Deep in the Kalahari Desert, hot winds carry sand across the dunes of the savanna. In this parched climate, scientists dig deep to study the influence of climate change on soil and plant dynamics.

The researchers are in the southern part of Africa in the country of Botswana. They are here to examine soils found in one of the most arid of biomes, the savanna. The team of researchers is here to study root and soil carbon dynamics in water-limited savanna ecosystems under different climate conditions.

To do this, they are conducting their research during the rainy and dry seasons along the Kalahari Transect (KT), which stretches across the countries of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia. In the north, the wet season brings frequent rainfall which supplies water to the soils and vegetation. In the south, deep in the heart of the Kalahari, active sand dunes rise one after the other as far as the eye can see.

By digging deep into the soil to excavate entire tree, shrub, and grass root systems, researchers will examine soil carbon sequestration and respiration.