Collaborative Research: Two Major Peat Basins in Boreal America: Sources, Sinks, or Steady-state Reservoirs in the Global Carbon Cycle?

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The large peat basins of North America represent an important reservoir in the global carbon cycle and a significant source of atmospheric methane. Two target areas have been selected in these peat basins where peat nearly covers the regional landscape: 1) the Glacial Lake Agassiz peatlands of Minnesota and 2) the Albany River peatlands in northern Ontario. These two areas represent important reference points along major ecologic and climatic gradients. Dr. Glaser and Siegel will utilize a nested grid of sample points in these systems to determine 1) rates of carbon storage or loss, 2) rates and mechanisms of methane flux, and 3) hydrogeologic processes that control the flux of dissolved gases and solutes through these peat deposits. They will test four models of peatland development to determine if these peat basins are sources, sinks, or steady-state reservoirs for carbon. And regional estimates of the flux of methane and other dissolved solutes in the two study areas will be made with spatial statistics and hydrogeologic computer models. This project is focused on an important reservoir of carbon that may be intimately linked with climatic change. The research program is being conducted by two highly regarded scientists who have access to excellent facilities. Results from this important research will improve understanding of the processes that contribute to changes in the global environment.