Collaborative Research: Evaluating the Unique Composition, Environmental Stability, and Export of Dissolved Pyrogenic Organic Matter in Wildfire-Impacted Watersheds

合作研究：评估受野火影响的流域中溶解的热解有机物的独特组成、环境稳定性和输出

• 批准号: 2228251
• 负责人: Garrett McKay
• 金额: $ 27.43万
• 依托单位: Texas A&M University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-01-01 至 2023-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2228251&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Evaluating; Unique; Composition

Forested watersheds have historically provided pristine sources of water to address approximately 50% of the Nation’s need for drinking water. However, the increased frequency and severity of wildfires in forested watersheds are adversely impacting downstream water quality due to the exports of sediments, nutrients, and dissolved organic matter. Heat from wildfires initiates and catalyzes a series of chemical reactions in soil organic matter that result in the formation of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM). In a wildfire impacted watershed, PyOM has the potential to impact surface water quality, aquatic biogeochemical processes, and the operation of downstream water treatment plants. The overarching goal of this project is to evaluate the chemical composition, environmental fate and reactivity, and timing of PyOM release from a wildfire impacted watershed. To advance this goal, the Principal Investigators (PIs) propose to carry out an integrated laboratory and field research program to 1) characterize the chemical composition of PyOM using optical spectroscopy and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry, 2) evaluate the environmental fate of PyOM during photodegradation and biodegradation, and 3) monitor the timing of PyOM export from a wildfire-impacted watershed with in-situ optical sensors. The successful completion of this project will benefit society through the generation of new fundamental knowledge and data to advance the assessment and evaluation of the environmental fate and transport of PyOM in forested watersheds and its potential impact on downstream water quality. Additional benefits to society will be achieved through outreach and education activities including the mentoring of one graduate student at Texas A&M University and one graduate student at Washington State University.Wildfires can drastically change the quantity and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) that is exported from burned watersheds to downstream surface water systems due to the formation of pyrogenic organic matter (PyOM). The presence of PyOM in wildfire-impacted watersheds has the potential to impact aquatic biogeochemical processes and the removal of organic matter during drinking water treatment. The goal of this project is to evaluate the chemical composition, environmental stability, and timing of dissolved PyOM export from wildfire-impacted watersheds. The specific objectives of the research are to: (1) Evaluate the differences in chemical compositions between background DOM and PyOM; (2) Assess the fate of PyOM during biodegradation, photodegradation, and photobiodegradation; and (3) Evaluate the timing of PyOM release from a wildfire-impacted watershed using in situ optical sensors. PyOM generated from water leaching experiments of laboratory-heated soils will be characterized by elemental composition, optical measurements, and ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. A multi-year field campaign will evaluate the temporal dynamics of PyOM release from a wildfire-impacted watershed using in situ optical sensors. The successful completion of this research has the potential for transformative impact through the generation of new insight and data from both lab and field studies to advance the fundamental understanding of the fate and transport of PyOM in forested watersheds as climate change exacerbates the frequency and severity of wildfires. To implement the educational and training goals of this project, the PIs will leverage existing programs at their respective institutions to integrate the findings from this research into a K-12 teacher training program (Spark! PK-12 Outreach) at Texas A&M University and a field training program (Science at the Site) at Washington State University designed to attract and engage students from underrepresented groups.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

历史上，森林流域一直提供原始的水源，以满足该国饮用水需求的大约50％。但是，由于沉积物，养分和溶解有机物的出口，森林流域中野火的频率和严重程度增加对下游水质产生不利影响。野火的热量引发并催化了土壤有机物中的一系列化学反应，从而导致自动源性有机物（PYOM）的形成。在野火影响的流域中，PYOM有可能影响地表水质，水生生物地球化学过程以及下游水处理厂的运行。该项目的总体目标是评估化学成分，环境命运和反应性，以及从野火影响的流域中释放PYOM的时机。为了促进这一目标，首席研究人员（PIS）提议进行集成实验室和现场研究计划至1）使用光谱和超高分辨率的质谱法对Pyom的化学成分进行表征，2）评估PYODEDRACTIT和生物降解过程中PYOM的环境命运，以及来自Pys And And And And And far far fard far far fard far far fard farfir farfir-wards in aimp aimp aimp far far farfir farfir aimp。光学传感器。该项目的成功完成将通过产生新的基本知识和数据来使社会受益，以推动对森林流域中PYOM的环境命运和运输的评估和评估及其对下游水质的潜在影响。将通过外展和教育活动来实现社会的其他好处，包括在德克萨斯州A＆M大学的一名研究生和华盛顿州立大学的一名研究生的心理。野生动物可以大大改变溶解有机物（DOM）的数量和质量，这些有机物（DOM）因燃烧的分水岭而导致的下游地表水系统归因于pyrogenication of pyrogenication of py py py py y py py y py py y py py，在野火冲击的流域中存在PYOM，有可能影响水生生物地球化学过程和饮用水处理过程中有机物的去除。该项目的目的是评估从野火冲击的流域出口的化学成分，环境稳定性和时机。研究的特定目标是：（1）评估背景DOM和PYOM之间化学成分的差异； （2）评估在生物降解，光降解和光生降解过程中PYOM的命运； （3）评估使用原位光学传感器从野火冲击流域中释放的平时。由实验室加热土壤的水步行实验产生的PYOM的特征是元素组成，光学测量和超高分辨率质谱。多年的现场活动将评估使用原位光学传感器的野火冲击流域中PYOM释放的临时动态。这项研究的成功完成通过实验室和现场研究的新洞察力和数据产生了变革性影响的潜力，以提高人们对森林流域中曲霉的命运和运输的基本了解，因为气候变化加剧了野火的频率和严重性。为了实施该项目的教育和培训目标，PI将利用其各自机构中的现有计划将这项研究的发现整合到德克萨斯州A＆M大学的K-12教师培训计划（Spark！PK！PK！PK！PK！PK！利用基金会的知识分子和更广泛的影响审查标准。