RUI: Carbon Cycling and Peat Accumulation in the Discontinuous Permafrost Region of Boreal, Continental, and Western Canada

摘要提案#：9727800(Wieder和Yavitt)标题：加拿大西部北部大陆不连续永久冻土区的碳循环和泥炭积累机构：维拉诺瓦大学北部和亚北极泥炭地拥有世界约三分之一的土壤碳库，目前是大气二氧化碳的净汇和大气甲烷的主要来源。这项研究集中在加拿大西部北部大陆不连续的永久冻土区的广泛泥炭沉积，新的发现表明，近年来永久冻土一直在融化，可能是对气候条件变暖的反应。将进行实地和实验室研究，以检验与碳平衡和泥炭积累/降解有关的假说。这项研究围绕四个问题展开：1)多年冻土的存在、消失或消失如何影响不连续多年冻土区泥炭地的泥炭积累速率和泥炭有机质质量？2)永久冻土层的存在、不存在或消失如何影响不连续多年冻土区泥炭地的二氧化碳和甲烷的产生/排放以及对生产/排放的控制？3)永久冻土覆盖的泥炭的碳平衡是否会从作为大气碳汇的泥炭倾斜到作为永久冻土融化的大气碳的净来源？以及4)在不连续的永久冻土带的泥炭地中，根部对二氧化碳和甲烷的产生/排放有实质性的贡献吗？通过了解影响二氧化碳和甲烷产生和排放的因素，这项工作将深入了解这些广泛的泥炭地对预计的总体区域和全球气候变化的潜在碳循环反应，以及更具体地说正在进行的永久冻土退化和融化。

ABSTRACT Proposal # : 9727800 (Wieder And Yavitt) Title: CARBON CYCLING AND PEAT ACCUMULATION IN THE DISCONTINUOUS PERMAFROST REGION OF BOREAL, CONTINENTAL, WESTERN CANADA Institution: VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY Boreal and subarctic peatlands contain about a third of the world's soil carbon pool and presently function as a net sink for atmospheric CO2 and a major source of atmospheric CH4. This research focuses on the extensive peat deposits in the discontinuous permafrost regions of boreal, continental, western Canada, where new findings suggest that permafrost has been melting in recent years, possibly in response to warming climatic conditions. Both field and laboratory studies will be conducted to test hypotheses related to carbon balance and peat accumulation/degradation. The research is structured around four questions: 1) How does the presence, absence, or disappearance of permafrost affect peat accumulation rate and peat organic matter quality in peatlands of the discontinuous permafrost region? 2) How does the presence, absence, or disappearance of permafrost affect CO2 and CH4 production/emission and controls on production/emission in peatlands of the discontinuous permafrost region? 3) Will the carbon balance of peat underlain by permafrost be tipped from peat as a sink for atmospheric carbon to a net source of carbon to the atmosphere as permafrost melts? and 4) Do roots contribute substantially to CO2 and CH4 production/emission in peatlands in the discontinuous permafrost zone? By understanding the factors that affect CO2 and CH4 production and emission, the work will lead to insights into the potential carbon cycling responses of these extensive peatlands to projected regional and global climate changes in general, and to ongoing permafrost degradation and melting more specifically.