Water Dynamics Research Articles

Features of the Structure and Dynamics of Water in the Northern Half of the Sea of Japan in Autumn-Winter Period According to Satellite Data and Ship Observation

The results of studies of the structure and dynamics of water in the zone of a large-scale cyclonic gyre in the northern half of the Sea of Japan are presented, where satellite IR images annually in the autumn-winter period most clearly show two areas of low temperatures, separated by the influx of warm Tsushima waters from Japan. The location of these thermal structures coincides with the location of the western and northern cyclonic gyres, which are inextricably linked with deep upwelling. During the autumn-winter periods 2019-2021 it has been established that deep upwelling in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan extends from the bottom to the surface layer, focusing along the axial line passing through the Pervenets Rise and the Bersenev and Vasilkovsky ridges in the area of 42° N. between 132°E and 135.5° E. The western cyclonic gyre, located in the western part of the large-scale cyclonic gyre in the region of the considered deep upwelling, is a large topographic eddy. In the northern part of the large-scale cyclonic gyre, deep upwelling is confined to the continental clone, and the small northern cyclonic gyre is also located there. It is assumed that in the autumn-winter period the interaction of anticyclones that form vortex belts with cyclonic gyres leads to an increase in deep circulation. The peculiarity of the variability of the speed of deep currents - an increase from October to March, is probably due to the nature of the development of vertical and transverse horizontal circulation in the system of cyclonic gyres - vortex belts as a result of the intensification of deep upwelling with increased winds from the northern directions in winter.

Impact of Sodium on the Water Dynamics in Prussian Blue Analogues

Impact of Sodium on the Water Dynamics in Prussian Blue Analogues

Ecological Gate Water Control and Its Influence on Surface Water Dynamics and Vegetation Restoration: A Case Study from the Middle Reaches of the Tarim River

Ecological Gate Water Control and Its Influence on Surface Water Dynamics and Vegetation Restoration: A Case Study from the Middle Reaches of the Tarim River

Longitudinal and transverse collective dynamics in water by simulation using the BK3 model.

Using a recent polarizable model for water (the BK3 model), we explore the collective dynamic modes in liquid water by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The dynamic structure factor and the longitudinal and transverse current correlation spectral densities are computed over the whole frequency range below intramolecular excitations. MD results of atom-atom partial correlation functions are fitted using the Generalized Collective Modes (GCMs) model, involving relaxing modes occurring in the longitudinal component and propagating modes occurring in both components. Three systems are studied as follows: (1) BK3 ambient water, (2) SPC/E ambient water, and (3) BK3 ambient heavy water. Comparison between the results of these systems reveals the influence of the polarizability, or the influence of the molecular mass, on the collective dynamics. Moreover, the GCM fitting allows a quantitative description of the excitation modes in terms of the frequencies, damping coefficients and possible coupling between longitudinal and transverse modes. The differences between the three situations are also clearly evidenced within this formalism.

Viscous and turbulent stress measurements above and below laboratory wind waves

Abstract The influence of wind stress, wind drift, and wind-wave (microscale) breaking on the coupled air–sea boundary layer is poorly understood. We performed high-resolution planar and stereo velocity measurements within the first micrometers to centimeters above and below surface gravity waves at the University of Miami’s SUSTAIN air–sea interaction facility. A particle image velocimetry (PIV) system was adapted and installed in the large (18 m long, 6 m wide) wind-wave tunnel at a fetch of approximately 10 m. In addition, wave field properties were captured by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). Experiments were conducted with wind waves and wind over mechanically generated swell. In this work, we focus on rather smooth, young, wind-generated waves. We present instantaneous velocity and vorticity fields above and below the air–water interface for the same wind-wave conditions. Both instantaneous and phase-averaged fields show strong along-wave modulations in viscous stress. For steeper waves, we observe airflow separation and increased negative turbulent stress below crests, accompanied by sporadic drops in viscous stress below zero. We describe the wave-induced modulations of the airflow structure as well as the wind-induced water dynamics and discuss the importance of the viscous stress for the total momentum budget. Graphic abstract

Analysis of Water Dynamics at the Effluent Treatment Station of Cooperoque: Evaluation of Precipitation, Evaporation, and Infiltration of Effluent from a Milk Refrigeration Station

