A Hydrogeophysical Study of Northern Raised Bogs: Implications for Generic Models of Peatland Formation, Vegetation Patterning, Pool Formation and Biogenic Gas Generation

北方凸起沼泽的水文地球物理研究：对泥炭地形成、植被格局、水池形成和生物气生成的通用模型的启示

• 批准号: 0609534
• 负责人: Lee Slater
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: Rutgers University New Brunswick
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-08-01 至 2008-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0609534&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Hydrogeophysical; Study; Northern; Raised; Bogs

The processes of peatland development, peatland hydrology and carbon gas cycling within peat bogs need to be better understood in order to improve peatland management and predict the response of these unique ecosystems to climate change. In this research we will implement a geophysics-based approach to investigate three incompletely resolved, current issues in peatlands science: [1] the causes of the unique vegetation structure and patterning observed at the peatland surface [2] controls on the formation of pools encountered in many northern bogs; [3] the basin-scale volume and distribution of free-phase biogenic gasses in peatlands. Our hypothesis is that conceptual models we previously proposed to explain data obtained from Caribou Bog, a multi-unit raised bog in central Maine, pertain to the formation, vegetation patterning and carbon cycling of other ombotrophic raised bogs of Maine that display a surface vegetation and surface hydrology strikingly similar to Caribou Bog. As a first step in testing this hypothesis we plan to collect geophysical data in 1-2 (depending on field conditions encountered) previously unexplored bog of Maine. Our analysis will focus on whether these new datasets are consistent with our conceptual models based on Caribou Bog. The peatlands we have chosen exhibit strikingly similar surface hydrological and ecological characteristics. Our geophysical research using ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical imaging will determine whether the subsurface characteristics of these peatlands are correspondingly similar and support the existence of generic models linking subsurface characteristics of peatlands to surface vegetation, surface hydrology and land-atmosphere carbon exchange.A significant educational initiative of our project is a workshop on -Geophysics for Peatlands Scientists- that we will run in the summer of 2007. The fundamental objective of this workshop is to enhance utilization of geophysical methods by peatland scientists across the globe. Geophysical methods are currently underutilized by peatlands scientists and we believe that this is detrimental to the advancement of our understanding of peatland functions. Participants should gain sufficient knowledge to independently apply surface-based ground penetrating radar and electrical imaging methods to their own field-based research. We will train participants in the application of geophysical technologies in peatlands and in the unique interpretation of datasets produced. We expect to reap synergistic benefits as a result of bringing a group of peatland scientists to Maine to debate our hypotheses and the conceptual models we have so far presented in the literature. Our work has global implications as peatlands currently emit significant amounts of carbon gases (25-30% global total of methane), and the response of these large carbon reservoirs to climatic change is highly uncertain. Our work also has regional implications as peatlands are an important ecosystem in Maine, covering about 5% of the landscape. These systems likely play an important role in the hydrology and water quality of the state and correspondingly enhance the state biodiversity.

需要更好地了解泥炭地开发、泥炭地水文和泥炭沼泽内碳气体循环的过程，以改善泥炭地管理并预测这些独特的生态系统对气候变化的响应。 在这项研究中，我们将采用基于地球物理学的方法来研究泥炭地科学中三个尚未完全解决的当前问题：[1] 在泥炭地表面观察到的独特植被结构和图案的原因 [2] 对遇到的水池形成的控制在许多北方沼泽地； [3]泥炭地盆地尺度自由相生物气的体积和分布。我们的假设是，我们之前提出的用于解释从驯鹿沼泽（缅因州中部的一个多单元凸起沼泽）获得的数据的概念模型，涉及缅因州其他全营养凸起沼泽的形成、植被模式和碳循环，这些沼泽显示出地表植被和地表水文与驯鹿沼泽惊人地相似。作为检验这一假设的第一步，我们计划在缅因州 1-2 个先前未勘探过的沼泽地（取决于遇到的现场条件）收集地球物理数据。我们的分析将重点关注这些新数据集是否与我们基于 Caribou Bog 的概念模型一致。 我们选择的泥炭地表现出惊人相似的表面水文和生态特征。我们使用探地雷达（GPR）和电成像进行的地球物理研究将确定这些泥炭地的地下特征是否相应相似，并支持将泥炭地地下特征与地表植被、地表水文和陆地-大气碳交换联系起来的通用模型的存在。我们项目的一项重要教育举措是举办“泥炭地科学家地球物理学研讨会”，该研讨会将于 2007 年夏季举办。该研讨会的基本目标是通过以下方式加强对地球物理方法的利用：全球泥炭地科学家。目前，泥炭地科学家没有充分利用地球物理方法，我们认为这不利于我们对泥炭地功能的理解。参与者应获得足够的知识，能够独立地将地基探地雷达和电成像方法应用于自己的现场研究。我们将培训参与者如何在泥炭地中应用地球物理技术以及对所产生的数据集进行独特的解释。 我们希望通过将一群泥炭地科学家带到缅因州来辩论我们的假设和我们迄今为止在文献中提出的概念模型来获得协同效益。我们的工作具有全球影响，因为泥炭地目前排放大量碳气体（全球甲烷总量的 25-30%），而这些大型碳库对气候变化的反应高度不确定。我们的工作还具有区域影响，因为泥炭地是缅因州的一个重要生态系统，覆盖了约 5% 的景观。这些系统可能对该州的水文和水质发挥重要作用，并相应地增强该州的生物多样性。