The Alento River Catchment: A unique synthesis of a CZO and an open-air laboratory for agro-environmental research in the Mediterranean region.

The Alento River Catchment (ARC) in Campania, southern Italy, has been selected as a research setting for investigating the complex interactions between climate, land use, and water resources in the Mediterranean region over the past three decades. A combination of geological, hydrological, and soil hydraulic studies has identified the ARC as an optimal location for understanding and optimizing water resources management. In 2016, the establishment of an ARC Critical Zone Observatory (CZO) within the TERENO network led to a significant intensification of research efforts. The CZO is equipped with a comprehensive monitoring system, including wireless sensor networks, cosmic-ray neutron sensors, piezometers, meteorological stations, and additional tools for hydro-geophysical surveys, stable isotope analysis, and remote sensing. Coupled with in-situ soil hydraulic experiments and modeling activities, the ARC has evolved into a distinctive synthesis of a CZO and an open-air laboratory. Our primary goal is to quantify the impacts of Mediterranean climate variability and land use change on water availability and management within the ARC. By integrating field observations with advanced modeling techniques, insights are sought to provide crucial information for sustainable water resource management in this vulnerable region.