Purpose: The study aims to analyze water dynamics at the Cooperoque Effluent Treatment Station, focusing on the interactions between precipitation, evaporation, and effluent infiltration to enhance water resource management. Theoretical reference: The research references various studies and methodologies related to the quantification of evaporation from lakes and reservoirs, particularly in semi-arid regions, utilizing the Jensen-Haise Method for evaporation estimation. The research aligns with previous studies, such as Mallmann (2014), on water infiltration in soil management, emphasizing the importance of understanding water dynamics for sustainable resource management. Method: The study employs the Jensen-Haise Method to calculate evaporation rates, covering the period from January 2023 to October 2024. It examines the effects of precipitation, evaporation, and effluent infiltration on tank levels. Results and conclusion: The results reveal that tank levels are influenced by precipitation, evaporation, and effluent infiltration, with more significant declines during dry months and smaller reductions during periods of high precipitation. Evaporation rates, calculated using the Jensen-Haise Method, are higher in warmer months, contributing to lower tank levels, while these rates decrease in colder months. A notable anomaly occurred in May 2024 when effluent infiltration exceeded the volume of generated effluents and rainfall due to the activation of an irrigation system. Key findings indicate that lake levels drop more during dry months, with a significant negative water balance observed in May 2024 due to excessive infiltration during heavy rainfall. The study concludes that adaptive water management strategies are necessary to address climatic variations and improve the efficiency of the effluent treatment system. Implications of research: The research provides valuable insights for developing adaptive water management strategies to address climatic variations and improve the efficiency of effluent treatment systems. Continuous monitoring is emphasized as crucial for sustainable water resource management. Originality/value: The study highlights the complex interactions between precipitation, evaporation, and effluent dynamics, offering a foundation for improved water management practices and contributing to the preservation of regional water resources. The study contributes to the understanding of water dynamics at effluent treatment stations, offering practical insights for managing water resources effectively. It highlights the importance of adaptive strategies and continuous monitoring to maintain pond levels and optimize the treatment process.

1H and 13C NMR and FTIR Spectroscopic Analysis of Formic Acid Dissociation Dynamics in Water.

The formation and transport of ionic charges in formic acid-water (HCOOH-H2O) mixtures with initial water mole fractions ranging from XH2Oi = 0 to 1 were investigated using 13C and 1H NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, viscosity, conductivity, and pH measurements. The maximum molar concentration of ions (H3O+ and HCOO-), along with the relative differences between theoretical and experimental densities, spin-lattice relaxation times (T1), activation energies (Ea), viscosity (η), and conductivity (σ), were identified within the range of XH2Oi ≈ 0.5-0.7. These results indicate that pure formic acid (FA) solutions predominantly consist of cyclic dimers at room temperature. As the water mole fraction increases up to 0.6, a structural shift occurs from cyclic dimers to a mixture of linear and cyclic dimers, driven by the formation of strong hydrogen bonds. Beyond a water mole fraction of 0.6, the structure transitions to linear dimers, with FA molecules behaving as free entities in the water. Furthermore, the acidity was found to increase approximately 2-fold with every 0.1 increment in water mole fraction. These findings are critical for understanding the kinetics of formic acid anions in body fluids, the structure of the hydrogen bonding network, and ionization energies.

Patterns of surface water dynamics and storage changes in a basin of Bundelkhand Region, India: Implications for water management

AbstractSurface water is essential for agricultural, domestic and industrial production worldwide. Monitoring surface dynamics is crucial for sustainable ecosystems and global water resources. Importance of monitoring surface water dynamics is even more pronounced in the semi‐arid regions worldwide. An analysis of surface water extent and volume change patterns has been conducted, comparing these dynamics with alterations in precipitation patterns within a basin in Central Bundelkhand, a semi‐arid region in the Central India prone to droughts. To map the waterbodies, we leveraged Sentinel‐1 SAR data using an automated mapping framework and utilised DEM dataset to extract bathymetry using interpolation with modifications using water persistence. Analysis revealed a lag in surface water peak water level with respect to accumulated rainfall by 2–3 months. Furthermore, we have categorised the water bodies into small, medium and large by surface area and found that smaller water bodies show a higher intra‐annual variance, while medium and large water bodies show a lower intra‐annual variance. The findings suggest that smaller communities reliant on smaller water bodies are at a higher risk from climate variability in the region and a delay in attaining peak surface storage across the basin causes further challenges to water management.

3D WCSPH modelling of landslide-water dynamics during 1963 Vajont disaster.

