Water quality impacts of mobilization of permafrost carbon & nitrogen in High Arctic watersheds

拟议的研究探讨了气候驱动的永久冻土变化将如何影响高北极流域碳（C）和氮（N）的丰度，组成和运输。这项研究是必要的事实，冻土是一个重要的C和N的存储，冻土变化的立场，以提高这些重要元素的释放，转化和动员，这可以显着影响地表水质量，陆地和水生生态系统功能，以及大气C预算。尽管关键的潜在影响，多年冻土来源的碳和氮的脆弱性，解冻后的运输和循环还没有得到很好的理解，特别是在北极高。这种有限的理解是由于永久冻土C和N的组成和分布的异质性，以及控制其生产，运输和命运的水文和地球化学过程的不完全理解。** 这些知识差距将通过以下方式加以解决：a）对永久冻土C和N源的丰度和化学成分以及这些来源如何在景观中变化的研究，B）测试对改变和释放永久冻土C和N的地球化学过程的控制的实验室实验，以及c）实地调查更深的解冻和地下水文变化如何影响地表沃茨中的C和N输出和组成。这项研究是新颖的，因为它联系了地球化学和水文控制的C和N的脆弱性，土地覆盖特定的来源和地球化学过程。这项研究将提供必要的知识，以开发景观模型，预测永久冻土变化对下游水质和生态系统的影响，并产生信息，向北极社区通报对气候变化敏感的景观和水质要素。这些结果将指导各国政府制定政策，在预测当地气候变化的情况下保护生态系统和水资源。高素质人员将在邦蒂角北极流域观测站接受培训，该观测站是加拿大北极地区独一无二的合作研究站。跨越15年的变暖和永久冻土变化的丰富的综合长期观测和研究遗产使CBAWO成为一个有价值的网站，可以作为高北极流域应对气候变化的模型。该计划将为11名HQP提供项目管理经验，现场和分析技能以及评估北极流域和生态系统对气候变化的响应所需的先进知识。毕业生获得的职业证明了所获得的知识和技能受到行业和政府的高度重视。 HQP将随时准备为决策做出贡献，并制定将在不断变化的气候中改善北极环境和水资源管理的做法，从而使所有加拿大人的健康和经济福祉受益。

The proposed research examines how climate-driven permafrost change will impact the abundance, composition and transport of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in High Arctic watersheds. This research is necessitated by the fact that the permafrost is a significant store of C and N, and permafrost change stands to enhance the release, transformation, and mobilization of these important elements, which can significantly impact surface water quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem function, and atmospheric C budgets. Despite the critical potential impacts, the vulnerability of permafrost-derived C and N to transport and cycling upon thaw is not well understood, especially in the High Arctic. This limited understanding is due to the heterogeneity in the composition and distribution of permafrost C and N, and an incomplete understanding of the hydrological and biogeochemical processes controlling their production, transport, and fate. ******These knowledge gaps will be addressed by combining a) studies of the abundance and chemical composition of permafrost C & N sources and how these vary across the landscape, with b) laboratory experiments that test the controls on the biogeochemical processes that alter and release permafrost C and N, and c) field investigations of how deeper thaw and subsurface hydrological changes affect C and N export and composition in surface waters. The research is novel as it links the geochemical and hydrological controls on C and N vulnerability to land cover specific sources and biogeochemical processes. The research will provide the knowledge necessary to develop landscape models to predict the impact of permafrost changes on downstream water quality and ecosystems and generate information to inform Arctic communities of the landscape and water quality elements that are sensitive to climate change. These results will guide governments in developing policy to protect ecosystems and water resources in anticipation of local climate change.******Highly qualified personnel (HQP) will be trained at the Cape Bounty Arctic Watershed Observatory (CBAWO), a collaborative research station that is unique in the Canadian Arctic. The rich integrated long-term observations and research legacy spanning 15 years of warming and permafrost change makes the CBAWO a valuable site that can serve as a model of High Arctic watershed response to climate change. The program will provide eleven HQP with the project management experience, field and analytical skills, and advanced knowledge required to assess the response of Arctic watersheds and ecosystems to climate change. The careers secured by graduates demonstrate that the knowledge and skills acquired are highly valued by industry and government. HQP will be poised to contribute to decision-making, and the development of practices that will improve the management of Arctic environments and water resources in a changing climate, and thus benefit the health and economic well being of all Canadians.**