MONITORING OF THE VOLUMETRIC WATER CONTENT PROFILE IN THE UPPER SOIL LAYER DURING MAP

In the framework of the MAP, the Osservatorio Geofisico (University of Modena e Reggio Emilia) participated to the Special Observing Period (SOP) in the Ticino-Toce watershed (Lago Maggiore MAP Target Area). Measurements of soil volumetric water content at different depths were collected at four hours time steps in a large meadow at Pallanzeno (Val d'Ossola). The measurements were obtained by a Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) system equipped with a multiplexer board so that up to 14 buriable probes could be automatically driven. Eleven probes were horizontally installed at 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 50 cm depth; three more probes were vertically installed to measure the mean water content between 0-20 cm, 25-45 cm, 50-70 cm depth. The TDR station started to collec