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

永久冻土碳动员对水质的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-05602
• 负责人: Lafreniere, Melissa
• 金额: $ 3.13万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=738396
• 关键词: Water; quality; impacts; mobilization; permafrost

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.

拟议的研究探讨了气候驱动的多年冻土变化将如何影响高北极流域中碳（C）和氮（N）的丰度，组成和运输。这项研究是必须通过以下事实来实现这项研究的，而多年冻土是C和N的重要存储，而多年冻土变化旨在增强这些重要元素的释放，转化和动员化，这会显着影响地表水质，地表水质，陆生和水生生态系统功能以及大气C预算。尽管有关键的潜在影响，但尚不清楚多年冻土衍生的C和N在融化上运输和骑自行车的脆弱性，尤其是在高北极地区。这种有限的理解是由于多年冻土C和N组成和分布的异质性以及对控制其生产，运输和命运的水文和生物地球化学过程的不完全理解。 这些知识差距将通过结合a）对多年冻土C＆N来源的丰度和化学组成的研究来解决，以及在整个景观中它们如何变化，b）对对控制的对照进行对控制的实验实验，这些实验会改变和释放Permafrost c和n的生物地球化学过程。这项研究是新颖的，因为它将C和N脆弱性的地球化学和水文控制联系起来，涵盖了特定的来源和生物地球化学过程。该研究将提供开发景观模型所需的知识，以预测多年冻土变化对下游水质和生态系统的影响，并生成信息，以告知北极社区，了解对气候变化敏感的景观和水质元素。这些结果将指导政府制定政策，以保护当地气候变化，以保护生态系统和水资源。高素质的人员（HQP）将在Cape Bounty Arctic Platershed天文台（CBAWO）进行培训，这是一个合作研究站，在加拿大北极地区是独一无二的。丰富的长期综合观察和研究遗产涵盖了15年的变暖和多年冻土变化，使CBAWO成为一个有价值的地点，可以作为对气候变化的高北极分水岭反应的模型。该计划将为11个HQP提供项目管理经验，现场和分析技能，以及评估北极分水岭和生态系统对气候变化的反应所需的高级知识。毕业生确保的职业表明，所获得的知识和技能受到行业和政府的高度重视。 HQP将有望为决策做出贡献，以及在不断变化的气候下改善北极环境和水资源管理的实践的发展，从而使所有加拿大人的健康和经济健康受益。