The Weierbach experimental catchment in Luxembourg: A decade of critical zone monitoring in a temperate forest ‐ from hydrological investigations to ecohydrological perspectives

Abstract

AbstractThe Weierbach experimental catchment (0.45 km2) is the most instrumented and studied sub‐catchment in the Alzette River basin in Luxembourg. Within the last decade, it has matured towards an interdisciplinary critical zone observatory focusing on a better understanding of hydrological and hydro‐geochemical processes. The Weierbach catchment is embedded in an elevated sub‐horizontal plateau, characterized by slate bedrock and representative of the Ardennes Massif. Its climate is semi‐marine, with precipitation being rather evenly distributed throughout the year. Base flow is lowest from July to September, essentially due to higher losses through evapotranspiration in summer. The regolith is composed of Devonian slates, overlaid by Pleistocene slope deposits and entirely covered by forest with 70% deciduous and 30% coniferous trees. Since 2009, the Weierbach has been extensively equipped for continuously monitoring water fluxes and physico‐chemical parameters within different compartments of the critical zone. Additionally, these compartments are sampled fortnightly at several locations to analyze δ18O and δ2H isotopic composition of water including rainfall, throughfall, soil water, groundwater and streamwater. This ongoing monitoring and sampling programme is used for answering pressing questions related to fundamental catchment functions of water infiltration, storage, mixing and release in forest ecosystems. A recently started research line aims at investigating interactions between forest eco‐hydrosystems with the atmosphere and understanding how catchments will respond to a non‐stationary climate.