Title: How Deep Vadose Zone Processes Shape Watershed Recovery from Drought and Wildfire

Abstract: Across mountainous regions undergoing rapid environmental change, soils are often thin, and hydrologic and biogeochemical processes can extend well into the underlying bedrock. Compared to surface soils, the dynamics of this deep layer have historically been difficult to study. However, recent advances in observational tools and modeling approaches have recently revealed that processes in the bedrock vadose zone may be key determinants of how watersheds respond to and recover from disturbances such as drought and wildfire. In this talk, I will highlight recent insights into the structure and function of the deep vadose zone, drawing on field observations from contrasting climates and lithologies. I will discuss how deep moisture availability and its coupling to biogeochemical processes shape forest function and streamflow, and how these relationships are being reshaped by ongoing environmental change.

Bio: Daniella Rempe is an Associate Professor in the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin and Associate Chair of the Water Climate and Environment Program in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science. Her research focuses on the interactions between vegetation, weathered bedrock, and climate that shape hydrological and biogeochemical processes under environmental change. Her group combines field observations, laboratory measurements, and remote sensing to explore questions about water resource sustainability, ecosystem resilience, and carbon cycling. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from the University of California, Berkeley.