NSF Org:	OPP Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Recipient:	THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Initial Amendment Date:	August 11, 2011
Latest Amendment Date:	August 11, 2011
Award Number:	1107440
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	William J. Wiseman, Jr. OPP  Office of Polar Programs (OPP) GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	August 15, 2011
End Date:	October 31, 2012 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$246,088.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$246,088.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2011 = $16,992.00
History of Investigator:	Sarah Godsey (Principal Investigator) Michael Gooseff (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Pennsylvania State Univ University Park 201 OLD MAIN UNIVERSITY PARK PA  US  16802-1503 (814)865-1372
Sponsor Congressional District:	15
Primary Place of Performance:	Pennsylvania State Univ University Park 201 OLD MAIN UNIVERSITY PARK PA  US  16802-1503
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	15
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	NPM2J7MSCF61
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	ARCSS-Arctic System Science
Primary Program Source:	0100CYXXDB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	1079, 5219
Program Element Code(s):	521900
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.078

ABSTRACT

This research will evaluate how climate-induced changes in water and nutrient cycles on land are propagated to stream networks. Increased export of water and the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus from river networks to the Arctic Ocean reflects shifts in patterns of water and nutrient movement in the arctic. Changing climate may contribute to such shifts by causing release of nutrients from thawing permafrost, altering precipitation patterns, increasing rates of biogeochemical reactions, or expanding storage capacity in thawed soils. These changes may have far-reaching effects because flowing water connects land to downstream aquatic ecosystems, but the flowpaths connecting terrestrial ecosystems to stream networks remain poorly understood. This research will focus on transport and reaction of water and solutes within water tracks, which are linear regions of surface and subsurface flow that connect hillslopes to streams and account for up to 35% of watershed area in arctic tundra. Specific objectives are to: 1) quantify sources of water and dissolved nutrients to water tracks, 2) identify effects of snow accumulation, thaw depth, and storm characteristics on storage and transport of water and solutes, and 3) estimate the effects of hydrology on rates of nutrient cycling in water tracks.

The research will have significance for predicting responses of the arctic to continued climate change through links between hydrologic and nutrient cycles. Further, research will increase understanding of the role of hillslopes in connecting terrestrial ecosystems to stream networks, contributing to filling a research gap in hydrology and biogeochemistry. In addition, this project will train young scientists (grade school through post-graduate) in the skills and methods used to study responses of water and nutrient cycles to climate change. Arctic tundra is inaccessible to most students, yet one of the environments most susceptible to climate-induced changes. This project will include opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to conduct research in the arctic, development of online instructional materials that bring cutting-edge topics and research methods to undergraduate courses in hydrology, and science lessons for K-6 students that incorporate real-time field data.

Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.