This study illustrates the full-scale 3D numerical simulation of the coupled water-landslide dynamics of the 1963 Vajont catastrophic event. The focus is given to the early phase of the event when about 270million cubic meters of rock fell into the reservoir within an estimated runout time of about 25s. A complex surge wave system developed throughout the basin in the first 40-55s, producing maximum run-up of 270m above the dam crowning. The mesh-free Lagrangian Weakly Compressible Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (WCSPH) method is adopted to discretize and solve the coupled system of governing equations for the landslide and water dynamics. The adopted model, which is based on SPHERA v.9.0.0 (Amicarelli et al. Comput Phys Commun, 2020), has been derived by introducing relevant modifications in the research code SPHERA (RSE SpA). The derived model is validated and the influence of water saturated soil on prediction of surge wave run-up is analysed. The average values from technical literature are assigned to mechanical parameters without tuning or calibration. The maximum flooding on the opposite side of the valley and the peak flow rate of the discharge hydrograph through the dam section show good agreement with reference data and improvements with respect to published results. The validated derived model proves to be a promising engineering tool for quantifying the level of risk in analogous applications.

How Can Restoration Improve the Environmental Conditions of a Meromictic Urban Lake?

This study was conducted on Klasztorne Małe Lake located in the city of Kartuzy. For about 100 years, the lake served as a receiver of domestic, industrial, and rain sewage. The lake was completely degraded. In addition, excessive sewage inflow caused the accumulation of dense pollution in the area of the lake’s deepest part, which caused the formation of a monimolimnion layer. The bradymictic KML became a meromictic lake. After cutting off the inflow of pollutants, the lake was restored by the P inactivation method using coagulants PIX 111 and PAX 18. Before the restoration process of this lake, concentrations of nutrients in the bottom water layers achieved very high values of TN (total N) 65 mg/L and TP (total P) 30 mg/L. An average concentration of chlorophyll was 65 µg/L and visibility did not exceed 1 m. The method used brought very good results. In the entire volume of water, over 90% reduction in TP and a several-fold decrease in the content of TN were noted. The withdrawal of mineral P from the water limited the production processes in the lake, which was reflected in the reduction in chlorophyll amounts (19 µg/L) and the increase in water visibility (2 m). In addition, oxygen conditions in the lake improved. The application of coagulants caused a decrease in the density of the monimolimnion water, which was indicated by a significant decrease in water conductivity. However, the restoration method did not improve the water dynamics.

Study on the mechanical properties of Polyacrylic Acid/Chitosan double network hydrogels in dynamic water content

Abstract Hydrogels have demonstrated significant potential in wound dressings, owing to their adjustable water content, excellent biocompatibility, and other advantages. An ideal wound dressing requires absorbing exudate while maintaining mechanical properties to prevent secondary damage to the wound under external pressure. In this study, Polyacrylic Acid (PAA)/Chitosan (CS) double network hydrogels were prepared via radical polymerization, and the swelling ratio, compressive modulus, and other parameters were experimentally measured. A hyperelastic finite element model of the hydrogel was then established, and its rationality was validated by experiments. Based on the model, the impacts of CS content and dynamic water content on the compressive properties of PAA/CS hydrogels were analyzed. Tetracycline hydrochloride was loaded into PAA/CS hydrogels, the drug release performance and adhesion experiments were carried out. The results indicated that, compared with the hydrogels with 2.5% and 5% CS content, the hydrogel with 1% CS content had the highest swelling ratio, which was 1774%. Meanwhile, its equilibrium water content could attain 94.6%. When the water content varied within the range from 45% to 75%, the compressive strength of the hydrogel with 5% CS content ranged from 0.33 MPa to 1.22 MPa, similar to that of skin tissue. Additionally, the prepared drug-loaded PAA/CS hydrogels exhibited a drug release pattern approximately following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model within 7 days. They also exhibited remarkable adhesion to porcine skin and different substrate surfaces. This study provides a basis for the clinical application of PAA/CS double network hydrogels as wound dressings in the repair of infected wounds.

