Given the open system conceptualization (Figure 1), we postulate that critical zone evolution can be related quantitatively to water and fixed carbon fluxes influent to the CZ as represented by environmental energy and mass transfer (EEMT).

EEMT includes effective precipitation (E_PPT) and net primary production (E_BIO) components (Rasmussen et al., 2010) that can be calculated from meteorological and landform data (e.g., Figure 2) and/or measured from reduced carbon and water fluxes across CZ interfaces.

Calculation of EEMT across the Jemez River Basin and Santa Catalina Mountain CZO surfaces (Figure 3) shows the impacts of elevation and slope aspect on climatic forcing in these “sky islands” of the Southwest.  At both locations, precipitation increases and temperature decreases with increasing elevation.  These EEMT gradients overlain on granite, schist (SCM) and rhyolite (JRB) lithologies are expected to correlate with CZ structural evolution.

To model EEMT at the hillslope scale requires downscaling temperature and effective precipitation to sub 10-m pixel resolution in order to account for topographic controls on temperature, evapotranspiration, and water redistribution.  EEMT for a given hillslope position depends on aspect variation, local biomass accretion, and direct water inputs including effective precipitation subsidy deriving from topographically controlled redistribution.   Topographic wetness index provides a scale-independent measure of potential water subsidy that is incorporated into the EEMT surface calculation for Sabino Canyon Watershed (SCM CZO, Figure 4).  In association with its elevation gradient, the Sabino Canyon Watershed extends from Mixed Conifer Forest (where Marshall Gulch site is situated) at high EEMT to Sonoran Desert (similar to where B2 desert site is located) at low EEMT (Figure 4).