Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
SEATTLE,WA 98195
Performing Department
Forest Ecology
Non Technical Summary
Inland waters represent greater than 3% of the total continental surface of the pan-arctic, with densities of surface waters exceeding 10% in shield bedrock and low slope, deltaic environments dominated by lakes. Across northern latitudes, lake ecosystems are critical life support for migratory water fowl, native ungulates, and fish species. Furthermore, lakes focus wildlife in both summer and winter where they become important staples for native communities. From a chemistry and water quality perspective, carbon emissions from high latitude lakes can exceed 340 Tg-C yr-1, and release upwards of 16.5 Tg-C-CH4 yr-1. This represents one of the largest natural sources of atmospheric methane from the Arctic-boreal region. Surface water significantly impacts landscape-scale estimates of carbon emissions. Field studies show that the input of carbon to lakes requires hydrologic connectivity, whether across the surface or within the subsurface. Significant uncertainty exists regarding the exchange of water in low slope/low precipitation environments. These characteristics make defining where uplands and wetlands end and lakes begin difficult, and highlight an often, overlooked component of ecosystem carbon flows, the terrestrial-aquatic interface. Here we propose to conduct extensive field campaigns as part of ongoing collaborative research efforts through both USGS and the NASA Arctic and Boreal Vulnerability Experiments. We will continue collaborations with the USFWS - Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge, coupled with new research at the Peace-Athabasca Delta (UNESCO Heritage site) and Darin Lake (Northwest Territories Department of Resources, Wildlife, and Economics Development). We will conduct extensive field campaigns over the course of 2 years designed to identify carbon flux, transformation, and hydrologic connectivity and place in the context of future management needs across northern ecosystems.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
We are reporting on this US Geological Survey award as a state project simply so that it appears on our financial report template. Further information about this research project is available upon request.
Project Methods
NA