Skip to main content

Geochemical controls on soil resiliency to carbon loss following permafrost thaw in Alaskan soils


EMSL Project ID
50267

Abstract

Global air temperature rise exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions endangers Arctic carbon previously protected by permafrost. The resiliency of soil landscapes to carbon loss will be determined by thaw-triggered changes in the hydrology and geochemistry of these unique soils developed under the influence of permafrost. Through a coupled field-laboratory experiment, we will study the resiliency of Alaskan soils to increased nitrogen amendment in groundwater, changing elemental concentrations following weathering of previously frozen debris, and greater microbial abundance and activity spurred by increasing soil temperatures. Methods will include quantitative and qualitative carbon and nitrogen analysis, analysis of microbial activity and soil mineralogy as well as morphological soil descriptions encompassing soil texture and unique soil features associated with permafrost. PNNL's state-of-the-art facilities and experienced scientists will assist us in our pursuit of an in depth understanding of the spatial distribution of mineral weathering and carbon compound quality in morphologically different soils. Results from this work will allow scientists to more accurately predict carbon emission and changes in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations; valuable information that is important for the safety and well-being of communities worldwide vulnerable to climate change induced extreme weather events, heat stress and crop failure, and sea level rise.

Project Details

Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2018-10-01
End Date
2022-01-20
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Rebecca Lybrand
Institution
University of California, Davis

Team Members

Kaizad Patel
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Maya Bergmann
Institution
Oregon State University

Erin Rooney
Institution
University of Minnesota

Related Publications

Erin C. Rooney, Vanessa L. Bailey, Kaizad F. Patel, Angela R. Possinger, Adrian C. Gallo, Maya Bergmann, Michael SanClements, Rebecca A. Lybrand. 2022. "The Impact of Freeze‐Thaw History on Soil Carbon Response to Experimental Freeze‐Thaw Cycles." Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences 127 (5) https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG006889
Rooney, E.C., V. L. Bailey, K. F. Patel, M. Dragila, A.K. Battu, A.C. Buchko, A.C. Gallo, J. Hatten, A.R. Possinger, O. Qafoku, L. Reno, M. SanClements, T. Varga, R. Lybrand. 2022. Soil pore network response to freeze-thaw cycles in permafrost aggregates. Geoderma, Volume 411, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115674.