tool for tracing water movement through ecosystems. We make use of advances in membrane-based in-situ probes for water isotope measurements of soils and trees. Such in-situ methods allow isotope measurements at high spatial and temporal resolution and help to observe highly dynamic processes occurring at the soil-vegetation-interface. Here, we setup an ecohydrological measurement platform, which combines microclimatic, soil hydrological (matric potential, moisture and temperature) and in-situ stable isotope measurements to understand soil water infiltration and distribution patterns under different forest stands (beech, spruce, mixed beech and spruce) in the Black Forest (Germany). We present preliminary results from our measurement platform that help identify forest stand specific differences in soil water infiltration and distribution patterns. Our measurement setup highlights the need to generate high-resolution ecohydrological data to explore highly dynamic processes at the interface between trees and soils. Such data is valuable when evaluating forests vulnerability to extreme events such as droughts.