Source–Sink Structural Coupling Within Forest-Clustered Landscapes Drives Headstream Quality Dynamics in Mountainous Sub-Watersheds: A Case Study in Chongqing, China

Water environment quality is profoundly driven by a series of landscape characteristics. However, current knowledge is limited to the independent response of water quality to single landscape elements; this has led to poor knowledge of the potential role of structural coupling within landscapes in driving water quality changes, especially in those agroforestry-mixed mountainous watersheds with highly embedded forest-clustered landscapes and abundant headstreams. Given this fact, this study aims to evaluate whether and how the source–sink coupling structure of forest-clustered landscapes systematically drives headstream quality dynamics. We first systematically assessed the association pattern of source and sink structures within forest-clustered landscapes, and then innovatively proposed and constructed a functional framework of source–sink coupling structure of landscapes across 112 agroforestry-mixed mountainous sub-watersheds in Chongqing, China. On this basis, we further evaluated the driving pattern and predictive performance of the source–sink coupling structure of landscapes behind headstream quality dynamics. We report three findings: (1) headstream quality varied across agroforestry-mixed sub-watersheds, mapping out the source–sink structures and functions of landscapes; (2) there was significant functional coordination between source–sink structures of the forest-clustered landscapes, which significantly drove headstream quality dynamics; (3) the structural positioning and differences of the forest-clustered landscapes along the multivariate functional axes directly corresponded to and predicted headstream quality status. These findings together highlight a key logic that the response of water quality dynamics to landscapes is essentially that to the functional coupling between the source–sink structures of landscapes, rather than the simple combination of a single landscape contribution. This is the first study on the landscape–runoff association from the perspective of source–sink structural coupling, which helps to deepen understanding of the correlation mechanism between water dynamics and landscape systems, and provides a new functional dimension to the development of future landscape ecological management strategies from a local to a global scale.

Characterization and prediction of hydraulic properties of traffic-compacted forest soils based on soil information and traffic treatments

Key messageThe hydraulic properties of compacted and rutted soils were evaluated through in-situ infiltration experiments and predicted based on soil texture class and traffic treatments. A significant decrease in saturated soil water content and soil hydraulic conductivity at saturation was observed. The resulting soil hydraulic parameters, when integrated into a soil water transfer model, effectively simulated water dynamics in these impacted forest soils, providing a crucial first step toward developing decision support tools for real-time trafficability. This approach can assist forest managers in minimizing the extent of soil compaction.ContextTo overcome trafficability issues of forest soils induced by heavy logging machinery, planning support tools are needed to determine suitable soil moisture conditions for traffic.AimsThis study aimed to identify the soil properties that differ significantly between undisturbed and compacted soils and to provide several estimation tools to predict the hydraulic properties of compacted soils beneath the skid trails.MethodsFour hundred seventeen water infiltration tests were conducted on 19 forest sites, mostly in North-eastern France, and analysed with the BEST method to estimate the hydraulic properties of the skid trails and undisturbed soils. The hydraulic properties of the skid trails were predicted thanks to linear mixed effect models using a bulk treatment effect, a site effect, or a skid trail degradation score. The predicted hydraulic properties were tested using a water flow model to assess their relevance regarding the prediction of water dynamics in skid trails.ResultsThe compaction effect was only significant for the logarithm of the hydraulic conductivity at saturation (log10(Ksat)) and the soil water content at saturation (θsat). For the skid trails, θsat was reduced by - 0.02 and − 0.11 m3m−3 in the 0 − 10 cm and 15 − 25 cm layers respectively, compared to undisturbed topsoil (0 − 10 cm). log10(Ksat) was reduced by − 0.38 and − 0.85 for skid trails in the 0 − 10 and 15 − 25 cm soil layers respectively, compared to undisturbed topsoil. The use of a pedotransfer function, in replacement of water infiltration tests, and their combination with the same correction coefficients proved to efficiently simulate the difference in water dynamics between skid trails and undisturbed forest soils.ConclusionEstimation of soil hydraulic properties based on in situ water infiltration experiments proved efficient to simulate water dynamics in compacted and rutted forest soils. Yet, further studies are needed to identify the most adapted pedotransfer function to forest soils and to test the generalisation of our findings in different conditions, especially deeply rutted soils (rut depths > 12 cm).

Different continuous freshwater contributions to submarine groundwater discharge at a coastal peatland, southern Baltic Sea

