This project investigates how episodic hydrological events, such as short-term wetting and drying cycles, impact soil carbon dynamics in California's grasslands. Soil microbial respiration, which influences carbon fluxes, varies significantly under these conditions, particularly in Mediterranean climates characterized by prolonged dry periods. The research aims to enhance the understanding of how these episodic events disproportionately drive carbon emissions, filling critical knowledge gaps in soil carbon modeling. By integrating small-scale oxygen, water, and temperature variability into large-scale models, this study seeks to improve predictions of carbon sequestration in grasslands, thereby supporting climate-smart grassland management practices and informing strategies to maximize carbon storage in these ecosystems.
Optimizing Grassland Carbon Sequestration Through Analysis of Episodic Hydrological Events in California
