Investigation of Wetland Biogeochemical Similitudes and Scaling for Robust Predictions of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration

1336911(阿卜杜勒-阿齐兹)。本研究的目的是(I)研究和揭示湿地温室气体(GHG)排放和碳固存的相似性(参数缩减)、时空尺度模式和不同的环境状况；以及(Ii)建立时空稳健的模型，以预测不同气候、水文、生物、生态和生物地球化学梯度的湿地温室气体排放和碳固存。湿地温室气体排放和固碳遵循明显的生物地球化学相似性和稳健的尺度关系的基本假设将通过进行量纲分析和经验建模来检验，该模型已成功应用于流体力学、水利工程和河流生物地球化学/生态学。比例关系的稳健性首先将通过推导分析性的、真正动态的灵敏度系数和不确定性度量并用现场数据来量化来确定。还将通过将估计的尺度参数(系数和指数)与代表水文气候、生物地球化学和生态过程的梯度的不同季节和地点的数据进行比较来评估尺度稳健性。这项研究主要利用了PI收集的主要湿地温室气体(二氧化碳、甲烷和N2O)的现场数据，以及由美国国家海洋和大气管理局(NOAA)资助的一个合作项目中正在进行的环境参数、模型开发和知识形成。它还利用其他合作者通过美国东海岸的室内实地活动收集的湿地生物地球化学和温室气体通量数据。这项研究的目标是形成对湿地生物地球化学出现(相似性)模式的基本知识和见解，确定不同的环境制度以及相关的温室气体排放和碳固存的过渡阈值。湿地温室气体排放的建模一直是一项极具挑战性的工作。现有的模型大多是机械性的和特定于地点的，往往无法提供在时间和空间上相对可靠的预测。为了应对这一挑战，湿地生物地球化学相似性和尺度规律将通过在地球科学和工程的其他分支中成功应用的分析和经验方法来研究。对相似性和尺度的更好的理解有望导致对气候、海平面和土地利用变化下不同湿地生态系统的温室气体排放和碳固定的稳健、简明的建模和预测。生物地球化学相似性和尺度的研究有望为整个生态系统碳动态提供新的见解。这一想法可能适用于识别、理解和预测陆地和海洋生态系统的碳固存和温室气体排放的强大模式。这项研究应该通过揭示基本的科学信息和提供与规模无关的工程工具来帮助世界各地湿地生态系统的碳管理。研究成果将通过同行评议的出版物、演示文稿、研讨会、报告、公开会议、公开媒体(如YouTube)广泛传播；并通过利用国际海洋和大气局目前的NOAA合作项目--湿地科学家、工程师、经济学家、保护区经理、利益攸关方和非政府组织--向沿海决策者传递。研究结果将通过设计FIU(一所大型少数族裔机构，约59%的西班牙裔/拉丁裔学生和13%的非裔美国人学生)以归纳学习为基础的研究生和本科课程，并让高中教师和学生参与，将研究成果纳入教育。这项研究为FIU的一名现有博士生和一名来自少数族裔学生的潜在本科生暑期实习生提供了补充资金。

1336911 (Abdul-Aziz). The objectives of this research are to (i) investigate and unravel similitudes (parametric reductions), spatiotemporal scaling patterns, and different environmental regimes of wetland greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestrations; and (ii) formulate spatiotemporally robust models for predicting wetland GHG emissions and carbon sequestration across different climatic, hydrologic, biological, ecological, and biogeochemical gradients. A fundamental hypothesis of wetland GHG emissions and carbon sequestration following distinct biogeochemical similitudes and robust scaling relationships will be tested by conducting dimensional analysis and empirical modeling, which has successfully been applied in fluid mechanics, hydraulic engineering, and stream biogeochemistry/ecology. Robustness of the scaling relationships will first be determined by deriving analytical, truly dynamic sensitivity coefficients and uncertainty measures and quantifying them with field data. Scaling robustness will also be evaluated by comparing scaling parameters (coefficients and exponents) estimated with data from different seasons and locations representing a gradient of hydro-climatic, biogeochemical, and ecological processes. This research primarily leverages the PI's field data collections for major wetland GHGs (CO2, CH4, and N2O) and environmental parameters, model developments, and knowledge formation underway in a collaborative project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It also utilizes wetland biogeochemistry and GHG flux data collected by other collaborators through chamber-based field campaigns across the U.S. East Coast. The research targets to generate a fundamental body of knowledge and insights into the wetland biogeochemical emergence (similarity) patterns, identifying different environmental regimes and associated transition thresholds of GHG emissions and carbon sequestrations. Modeling of wetland GHG emissions has been an extremely challenging undertaking. Available models are mostly mechanistic and site-specific in nature, often failing to provide predictions that are relatively robust in time and space. To address this challenge, wetland biogeochemical similitudes and scaling laws will be investigated by employing analytical and empirical methods successfully applied in other branches of earth sciences and engineering. Improved understanding of similitudes and scaling is expected to lead to robust, parsimonious modeling and predictions of GHG emissions and carbon sequestration from diverse wetland ecosystems under a changing climate, sea level, and land use. The research on biogeochemical similitudes and scaling is anticipated to provide new insights into overall ecosystem carbon dynamics. The idea is potentially applicable to identify, understand, and predict robust patterns of carbon sequestration and GHG emissions from the terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The research should aid carbon management in wetland ecosystems around the world by unraveling fundamental scientific information and providing scale-independent engineering tools. Research outcomes will be broadly disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, workshops, reports, public meetings, open media (e.g., YouTube); and transferred to the coastal decision makers by leveraging the PI's current NOAA collaborative project-team of wetland scientists, engineers, economists, reserve managers, stakeholders, and NGOs. The research findings will be incorporated into education by designing inductive learning-based graduate and undergraduate courses at FIU (a large minority institution with around 59% Hispanic/Latino and 13% African-American students) and involving high school teachers and students. The research provides complementary funding for a current doctoral student at FIU and a potential undergraduate summer intern from the minority students.