The Critical Zone in Tropical Environments

Mana, Sara; Ruiz, P.; Gutierrez, Amalia

doi:10.1016/b978-0-444-63369-9.00015-x

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Above 1000 m of elevation, the watershed is covered by a large area of native cloud forest represented by the TMCF of Plaine des Fougères. In this cloud forest environment, persistent fog provides water input in addition to rainfall that helps keep the soil (andosol) in a permanent state of water saturation, especially under vegetation cover (Mana et al, 2015). This cloud forest includes a high level plant diversity with a unique flora (Ah‐Peng et al, 2017; Strasberg et al, 2005).…”

Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ERORUN‐STAFOR: A collaborative observatory for the multidisciplinary study of the critical zone processes in a tropical volcanic watershed including a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

Toulier,

Join,

Staménoff

et al. 2024

Hydrological Processes

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Tropical volcanic islands are biodiversity hotspots where the Critical Zone (CZ) still remains poorly studied. In such steep topographic environments associated with extreme climatic events (cyclones), deployment and maintenance of monitoring equipment is highly challenging. While a few Critical Zone Observatories (CZOS) are located in tropical volcanic regions, none of them includes a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (TMCF) at the watershed scale. We present here the dataset of the first observatory from the French network of critical zone observatories (OZCAR) located in an insular tropical and volcanic context, integrating a ‘Tropical Montane Cloud Forest’: The ERORUN‐STAFOR observatory. This collaborative observatory is located in the northern part of La Réunion island (Indian Ocean) within the 45.0 km2 watershed of Rivière des Pluies (i.e., Rainfall river) which hosts the TMCF of Plaines des Fougères, one of the best preserved natural habitats in La Réunion Island. Since 2014, the ERORUN‐STAFOR monitoring in collaboration with local partners collected a multidisciplinary dataset with a constant improvement of the instrumentation over time. At the watershed scale and in its vicinity, the ERORUN‐STAFOR observatory includes 10 measurement stations covering the upstream, midstream and downstream part of the watershed. The stations record a total of 48 different variables through continuous (sensors) or periodic (sampling) monitoring. The dataset consists of continuous time series variables related to (i) meteorology, including precipitation, air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, net radiation, atmospheric pressure, cloud water flux, irradiance, leaf wetness and soil temperature, (ii) hydrology, including water level and temperature, discharge and electrical conductivity (EC) of stream, (iii) hydrogeology, including (ground)water level, water temperature and EC in two piezometers and one horizontally drilled groundwater gallery completed by soil moisture measurements under the canopy. The dataset is completed by periodic time series variables related to (iv) hydrogeochemistry, including field parameters and water analysis results. The periodic sampling survey provides chemical and isotopic compositions of rainfall, groundwater, and stream water at different locations of this watershed. The ERORUN‐STAFOR monitoring dataset extends from 2014 to 2022 with an acquisition frequency from 10 min to hourly for the sensor variables and from weekly to monthly frequency for the sampling. Despite the frequent maintenance of the monitoring sites, several data gaps exist due to the remote location of some sites and instrument destruction by cyclones. Preliminary results show that the Rivière des Pluies watershed is characterized by high annual precipitation (>3000 mm y−1) and a fast hydrologic response to precipitation (≈2 h basin lag time). The long‐term evolution of the deep groundwater recharge is mainly driven by the occurrence of cyclone events with a seasonal groundwater response. The water chemical results support existing hydrogeological conceptual models suggesting a deep infiltration of the upstream infiltrated rainfall. The TMCF of Plaine des Fougères shows a high water storage capacity (>2000% for the Bryophytes) that makes this one a significant input of water to groundwater recharge which still needs to be quantified. This observatory is a unique research site in an insular volcanic tropical environment offering three windows of observation for the study of critical zone processes through upstream‐midstream‐downstream measurements sites. This high‐resolution dataset is valuable to assess the response of volcanic tropical watersheds and aquifers at both event and long‐term scales (i.e., global change). It will also provide insights in the hydrogeological conceptual model of volcanic islands, including the significant role of the TMCFs in the recharge processes as well as the watershed hydrosedimentary responses to extreme climatic events and their respective evolution under changing climatic conditions. All data sets are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7983138.

