Why are emissions of the greenhouse gases methane and nitrogen so high outside the vegetation periods in permafrost regions? How do the carbon and nitrogen cycles and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions differ between the vegetation period and outside of it? And why do existing models of methane fluxes fail outside the vegetation period? Dr Claire Treat wants to provide answers to these questions with the FluxWin junior research group, which she is establishing and leading at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) in Potsdam. She has received 1.5 million euros from the European Research Council (ERC) for five years.
For a long time, it has been assumed that there is little biogeochemical activity (decomposition) in northern ecosystems due to the cold temperatures during winter. However, some research has shown that this period can be a decisive factor in determining whether ecosystems are net sources or sinks of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane. However, it is not yet clear why these emissions are so high compared to other seasons. However, only a few measurements have been carried out there so far.
"FluxWin is about studying greenhouse gas emissions in several different northern ecosystem types in Siikenava II, Finland, using automated measuring chambers and high-frequency greenhouse gas flow measurements, and using models and experiments to explain why these emissions occur," says Claire Treat. She wants to find out whether the environmental conditions are so different that the existing model parameters fail or whether the biogeochemistry is fundamentally different outside the vegetation period?
Claire Treat has already been working for several years in the USA, Finland and Germany on different issues in the field of permafrost research. She has applied flux measurements, incubation experiments, modelling and data synthesis. To analyse the dynamics of permafrost and northern peatlands, she has studied paleopedological records (peat cores) and other sediment profiles.
With FluxWin, the researcher hopes to broaden her perspective even further: "I am looking forward to developing some collaborations to cover aspects of the project that are outside my area of expertise". Including testing new methods to measure the processes resulting in greenhouse gas emissions.
Claire Treat is convinced that, "the recording of processes outside the growing season is the key to understanding ecosystem dynamics. Ultimately, the results of FluxWin will provide new insights into the greenhouse gas budget and change our understanding of the fundamental dynamics of the Earth system".
The European Research Council (ERC) awards the highest endowed and most prestigious individual grants in Europe. To receive this funding, researchers should have at least one prestigious publication and a "promising track record of their research".
The FluxWin Project is funded with a Starting Grant by the European Research Council (ERC).