Long-term research catchments to investigate differential woody plant encroachment in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts: Santa Rita and Jornada experimental ranges

Authors: VIVONI, E.R. - Arizona State University; PEREZ-RUIZ, E.R. - Arizona State University; KELLER, Z.T. - Arizona State University; ESCOTO, E.A. - Arizona State University; TEMPLETON, R.C. - Arizona State University; TEMPLETON, N.P. - Arizona State University; ANDERSON, C.A. - Arizona State University; SCHREINER-MCGRAW, A.P. - Arizona State University; MENDEZ-BARROSO, L.A. - Arizona State University; ROBLES-MORUA, A. - Arizona State University; Scott, Russell - Russ; ARCHER S.R. - University Of Arizona; Peters, Debra

Submitted to: Hydrological Processes
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/29/2020
Publication Date: 1/2/2021
Citation: Vivoni, E., Perez-Ruiz, E., Keller, Z.T., Escoto, E., Templeton, R., Templeton, N., Anderson, C., Schreiner-Mcgraw, A., Mendez-Barroso, L., Robles-Morua, A., Scott, R.L., Archer S.R., Peters, D.C. 2021. Long-term research catchments to investigate differential woody plant encroachment in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts: Santa Rita and Jornada experimental ranges. Hydrological Processes. 35(2), Article e14031. https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14031.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.14031

Interpretive Summary: Woody plant encroachment is a global phenomenon whereby shrubs or trees replace native desert grasses. Little is known about how encroachment, by altering plant and intercanopy patch dynamics, distributions, and connectivity, influence the watershed response. In response to this gap, research catchments in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts were established that represent different types of woody plant encroachment in varying types of arid climates. Our main goals in the coordinated observations were to: (1) independently measure the components of the catchment water balance, (2) deploy sensors to estimate the spatial patterns of hydrological processes in each catchment, (3) utilize novel methods for characterizing the catchment properties, and (4) identify the impact of woody plant encroachment on hydrological processes through modeling studies. Datasets on meteorological variables; energy, radiation and CO2 fluxes; evapotranspiration; soil moisture and temperature; and runoff at various scales now extend to nearly 10 years of observations at each site, including both wet and dry periods. We briefly describe the observations at the point, plot, and small catchment scales, and how the coordinated datasets can be exploited for hydrologic inferences and modeling studies. Given the representative nature of the catchments, the available databases can be used to generalize findings to other catchments in the North American Deserts.

Technical Abstract: Woody plant encroachment is a global phenomenon whereby shrubs or trees replace native desert grasses. The hydrological consequences of this ecological shift are of broad interest in ecohydrology, yet little is known on how plant and intercanopy patch dynamics, distributions, and connectivity influence the catchment response. In response to this gap, we established research catchments in the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts (near Green Valley, Arizona and near Las Cruces, New Mexico) that represent different types of woody plant encroachment in varying types of arid climates. Our main goals in the coordinated observations were to: (1) independently measure the components of the catchment water balance, (2) deploy sensors to estimate the spatial patterns of hydrological processes in each catchment, (3) utilize novel methods for characterizing the catchment properties, and (4) identify the impact of woody plant encroachment on hydrological processes through modeling studies. Datasets on meteorological variables; energy, radiation and CO2 fluxes; evapotranspiration; soil moisture and temperature; and runoff at various scales now extend to nearly 10 years of observations at each site, including both wet and dry periods. We briefly describe the observations at the point, plot, and small catchment scales, and how the coordinated datasets can be exploited for hydrologic inferences and modeling studies. Given the representative nature of the catchments, the available databases can be used to generalize findings to other catchments in the North American Deserts.