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Content archived on 2022-12-23

Climate in relation to carbon accumulation: spatial and temporal analyses of west Siberian peat ecosystems

Objective

Active peat forming ecosystems are important sinks for atmospheric Carbon, nevertheless generally underestimated in global climatic change studies. About half of the world area of such ecosystems is situated in the vast lowland of West Siberia. This project aims at the quantification of West Siberian peat ecosystems by the production of biomass, to store Carbon. The Carbon pool, stored in the peat layers in west Siberia, therefore will be analysed, using available, but unpublished Russian data and additional field measurement. By comparison of the measured variation in biomass productivity and Carbon gas (CO2, CH4) emissions by latitude, hydrological conditions, nutrient availability and vegetation type, the actual Carbon storage capacity will be integrated into a Peat Accumulation Model, valid for West Siberia. For the interpolation of point data Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing techniques will be used. The model will be validated for Holocene climatic change by (re)interpretation of data from vertical sequence of vegetation type, nutrient conditions, Carbon content and 14C dating records.

The ultimate objective of the project is the development of a Climate Carbon exchange Model, which will be able to predict Carbon accumulation in West Siberian peat layers as a result of vegetation development in time and space under different climate change scenarios. The project will integrate the scientific knowledge of environmental scientists, hydrologists, landscape ecologists, botanists, paleo-ecologists and paleo-geographers. In particular new is the combination of knowledge of actual processes related to greenhouse gasses and Carbon storage by peat accumulation vegetation, with scientific knowledge of paleo-climatology resulting from the analyses and interpretation of cores (peat drillings). Additional purposes of the project are the revealing of unpublished Russian data, the support of highly specialized Russian scientist with integrated research in practice, the opportunity for Russian scientists to experience modern western methodologies and the combined publication of research results for an international scientific forum.

Call for proposal

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Funding Scheme

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Coordinator

Utrecht University
EU contribution
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Address
Heidelberglaan 2
3508 TC Utrecht
Netherlands

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Total cost
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Participants (5)