Project description
The importance of thermokarst-affected permafrost soils in the global nitrogen cycle
Global changes are modifying the Arctic regions' climate, where temperatures have risen faster than anywhere else on Earth. These regions store vast amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) in permafrost soils that rapidly release nutrients and greenhouse gases when they thaw. The thawing yields thermokarst processes that occur abruptly, leading to ground surface collapse and to the development of ecosystems (ponds and lakes) where anaerobic environments enhance microbial activity. With Arctic warming, permafrost thawing and thermokarst processes will increase, releasing soluble nitrogen (N) into the environment, thus enhancing microbial decomposition of SOM. The EU-funded NITROKARST project will explore the underlying mechanisms of the N cycle in thermokarst systems, examining how microbial pathways promote N transformation and how thawing controls the operation of these processes.
Objective
Global change leads modifications in climate on Arctic regions, where temperatures have risen faster than in any other region on Earth. Those regions store vast amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) in permafrost soils, covering ~25% of terrestrial surface. When they thaw, it leads to rapid release of nutrients and greenhouse gases (GHG). So far, many studies have addressed the importance of permafrost thaw in the carbon cycle. However, little attention has been paid to the nitrogen (N) cycle, despite nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful GHG, an ozone-depleting agent and may create an unaccounted permafrost-climate feedback.
Permafrost with low ice content suffers a gradual top-down thawing process during seasonal freeze-thaw period. However, thaw of ice-rich permafrost results in thermokarst processes, which occur abruptly and lead to ground surface collapse. Its widespread occurrence affects large areas (~40% of the northern permafrost region) contributing to develop ecosystems like ponds and lakes. In such ecosystems, the presence of anaerobic environments enhances microbial activity. As Arctic warms, permafrost thaw and thermokarst processes will increase, releasing soluble N into the environment and enhancing microbial decomposition of SOM.
Hence, mineralization, nitrification and denitrification rates are expected to increase, and thus, N2O emissions to the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the impact of permafrost thaw on N cycling remains understudied, and almost unknown in thermokarst systems.
NITROKARST will explore the underlying mechanisms of the N cycle in thermokarst systems, looking at how microbial pathways promote N transformation and how thawing controls the operation of these processes. N cycling will be studied along a thermokarst transect by combining isotope tracing, metagenomics and microcosm incubations. This multidisciplinary approach will increase our knowledge about the importance of thermokarst-affected permafrost soils in the global N cycle.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1010 Wien
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.