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Section: Site Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ERORUN‐STAFOR: A collaborative observatory for the multidisciplinary study of the critical zone processes in a tropical volcanic watershed including a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

Toulier,

Join,

Staménoff

et al. 2024

Hydrological Processes

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“…It is known that in tropical environments the CZ can be much thicker and richer in components and biodiversity than in nontropical regions (Giardino and Houser, 2015;Mana et al, 2015). This is due to the influence of the temperature, weather, and external agents (e.g., water and wind) that boost the chemical and physical weathering of bedrock (Smirnov, 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is due to the influence of the temperature, weather, and external agents (e.g., water and wind) that boost the chemical and physical weathering of bedrock (Smirnov, 1982). The products of this process are thick layers of organic soils, laterite and bauxite, that can be formed in a relative short period of time under these conditions (Smirnov, 1982;Mana et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These unique type of anomalously thick CZ in the tropical regions can be extremely beneficial for a variety of life forms, and particularly for human activities like agriculture (Harris, 1972;Clement, 1999;Mana et al, 2015), lumber, mining, water storage for consumption, and for renewable energy generation (Mana et al, 2015). The benefits to human settlements may be even greater when the territory is volcanically active because the materials expelled by volcanoes can be transformed into fertile soils in a relatively short time, or can be used as a source of construction materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Geomorphological Insights on Human-Volcano Interactions and Use of Volcanic Materials in Pre-Hispanic Cultures of Costa Rica through the Holocene

Ruiz¹,

Mana

Gutierrez³

et al. 2018

Front. Earth Sci.

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Critical Zones (CZ) in tropical environments, especially near active volcanoes, are rich in resources such as water, food, and construction materials. In Central America, people have lived near volcanic centers for thousands of years and learned to take advantage of these resources. Understanding how pre-Hispanic societies lived in this type of CZs and interacted with volcanoes, provides us with insights on how to reduce the negative impact derived from volcanic activity in modern cities. In this multidisciplinary approach we focus on two case studies in Costa Rica near Poás and Turrialba volcanoes, which are currently active, in order to obtain a comprehensive view of human-volcano interactions through time. We use a methodology based on historical accounts, geological and archeological fieldwork, geomorphological characterization based on remote sensing techniques and past (pre-Hispanic), and present land use analysis. The northern Poás region represents a case of a poorly developed pre-Hispanic society, which subsisted mainly on hunting and gathering activities, had no permanent settlements and was probably affected by the activity of the Hule and Río Cuarto maars. In spite of their vulnerability and lack of infrastructure, they used geomorphology to their advantage, achieving natural protection. Conversely, the Guayabo National Monument (GNM) near Turrialba Volcano represents a cultural peak in pre-Hispanic societies in Costa Rica. Archeological remains and structures at this site indicate that this society had a good understanding of physical and geological processes and was therefore able to take advantage of natural resources for water and food supply, construction, and protection as well as hazard prevention and mitigation. The use of new technologies, some accessible and low-cost such as Google Earth and others with restricted access and higher costs such as LiDAR, allowed us to complete a rapid and efficient characterization of land use and geomorphological features of the study area. This study helps to establish how some locations near volcanic edifices are more prone the effects of volcanic hazards than others and why this data should be included in volcanic risk assessment and land planning processes.

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Deforestation Pattern and Its Impacts on Tree Species Richness in Karbi Anglong District of Assam, India

Kumar,

Singh,

Alruzuq

2024

Natural Resource Monitoring, Planning and Management Based on Advanced Programming

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The Critical Zone in Tropical Environments

Cited by 4 publications

References 52 publications

ERORUN‐STAFOR: A collaborative observatory for the multidisciplinary study of the critical zone processes in a tropical volcanic watershed including a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

ERORUN‐STAFOR: A collaborative observatory for the multidisciplinary study of the critical zone processes in a tropical volcanic watershed including a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

Geomorphological Insights on Human-Volcano Interactions and Use of Volcanic Materials in Pre-Hispanic Cultures of Costa Rica through the Holocene

Deforestation Pattern and Its Impacts on Tree Species Richness in Karbi Anglong District of Assam, India

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