A Tropical Montane Cloud Forest Eco-hydrology Student Research Initiative. The Cloud Chasers research initiative aims to improve our understanding of:
- The hydro-meteorological function of cloud forests in maintaining a microclimate that supports a specialized ecosystem, traditional crops, and water sources
- The influence of historic and future changes in climate and land use on the water quality and availability in a cloud forest catchment in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala.
A Spanish version of this page can be found here: https://guatemalacloudchasers.com/
Projects
Nov-Jan 2023
Prototyping experimental setup for canopy water balance and fog interception modeling.
Sep-Oct 2023
Installation of automated canopy water balance setup and river discharge gauge.
Jan-Apr 2024
Analysis of land use change and erosion risk in study catchment.
May-Jul 2024
Water quality analysis, study of grey water management options. Calvin Clean Water Institute.
Apr-Jun 2025
Cloud Forest Canopy water balance monitoring and communication.
Recent updates
- Cloud Chasers 2026 – Newsletter 5
If you’ve been following our project, you’ll knowthat last week we finished installing all the equipment at our three plots. Next, we had tocheck that it actually measures rainfall correctly. Additionally, we got the chance to spend the weekend with local Q’eqchi’ families up the river in the village of Sebob. - Cloud Chasers 2026 – Newsletter 4
This week, a group of visiting researchers set up a light trap to see what kind of creatures would come out after dark. We made great progress on the water balance: all the theory behind the computation of the different water balance terms is now done. - Cloud Chasers 2026 – Newsletter 3
At the agroforestry measurement site, we installed setups to measure precipitation flowing to the forest floor along the tree trunk (stemflow) and dripping directly through gaps in the canopy or wetted leaves (throughfall). It was a great teambuilding activity, and we are proud of the workmanship. - Cloud Chasers 2026 – Newsletter 2
This week, we visited the potential plots for the agriculture and agroforestry measurement setup. We also started soldering the electronics for the epiphyt lysimeter and built a second design of the structural prototype, which we are currently optimizing. - Cloud Chasers 2026 – Newsletter 1
We are a team of 6 engineering students working on a project exploring whether agroforestry can offer a sustainable alternative to conventional agriculture in Guatemala’s cloud forests. To do this, we are improving existing hydrological monitoring setups in the cloud forest and building new measurement stations in agricultural and agroforestry plots.
Partners and Collaboration
Contact
linnaea@cloudforestconservation.org
Linnaea Cahill, project coordinator
Follow us on Instagram: @guatemala_cloudchasers