Aquatic biogeochemistry - Greenhouse gas dynamics in the ground- and surface waters
Project overview
Participants
Short summary
Freshwaters emit significant carbon gases, but their role in the carbon cycle is not well understood. We study how carbon moves between water and air, focusing on groundwater, land use, and climate impacts through targeted field measurements and advanced monitoring tools.
Freshwaters are an important component of the global carbon (C) cycle, emitting large amounts of the important greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane. Yet, the magnitude, variability and mechanisms of C exchange between the atmosphere and freshwaters remain poorly quantified. Here, we address several knowledge gaps in the role of freshwaters in the carbon cycle:
- What is the function of groundwater in land-atmosphere carbon exchange?
- What are the mechanisms of carbon gas exchange between surface waters and the atmosphere?
- How is carbon cycling in ground- and surface waters affected by land management and climate change?
To address these questions, we perform field studies that include a comprehensive network of groundwater wells and sampling sites in lakes and streams, focusing on the Krycklan Catchment study and Trollberget experimental area. We also rely on field equipment for estimating air-water gas exchange (flux chambers, portable greenhouse gas analyzer), turbulence (Acoustic Doppler Velocity meter) and gas bubbles (Acoustic Bubble Spectrometer).
Video: The breath of mountain streams
See our hydrological field experiment in France and Italy.