SitS NSF-UKRI: Collaborative Research: Sensors UNder snow Seasonal Processes in the Evolution of ARctic Soils (SUN SPEARS)

融化的冰盖和冰川正在暴露出由看似贫瘠的后冰川土壤主导的广阔的空灵景观。这些新的栖息地支持专门的和有弹性的微生物，多年后，甚至地衣和植物。然而，对这些偏远地区的访问和测量通常仅限于夏季，因此季节性影响，包括漫长的寒冷，黑暗的冬季，都没有得到充分的研究。美国（犹他州大学;科罗拉多大学，博尔德）和英国之间的合作努力。（伦敦玛丽女王大学;英国地质调查局）研究人员将通过持续运行的传感器和重复的实地测量，测量挪威斯瓦尔巴特群岛冰川退缩附近土壤中冬季和春季积雪下的生物、水文和化学活动。这将使科学家能够了解雪下过程如何促进这些独特的土壤生态系统现在和未来的功能和发展。此外，项目研究人员将把互动课程带到科罗拉多和犹他州农村服务不足地区的教室，远程接触世界各地的教室和播客观众，为科罗拉多农村的高中生提供研究培训，并为两名大学生和三名博士后研究人员提供培训。

Melting ice sheets and glaciers are exposing vast ethereal landscapes dominated by seemingly barren post-glaciation soils. These new habitats support specialized and resilient microorganisms, and after many years, even lichens and plants. However, access to and measurements of these remote sites are typically restricted to the summer-and thus seasonal effects, including prolonged cold, dark winters, are under-studied. This collaborative effort between U.S. (University of Utah; University of Colorado, Boulder) and U.K. (Queen Mary University of London; British Geological Survey) researchers will measure biological, hydrologic, and chemical activity under the winter and spring snowpack, in soils near a retreating glacier in Svalbard, Norway, via continuously operated sensors and repeated field measurements. This will enable scientists to understand how under-snow processes contribute to the functioning and development of these unique soil ecosystems now and into the future. Additionally, project researchers will bring interactive lessons to classrooms in underserved areas in rural Colorado and Utah, remotely reach classrooms and podcast audiences around the world, provide research training for high school students from rural Colorado, and training for two university students and three postdoctoral researchers.