Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) in the atmosphere, and it is recognized as one of the main drivers of the global warming phenomenon. Anthropogenic activities, such as fossil fuel combustion, cement production, deforestation, land use changes and replacement of natural or agricultural ecosystems by impervious surfaces in cities (dwellings, roads, roofs etc.), are mainly responsible for the increasing trend in CO2 emissions in the last decades. With an estimated increase in urban population by 2050 up to 70%, an increase in energy demand and carbon emission is expected. It is, then, crucial to improve our understanding about the interaction between natural and anthropogenic processes in response to environmental conditions and surface conditions, and to deeply investigate the role of natural and urban vegetation in sequestering CO2 and in offsetting emissions due to human activities. Continuous and automated measurements techniques and approaches are actually very diffuse to monitor CO2 and energy fluxes at different scales, from site level (with in-situ measurements) to large areas (with modeling tools and remote sensing applications). The Eddy Covariance (EC) technique is a standardized technique allowing a direct and not destructive gas and energy exchange between vegetation and atmosphere at ecosystem scale (300 m up to 1-2 km). In recent years, international EC flux measurements networks has been established to provide standardized and reliable dataset of carbon sequestration and release from several ecosystems, including urban areas (such as Fluxnet and ICOS). However, the need to better understand the role of different ecosystems in emitting GHGs require further efforts in developing new technologies, tools and data processing protocols able to estimate and partitioning the different components of the carbon budget (i.E. Processes involved in gross and net productivity exchanges, as well as respiration processes) and in evaluating the ability of different vegetation types in sequestering CO2 depending by environmental and morphological characteristics and by ecosystem types (e.G. Agricultural, natural and urban ecosystems).The increasing interest for flux monitoring is nowadays highlighted for their potential in studies related to climate change (CC) mitigation due to their ability in estimating the global carbon budget across different ecosystems. This knowledge will also contribute to develop adaptation strategies to cope with climate change and identified sustainable soil and vegetation management able to both increase carbon sequestration and species tolerance to increasing temperature. This is particular relevant in urban areas, where nature-based solutions could be implemented to enhance cities resilience to climate change.The main aims of this research line are: (i) to better investigate carbon and energy fluxes in natural, agricultural, and urban ecosystems in order to highlight differences and similarities in terms of diurnal and seasonal physiology, water use, carbon emissions and sinks and the main drivers affecting their behavior; (ii) to develop/apply innovative techniques (both at local and large scales) and the most advances protocols to monitor fluxes across ecosystems; (iii) evaluate the role of vegetation and nature-based solutions, including management options, for climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.

Agrometeorology/ecophysiology knowledge base; Large database management and analysis capacity

The team focuses on research activities more related to CC impacts and adaptation, natural resources monitoring and management (e.G. Carbon and water), agronomy, mainstreaming climate adaptation, sustainable management and policies development. In recent years, it acquired experience in developing and testing tools and models for estimating and managing natural resources under CC conditions, both at local and regional scale, as well as methodologies and guidelines for developing adaptation strategies and options, through participative approaches, for a better governance of water resources. The team has monitoring sites, part of the FLUXNET and ICOS international networks and platforms, as well as a unique laboratory of Agrometeorology to monitor plant ecophysiology and functions. The team will provide offices and computing facilities, and vehicles for reaching experimental sites.