Abstract

The Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) is designed as a platform for integrated, multi-disciplinary research and scientific information that will provide a process-level understanding of the critical zone, establish a foundation for long-term hydroclimatic, (bio)geochemical and ecological studies, and improve the predictive ability of Earth system models. Integrated studies of the Earth’s “critical zone”, which extends from the top of vegetation down through groundwater, are the focus of emerging research initiatives in the U.S. and Europe. Resulting coordinated, multidisciplinary research will yield new understanding and a better predictive ability of how ecosystems such as found in the Southern Sierra will respond to shifts in climate and human activities.

Citation

Bales, R; Hunsaker, C; Kirchner, P; Conklin, M; Lucas, R. (2008): "Hydroclimate, ecosystem links & the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory. Southern Sierra Science Symposium .