The impact of snowpack change by climate change on biogeochemical cycles in forest soil

利用自然环境梯度对日本列岛森林生态系统冬季积雪变化对土壤氮动态的影响进行了野外试验。研究发现，由于积雪减少和保温能力下降，土壤冻融循环周期增大，土壤微生物的氮矿化作用增加。生物休眠期的冬季过程对生长季的生物地球化学循环和水质形成具有不可忽视的作用。

We conducted the field experiments using natural environmental gradient in Japanese archipelago to clarify the impact of snowpack changes in winter on soil nitrogen dynamics in forest ecosystem. We found that nitrogen mineralization by soil microbe increased by the amplification of soil freeze-thaw cycles induced by the decrease of snowpack and its heat insulation ability. It was suggested that winter processes in biologically dormant season were not negligible for biogeochemical cycles and water quality formation in the growing season.