Project properties

Title MSc thesis or internship: Drainage impact on greenhouse gas emissions from boreal peatland forests in northern Sweden
Group Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation Group
Project type thesis
Credits 36
Supervisor(s) Matthias Peichl (SLU, Umea, Sweden), Juul Limpens (PEN, WUR)
Examiner(s) Dr. Juul Limpens
Contact info Juul.Limpens@wur.nl, Matthias.Peichl@SLU.se
Begin date 2020/04/24
End date 2024/01/01
Description About 1.5 million hectares of Swedish peatlands have been drained and afforested during the past century to increase forest biomass production. However, serious concern has been raised that these drained peatlands act as major greenhouse gas (GHG) sources due to enhanced mineralization rates following drainage. Current GHG emission estimates for drained peatlands in Sweden, however, are based on limited data from croplands and forests on nutrient-rich peat soils in Southern Sweden whereas information is lacking for the much larger areas of nutrient-poor forested peatlands within the Swedish boreal landscape. This project will determine how historic drainage has affected the biogeochemistry and particularly the exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) in drained peatland forest in boreal Sweden. The work will be based on conducting chamber flux measurements, detailed vegetation inventory and measurements of soil and climate variables within the Deger� catchment and surrounding areas (www.icos-sweden.se/station_degero.html). This project will improve our understanding of the GHG sink-source strength of drained peatlands and their role in the global climate system.

Requirements:
� Interest in forest and peatland ecology, management, and carbon cycle
� Ability to conduct independent field work in a forested landscape
� Ability to hike and carry measurement equipment through forest terrain
� Skills in navigating with GPS and maps
� Valid driver license for driving a field car
Used skills
Requirements � Ability to carry a 20kg gas analyzer strapped on a backpack through forest terrain
� Skills in navigating with GPS and maps
� Valid driver license for driving a field car