Rainwater is a vital resource and dynamic driver of terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, processes controlling precipitation inputs and interactions during storms are often poorly seen, and poorly sensed when direct observations are substituted with technological ones. We discuss how human observations complement technological ones, and the benefits of scientists spending more time in the storm. Human observation can reveal ephemeral storm-related phenomena such as biogeochemical ‘hot moments’, organismal responses, and sedimentary processes which can then be explored in greater resolution using sensors and virtual experimentation. Storm-related phenomena trigger lasting, oversized impacts on hydrologic and biogeochemical processes, organismal traits/functions, and ecosystem services. We provide examples of phenomena in forests, across disciplines and scales, to inspire mindful, holistic observation of ecosystems during storms. We conclude that technological observations alone are insufficient to trace the process complexity and unpredictability of fleeting biogeochemical or ecological events without the “shower thoughts” produced by scientists’ human sensory and cognitive systems during storms.

Plant roots interact with rhizosphere microbes to accelerate soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization and promote nutrient acquisition. Root-mediated changes in SOM turnover largely depend on root-C input and soil nutrient availability. Hence, interspecific competition and nutrient uptake dynamics over plant development stages as well as spatiotemporal variability in C input may modify SOM turnover. To investigate the effect of intraspecific competition on SOM mineralization at three growth stages (heading, flowering and ripening), we grew maize (C4 plant) under three planting densities on a C3 soil. 13C-natural abundance and 15N-pool dilution were applied in situ to determine C- and N-mineralization rates. Soil C- and N-mineralization rates were tightly coupled and peaked at maize flowering. However, the C-to-N-mineralization ratio increased with N, indicating that microbes mineralize N-rich components to mine SOM for N. Furthermore, intraspecific competition did not affect root biomass; instead, plants shaped root morphology towards higher specific root length as an efficient strategy competing for nutrient. Hence, root morphologic traits rather than root biomass per se were positively related to C- and N-mineralization. Overall, plant competition for nutrients controlled the intensity and mechanisms of soil C- and N-turnover by the adaptation of root traits and nutrient depletion.