Hydrogeologic Drivers for the Carbon Dynamics in Large Peatlands

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ABSTRACT PROPOSAL # : DEB-9615429 INVESTIGATOR(S) : GLASER et al. INSTITUTION: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TITLE: Hydrologic Drivers for the Carbon Dynamics in Large Peatlands The large peat basins of North America represent an important reservoir in the global carbon cycle and a significant source for greenhouse gases. The development of regional groundwater models as part of this research should provide a powerful method to quantify the impact of climatic change on the water and carbon flux of these peatlands, because these groundwater models can be realistically calibrated by field observations, digital elevation models, and remote sensing. These models will be developed and tested in the Glacial Lake Agassiz region of Minnesota. The design of this research is interdisciplinary and combines field measurements, modeling, and remote sensing to determine 1) the regional topography of the water table and is response to short- and longer term climatic changes, 2) the effect of water table fluctuations on flow systems, solute transport, and carbon flux through these ecosystems, 3) the frequency and magnitude of carbon losses from peat fires, and 4) regional estimates for the water and carbon balance. The design includes investigation of the apparent inconsistency between the relatively high rates of peat accumulation in the region combined with high emission rates for methane in a fairly dry regional climate.