Water Balance Components of Sub-Mediterranean Downy Oak Landscapes of Southeastern Crimea

Abstract

This article discusses the processes of moisture intake, redistribution, and consumption within the downy oak forest community, along with their interannual and interseasonal water balance dynamics. The study of the water balance components was conducted using a combination of field research methods and geoinformation modeling on the territory of the Karadag landscape and ecological station of the Karadag Nature Reserve for the period from 2010 to 2020. The study of the water balance of downy oak forests located at the furthest extent of their range represents an important problem, whose solution will further scientific understanding by uncovering individual patterns of the internal organization of such systems. The indicators having the most tangible impact on the water balance are the amount of precipitation and evapotranspiration. The average annual precipitation on the territory of Karadag for the analyzed period was 448 mm; in recent years, a decrease in the amount of precipitation has been recorded. The evapotranspiration values within the downy oak forests approximately coincide with the values of this indicator in the Mediterranean region to average 450 mm per year. The influence of stemflow and relief features on the redistribution of moisture within the landscape is described. The analyzed water balance components’ dynamics form conditions conducive to the displacement of steppe communities by forest species.