ABSTRACT The impact of freshwater sources like surface river runoff and submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) on coastal waters is currently in focus of intense debate and investigation. One of the ongoing challenges in SGD research is the characterization and quantification of the freshwater endmember contributions to the subsurface mixing zone and their influences on element balance and biogeochemical transformations. Long-term investigations of the sediment porewater composition provide characterization and understanding of the physical, hydrological and biogeochemical processes controlling the substance exchanges. In this study, we focus on the hydrochemical and stable isotope (δ 2H, δ 18O) compositions of sediment porewaters along the coastline of a southern Baltic Sea peatland. Coastal surface water and groundwater dynamics were monitored at two coastal sites using 5-m-long stationary lances over a 5-year period. The vertical compositional gradients were used to extrapolate to zero-salinity (ZS) components applying a binary mixing model on the salinity and water isotope composition. The results characterize a subterranean estuary (STE) with three potential mixing endmembers: two fresh groundwaters and the brackish Baltic Sea. Tritium–helium (3H–3He) porewater dating gave ages of more than about 20 years for the freshwater components. The ZS components were compared with other SGD sites along the southern Baltic Sea and North Sea and highlight the importance of local SGD studies for a proper groundwater endmember characterization as basis to understand hydrological and biogeochemical developments at the land–ocean continuum in times of current climate change.

Capturing drought stress signals: The potential of dendrometers for monitoring tree water status.

The severity of droughts is expected to increase with climate change, leading to more frequent tree mortality and a decline in forest ecosystem services. Consequently, there is an urgent need for monitoring networks to provide early warnings of drought impacts on forests. Dendrometers capturing stem diameter variations may offer a simple and relatively low-cost opportunity. However, the links between stem shrinkage, a direct expression of tree water deficit (TWD), and hydraulic stress are not well understood thus far. In this study, we exposed two widespread conifers Pinus sylvestris and Larix decidua to lethal dehydration by withholding water and closely monitored TWD, midday water potential ($\psi $), and midday stomatal conductance ($g_{s}$) under controlled greenhouse conditions. We found strong relationships between the three variables throughout the dehydration process, particularly suggesting the potential for continuous $\psi $ predictions and stomatal closure assessments. However, the relationships decoupled during recovery from severe drought. We also identified TWD thresholds that signal the onset of drought stress and tissue damage, providing insights into stress impacts and recovery potential. While these findings are promising, challenges remain in practically transferring them to field set-ups by suitable TWD normalization. Importantly, we observed that midday $g_{s}$ was drastically reduced when TWD persisted overnight, providing a directly applicable drought stress signal that does not require normalization. In conclusion, while challenges remain, our results highlight the potential of dendrometers for monitoring tree water dynamics. Implementing dendrometer networks could support the development of early-warning metrics for drought impacts, enabling large-scale monitoring in diverse settings, such as urban areas and forest ecosystems.

Dynamics of Water, CO₂, Ethane and Their Mixtures in ZSM-22 Zeolite: The Role of Polarity and Hydrogen Bonding

Abstract Understanding the interplay between confinement effects and intermolecular interactions is essential for predicting molecular diffusion in zeolites. In this study, we investigate the diffusion behavior of ethane, CO₂, and water in ZSM-22 molecular sieves, focusing on the effects of mixing these fluids. Our results reveal that while CO₂ has minimal impact on ethane diffusion, water significantly slows ethane’s motion by forming molecular bridges across the pore structure, reducing ethane's diffusion by up to 30%. Ethane, in turn, restricts water’s mobility, and reduces the water-water coordination number from 2.22 to 0.73 depending on concentration. The diffusion of CO₂ in mixtures shows a 40% increase in pure state under confinement. The role of polarity and hydrogen bonding is crucial, with water molecules exhibiting 1.2 hydrogen bonds in the confined state—much lower than the 3.4 bonds in bulk water. Molecular rotation in ZSM-22 of all fluids occurs at two distinct time scales: the short-time fast rotation dominated by molecular inertia and the long-time rotation hindered by fluid-zeolite interactions. For water, hydrogen bonding further restricts full rotational freedom. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how ethane, water, and CO₂ interact and diffuse in nanoporous materials.

Quantifying the Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Spatial-Temporal Dynamics of Water in Hanjiang River Basin

