NVCL - Soil Carbon Response to Environmental Change · National Virtual Climate Laboratory

Climate-Energy Modeling

High-latitude Climates

Regional Ecosystems

Climate Extremes

Home

Research

Soil Carbon Response to Environmental Change

Our research measures and characterizes carbon stored in soil and evaluates its potential responses to environmental change. Climate change is threatening to destabilize huge amounts of carbon preserved in the cold and frozen permafrost

permafrost

Any ground that remains completely frozen—32°F (0°C) or colder—for at least two years straight. These permanently frozen grounds are commonly found in regions with high mountains and near the North and South Poles.

Source: USGS Source

soils in the north, potentially accelerating the rate of global warming. We aim to reduce uncertainties in estimating the carbon stored in permafrost region soils, determine where and how it is distributed, and assess how susceptible this carbon is to decomposition and release to the atmosphere.

Keywords	Arctic, boreal, boreal Boreal forests (sometimes called "taiga") are a mosaic of forest types — from sunny aspen groves to spruce bogs-intermingled with meadows, marshes, lakes, and rivers — in the northern high latitude regions. This ecosystem is characterized by cold weather, long winters, and permafrost. Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game Source carbon, decomposition, field observations, ground ice, infrared spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy or vibrational spectroscopy) is the measurement of the interaction of infrared radiation with matter by absorption, emission, or reflection. Source: Science Direct Source laboratory incubations, nitrogen, nitrogen Nitrogen, represented by the symbol N and atomic number 7, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that constitutes approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere. It is vital for all life forms, as it is a fundamental part of amino acids, proteins, and DNA. Source: Source permafrost, soil, soil microbes, microbe Microbes are tiny living things that are found all around us and are too small to be seen by the naked eye. They live in water, soil, and in the air. Source: NIH Source soil organic matter, tundra tundra A type of ecosystem dominated by lichens, mosses, grasses, and woody plants. Generally located at high latitudes (arctic tundra) and high altitudes (alpine tundra). Source: NASA earth observatory Source
TYPE	Scientific Focus Area

Keywords

Arctic, boreal, carbon, decomposition, field observations, ground ice, infrared spectroscopy, laboratory incubations, nitrogen, permafrost, soil, soil microbes, soil organic matter, tundra

TYPE

Scientific Focus Area

Principal Investigator (PI)

Julie Jastrow

Lead Institution

Other Collaborators

Oregon State University University of Alaska Fairbanks University of Minnesota Twin-Cities

Opening a pit to observe and sample the soil profile of a low-centered ice-wedge polygon on the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska. (Image credit: Julie Jastrow, Argonne National Laboratory)

For more information

Julie Jastrow
Argonne National Laboratory
Roser Matamala
Argonne National Laboratory

https://tessfa.evs.anl.gov/