The carbon source-sink status of James Bay

本应用程序中提出的研究准备增加对詹姆斯湾-哈德逊湾南部海洋区域内的人为碳排放和下游影响（如海洋酸化）的理解。这个沿海海洋区域与富含碳的哈德逊湾低地（HBL）接壤，但就其自身的碳意义而言，尚未得到研究。最近完成了一次海洋学研究考察，为限制海洋碳源和碳汇提供了第一批数据和样本，并开始了河流碳监测，以评估从HBL到沿海海洋环境的碳运输的重要性。然而，该地区的海冰迅速消融和地表水变暖已经开始，仅靠观测无法预测近期的碳排放和海洋酸化风险。在这里，我们将利用观测结果以及冰-海洋和生物地球化学耦合模型来描述当前的碳状态（吸收和排放），并评估该系统未来的碳状态。这些结果将提高对该系统当前碳状态的理解，碳排放如何随时间变化，以及海洋酸化风险增加是否伴随着人为碳交换。我们的土著研究伙伴提供的泥炭地和沿海生态系统的知识将丰富对该地区碳重要性的理解。合作伙伴包括代表8个克里族社区参与詹姆斯湾西部和哈德逊湾西南部海洋保护倡议的mushkegouk酋长委员会；加拿大公园管理局正在研究在该地区建立国家海洋保护区的可行性；以及在将知识转化为行动方面具有专门知识的非政府组织。其中一些已建立的伙伴关系可以追溯到几年前，这使人们相信，它们将在产生研究成果方面取得丰硕成果，并将其应用于推进正在进行的由土著领导的保护倡议。联盟任务的结果将为碳储量保护和生态系统保护战略提供信息，以最大限度地提高这一敏感地区未来的自然气候效益。

The proposed research in this application is poised to increase understanding of anthropogenic carbon emissions and downstream impacts such as ocean acidification, from and within the James Bay-southern Hudson Bay marine region. This coastal marine region borders the carbon-rich Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBL) but is unstudied in terms of its own carbon significance. An oceanographic research expedition was recently completed providing first data and samples for constraining marine carbon sources and sinks and river carbon monitoring was initiated to assess significance of carbon transports from the HBL into the coastal marine environment. However, rapid sea-ice loss and surface-water warming are already underway in this region, and observations alone cannot project near-future carbon emissions and ocean acidification risk. Here, we will use the observations together with a coupled ice-ocean and biogeochemical model to describe the present carbon state (uptake and emissions) and assess the future carbon state of this system. The results will improve understanding of the present carbon state of the system, how carbon emissions are changing over time, and whether increased ocean acidification risk accompanies the anthropogenic carbon exchange. Cree Knowledge of the peatlands and coastal ecosystems contributed by our Indigenous research partners will enrich the understanding of the region's carbon significance. Partners include Mushkegowuk Council of Chiefs, which represents eight Cree communities on a marine protection initiative for western James Bay and southwest Hudson Bay; Parks Canada, which is studying the feasibility of establishing a national marine conservation area in this region; and non-governmental organizations with expertise in translating knowledge into action. Some of these established partnerships stretch back several years, providing confidence that they will be fruitful in terms of generating research results and seeing them applied towards advancing the ongoing Indigenous-led conservation initiatives. The Alliance Mission results will inform carbon stock conservation and ecosystem protection strategies to maximize future natural climate benefits in this sensitive region.