As a vital part of the geo-environment and water cycle, ecosystem health and human development are dependent on water resources. Water supply and demand are influenced significantly by land use and cover change (LUCC) which shapes the surface ecosystems by altering their structure and function. Under future climate change scenarios, LUCC may greatly impact regional water balance, yet the impact is still not well understood. Therefore, examining the spatial relationship between LUCC and water yield services is crucial for optimizing land resources and informing sustainable development policies. In this study, we focused on the Hanjiang River Basin and used the patch-generating land use simulation (PLUS) model, coupled with the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model, to assess water yield services under three Shared Socioeconomic Pathway and Representative Concentration Pathway (SSP-RCP) scenarios. For the first time, we considered the impact of future changes in socio-economic and water use indicators on water demand using correction factors and ARIMA projections. The relationship between water supply and demand was explored using this approach, and LUCC’s effects on this balance are also discussed. Results indicate that: (1) The patterns of LUCC are similar for the three scenarios from 2030 to 2050, with varying levels of decrease for cropland and significant growth of built-up areas, with increases of 6.77% to 19.65% (SSP119), 7.66% to 22.65% (SSP245), and 15.88% to 46.69% (SSP585), respectively, in the three scenarios relative to 2020; (2) The future supply and demand trends for the three scenarios of produced water services are similar, and the overall supply and demand risks are all on a downward trend. Water demand continues to decline, and by 2050, the water demand of the 3 scenarios will decrease by 96.275×108t, 81.210×108t, and 84.13×108t relative to 2020, respectively; while supply decreases from 2030 to 2040 and rises from 2040 to 2050; (3) Both water supply and demand distributions exhibit spatial correlation, and the distribution of hotspots is similar. The water supply and demand are well-matched, with an overall supply-demand ratio greater than 1.5; (4) LUCC can either increase or decrease water yield. Built-up land provides more water supply compared to other land types, while forest land has the lowest average water supply. Limiting land use type conversions can enhance the water supply.

Modeling tree responses to soil water variability guides irrigation to account for soil winter reserves

AbstractHigh‐yield almond (Prunus amygdalus) production requires irrigation to support soil water availability throughout the summer. We aimed to develop tools that project almond trees’ water requirements and then integrate them into irrigation management. We postulated that deficit irrigation would limit root allocation and reduce irrigation efficiency. Thus, we monitored soil water availability (soil water content and potential evapotranspiration) and tree physiology (transpiration and trunk circumference) under 600, 900, or 1250 mm summer irrigations. A soil‐tree model was trained to predict trees’ transpiration as the soil dried between irrigation events. The model included an empirical function for tree transpiration at variable soil water potentials (50% loss by −1 MPa). Field records corroborated the soil‐tree model projections that 600 mm irrigation reduces soil water potential to −1 MPa and limits transpiration after winter soil water reserves deplete. Trees at deficit irrigation did grow deep roots to extract soil winter reserves, thus disputing our original notion. A 900 mm irrigation matched transpiration and maintained soil at −0.6 MPa. The 1250 mm irrigation exceeded transpiration and narrowed trees’ water uptake to the upper 50 cm. The reciprocity between soil water and transpiration dictates that predetermined irrigation would limit or exceed transpiration. The soil‐tree model could project transpiration responses to soil water variability, thereby supporting irrigation by trees’ transpiration. The model uses soil water dynamics, rather than insular water potential measures, to account for spatial discrepancies between water application and uptake depths. Hence, the soil‐tree model lays a computational framework for precision irrigation by automated sensory.

Water and Energy Dynamics in a Disturbed Ecosystem

Water and Energy Dynamics in a Disturbed Ecosystem

Probing ozone effects on European hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L. and Ostrya carpinifolia Scop.) leaf water content through THz imaging and dynamic stomatal response

We investigated the impact of ozone exposure on Hornbeam using a novel dual approach based on Terahertz (THz) imaging in a free-air ozone exposure experiment (three ozone levels: ambient; 1.5 times ambient; twice ambient). The research aims at unraveling the physiological responses induced by elevated ozone levels on water dynamics. THz imaging unveiled dynamic changes in leaf water content, providing a non-invasive approach to leaf water monitoring. Leaf gas exchange measurements assessed stomatal responses to light variation. Our findings showcase a compelling correlation between elevated ozone levels and reduction in photosynthetic rate and impairment of stomatal function, i.e. “stomatal sluggishness”, indicative of nuanced regulatory mechanism. Stomatal sluggishness was particularly evident in Carpinus betulus (CB) compared to Ostrya carpinifolia (OC) and was linked to reduction in photosynthetic capacity. THz-based imaging techniques confirmed this result indicating a negative effect of O3 on leaf-level total water content. In addition, spatial analysis of leaf water status using these techniques also highlighted that the negative effect of O3 on water status was progressing even in less sensitive OC plants though visible foliar injury was not detected. In fact, OC showed a relative dry area of 1.6 ± 1.6 % in the control group and 3.8 ± 1.3 % under high ozone levels. THz-based imaging techniques provided a deep understanding of O3 behavior in plants and may be recommended for precision biosensing in the early detection of O3-induced damage. The integration of THz imaging and physiological analysis resulted in comprehensive understanding of Hornbeam acclimation response to ozone exposure.