Poster Details
DRIVERS OF CO2 FLUX FROM OPEN WATER AND VEGETATED MARGINS OF AN ARCTIC TUNDRA POND
The Arctic tundra has traditionally been viewed as a net carbon sink; however, the gradual rise in temperature may be causing carbon dioxide (CO2) release from permafrost at a faster rate. For this study, CO2 concentrations in the water were monitored continuously over a 14-day period during the summer of 2017 from a single Arctic tundra pond near Utqia?vik, AK using a CO2 data logger. Climate data was collected from the nearest weather station. The goal was to see how CO2 flux differs among open water and the vegetated margins, and the role of climate on these fluxes. Average aquatic CO2 concentrations were highest from the vegetated margins (2729 µatm) than the open water sites (1328 µatm), with both acting as a source of atmospheric CO2. Highest CO2 concentrations at both sites were observed during a period of exceptionally warm weather, with a maximum temperature of 20.4 degrees C and a solar irradiance peak of 618 W/m2. The associated implications with high levels of CO2 flux that come with warmer temperatures and from the currently expanding vegetation margins can affect the balance of carbon flux at the landscape level.
Vanessa Lougheed (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Texas at El Paso, vlougheed@utep.edu;
Rocio Ronquillo (Primary Presenter/Author), University of Texas at El Paso , rcronquillo@miners.utep.edu;