Monitoring and Modelling the Water and Carbon Dynamics in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere Continuum

Dear Colleagues,

The coupled dynamics of water and carbon cycles within the Soil–Plant–Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC) are fundamental to Earth's ecosystem functioning. A quantitative understanding of each element in SPAC and their interactions across multiple spatial and temporal scales is critical for addressing pressing global challenges, such as global warming, water scarcity, land use change, groundwater contamination, and food security. However, accurately monitoring and modeling these complex feedbacks and exchanges of mass and energy, from the microscopic pore-scale to the vast landscape scale, remains a significant scientific endeavor.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research that advances our understanding of SPAC processes and their implications for land system functioning.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Novel monitoring and observing systems: Application of remote and proximal sensing, in situ sensor networks (e.g., soil moisture), eddy covariance flux towers, isotopic analysis to quantify water and carbon fluxes, emerging signals (e.g., thermal infrared, microwave, LiDAR, SIF), and multi‑sensor integration to quantify water and carbon fluxes. Integration of multi-sensor signals (e.g., thermal infrared, microwave, LIDAR, SIF) is also encouraged to improve cross-scale understanding.
• Advanced modeling approaches: Development and application of process-based ecohydrological models, land surface models, hybrid and physics‑informed machine learning.
• Data fusion and digital twins: Data assimilation (e.g., Bayesian approaches, ensemble/variational filters, etc.), multi‑source data fusion of in situ and remote observations, and the development of digital twins for catchments and agroecosystem monitoring and prediction.
• Scaling and integration: Methodologies for upscaling and downscaling measurements and model outputs, from the leaf and plot level to the catchment, regional, and global scales.
• Ecosystem responses to stress: Investigations into the impact of disturbances such as drought, soil erosion, heatwaves, land use change, and fire on food, fiber, and water production.
• Interdisciplinary case studies: Field-based or modelling studies from diverse ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural systems, that provide new insights into the interconnectedness of water and carbon dynamics.

We invite the submission of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and insightful case studies that present novel methods, significant findings, or new theoretical frameworks. Ultimately, this Special Issue seeks to synthesize the latest scientific advancements to improve our predictive capabilities and inform more sustainable land and water management strategies in a changing world.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Ruodan Zhuang
Dr. Romulus Costache
Dr. Na Li
Prof. Dr. Tiejun Wang
Dr. Joseph Tamale
Dr. Paolo Nasta
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• remote sensing
• eco-hydrology
• spatial scaling
• vadose zone hydrology
• soil moisture