Evapotranspiration and biogeochemical regulation in a mountain peatland: insights from eddy covariance and ionic balance measurements

The mountainous catchments in the Australian Alps are one of highest water-yielding regions within a generally dry continent. Peatlands critical water-regulating components these catchments, and their response to changing climate will impact all downstream environments water availability for human uses. Mountain peatland ecohydrology, particular role evapotranspiration, remains incompletely understood. This study focused on evapotranspiration biogeochemical regulation “Alpine Sphagnum Bogs”, with case at Watchbed Creek peatland. Eddy covariance was used quantify combined Penman-Monteith-based calculate an ‘ecosystem vegetation coefficient’ (KESV). Base-flow analyses Cl−, Na+, Ca2+ Mg2+ stream were assess processes. work demonstrates that is major component budget, 26% annual precipitation. Further, we show how KESV calculated from direct measurements site may enable be modelled other mountain catchments. seasonally dependent nature processes observed this can as reference evaluate condition peatlands under similar synoptic weather conditions. In practice, means ecosystem restoration now informed by better understanding ecohydrology high