How do forest and precipitation partitioning affect SOlute fLUxes and catchment denudaTION? (SOLUTION)

The objective of the project is to determine the role of forestation or deforestation and precipitation partitioning on the chemical denudation rates in a small headwater catchment. Despite a lower chemical input by precipitation in the deforested catchment, the chemical denudation rates in streamwater is expected to be higher than in the forested catchment as chemical weathering and leaching of elements from the soil are limited due to the nutrient uptake by trees. Nowadays, with diminishing streamwater quality, reforestation can be regarded as one of the natural ways to improve water quality and contribute to the biogeochemical balance in ecosystems. This goal will be achieved by the integrated and holistic monitoring of solute fluxes in precipitation (open rainfall, throughfall, stemflow), soil and streams in two headwater catchments of similar size and environmental characteristics but one forested and one deforested.