AGS-PRF: Novel Detection of Accelerated Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides Following High Latitude Peat Fires

在这个博士后研究奖学金项目中，PI将使用遥感观察以及实验室和田间测量来确定泥炭地火灾和相关的氮排放是否可能使附近的高纬度土壤肥沃，从而增加微生物对氮氧化物的生产。这些北部高纬度土壤是地球上最大的土壤有机质储存库，野火和其他气候变化造成的持续破坏可能会导致温室气体和氮氧化物等活性气体的大量释放，这是这项工作的重点。在这个项目中获得的新知识可以加深我们对土壤氮排放的一个未被研究的和潜在的重要来源的理解，这将对大气化学和气候研究界以及更广泛的公众有利。具体任务包括：(1)使用卫星遥感数据记录高纬度火灾和土壤中二氧化氮和一氧化碳的趋势和排放；(2)进行实验室土室实验，以量化燃烧的泥炭地土壤的现场排放；(3)部署氮氧化物分析仪网络，比较燃烧的和原始的土壤附近的环境氮氧化物浓度；(4)将这些数据与正演模型结合起来，以便与卫星柱进行比较；以及(5)进行额外的实验室实验，以确定土壤氮氧化物的物理和化学控制。最终结果将提供高纬度陆块火灾和土壤中氮氧化物的排放因子，并将提供可能解释泥炭地火灾后观察到的氮氧化物异常的信息。PI计划加入和加强极地科学早期职业社区办公室，并在此项目过程中指导一名本科生。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

In this Postdoctoral Research Fellowship project, the PI will use remote sensing observations along with laboratory and field measurements to determine if peatland fires, and the associated nitrogen emissions, might fertilize nearby high-latitude soils resulting in an enhancement of microbial production of nitrogen oxides. These northern high-latitude soils are the largest reservoir of soil organic matter on the planet, and ongoing disruptions due to wildfire and other climatic changes could result in a substantial release of greenhouse gases and reactive gases such as nitrogen oxides, which are the focus of this work. The new knowledge gained during this project could enhance our understanding of an understudied and potentially substantial source of soil nitrogen emissions, which will be beneficial to atmospheric chemistry and climate research communities, as well as the broader public.The specific tasks include: (1) using satellite remote sensing data to document trends and emissions of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide from high-latitude fires and soils; (2) conduct laboratory soil chamber experiments to quantify in-situ emissions from burning peatland soils; (3) deploy a network of nitrogen oxides analyzers to compare ambient nitrogen oxides concentrations nearby both burned and pristine soils; (4) combine these data with forward modeling in order to compare to satellite columns; and (5) conduct additional laboratory experiments to determine physical and chemical controls of soil nitrogen oxides. The end result will provide emission factors of nitrogen oxides from fires and soils in high-latitude land masses and will provide information that might explain the nitrogen oxides anomaly observed after peatland fires. The PI plans on joining and enhancing the Polar Science Early Career Community Office and mentoring an undergraduate student during the course of this project.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.