News from the project
The latest news and updates from SPAC-CRADLE project members.
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Job offer: Investigador/a predoctoral (PhD) - Hidrogeofísica de suelos
2026/08/19. Ubicación: ICA-CSIC, Tech4Agro, Madrid, España Proyecto: SPAC-CRADLE (subproyecto CRADLE-ROOTS, SP1) Contrato: Contrato predoctoral PIF 2026 (4 años) Fechas provisionales: 2026–2030 Fecha de...
More news items can be found in: News and project updates
What is it about?
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The project’s acronym is inspired by Newton's cradle analogy, which was used to demonstrate principles of conservation of momentum and energy using a series of metal balls. Similarly, the soil–plant–atmosphere continuum (SPAC) depends on all its interacting layers, and removing one “ball”, for instance, overlooking any of the soil, plant, or atmospheric dynamics, disrupts the chain of energy and mass transfer across the SPAC.
When that link is missing, the final “ball” doesn’t move, and we lose the ability to capture key ecological and Earth-system interactions that are essential for fully understanding and monitoring agro-ecosystems.
As such, to adequately characterize critical processes across the SPAC, a holistic approach integrating multidisciplinary expertise is needed, especially to unravel poorly understood processes, such as deep subsoil dynamics and the role of non-water rainfall inputs. In light of this and to overcome current limitations in state-of-the-art models and observation systems, the project comprises two interconnected subprojects (SP):
- Newton’s Cradle Action (SP1, CRADLE-ROOTS), which focuses on the soil–root system, and
- Newton’s Cradle Reaction (SP2, CRADLE-FLUX), which addresses plant–atmosphere interactions.
Work Packages
Soil
Subsoil geophysical imaging to map moisture and hydraulic properties beyond the reach of point sensors.
WP2Plant
Physiological measurements and remote sensing of vegetation traits and non-rainfall water inputs.
WP3Atmosphere
Micrometeorological, proximal and spaceborne observation of land–atmosphere exchange.
WP4Connecting the pieces
An integrated SPAC model linking soil, plant and atmosphere fluxes end to end.
WP5Evaluation
Applying the integrated model to water management, ecosystem function and soil health.
WP6Communication & Dissemination
Sharing project outcomes with scientists, students, farmers and the wider public.