ABSTRACT:

This study explores the dynamics of water fluxes and carbon exchange in the Chihuahuan Desert using high-frequency data collected at the Jornada Experimental Range from October 2019 to December 2024. Measurements were recorded every 10seconds using a Licor 7500i system paired with a Vaisala sensor for atmospheric humidity and temperature, as well as radiation sensors and soil moisture and temperature probes. These instruments were installed on a 2.4-meter tower located at the piedmont zone of the ranch. Motivated by recent shifts in rainfall intensity, frequency, and increasing drought conditions, this research aims to better understand how desert ecosystems respond to rainfall pulses—particularly how much water is lost through evaporation versus how much is used by vegetation. To address this, we applied the underlying Water Use Efficiency (uWUE) method to partition evapotranspiration after rainfall events. Complementarily, an artificial rainfall experiment was conducted on a 20x10m plot at the same site to monitor soil water movement using TDR sensors and 3D Electrical Resistivity surveys up to 3 meters deep. These combined approaches help shed light on the role of shallow calcium carbonate layers in water storage and accessibility, and how desert plants adapt their water use strategies following precipitation pulses.

ABSTRACT:

This dataset documents time-lapse Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) measurements conducted as part of a controlled rainfall simulation experiment at the Jornada Experimental Range in the Chihuahuan Desert. A total of 6,000 liters of water were applied over a 20x10 m experimental plot using two sprinklers to simulate a 60 mm rainfall event. To monitor subsurface water redistribution, a 72-electrode array (8x9 grid) was installed, and 26 ERT surveys were conducted using a dipole–gradient configuration. One baseline survey was performed prior to irrigation, followed by 25 monitoring surveys over a two-month period. Early measurements were taken every 2 hours and gradually spaced out over time to capture longer-term changes.

The resulting dataset includes raw resistivity files, inverted resistivity models for each survey, and time-lapse visualizations highlighting temporal changes in soil resistivity at the same location. These data allow for detailed analysis of infiltration patterns, water retention, and redistribution in arid soils, and contribute to a better understanding of how rainfall pulses affect water availability in desert ecosystems. The ERT method provides a valuable non-invasive tool to observe and quantify soil moisture dynamics in three dimensions under real-world field conditions.