| NSF Org: |
EAR Division Of Earth Sciences |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | June 28, 2021 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | June 28, 2021 |
| Award Number: | 2052004 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Laura Lautz
llautz@nsf.gov (703)292-7775 EAR Division Of Earth Sciences GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | July 1, 2021 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $208,539.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $208,539.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
123 WASHINGTON ST NEWARK NJ US 07102-3026 (973)972-0283 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
NJ US 07102-1896 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): |
Hydrologic Sciences, Special Initiatives |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
Northern peatlands are a unique type of wetland found in the northern United States and a dominant landform at higher latitudes, including Canada, northern Scandinavia and Russia. Industrial development has led to some peatlands being drained or burned to promote agriculture, construction or use for fuel. Today, peatlands are recognized as unique ecosystems that support a diverse range of plants not found elsewhere. Furthermore, they are an important part of a global carbon cycle trapping carbon dioxide in organic matter and storing approximately 33% of the total carbon found in soils. Peatlands release some of this carbon to the atmosphere as methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Although the ecology of peatlands is well studied, the geological controls on peatland development and the percolation patterns of peatland water are not completely understood. In Maine (USA), peatlands began forming about 10,000 years ago following the retreat of the ice sheets and glaciers at the end of the last ice age. They formed in depressions, often starting as lakes, within the landscape carved by glaciers and draped with sediments. These landforms lie buried beneath peatlands but may play a key role in regulating both the hydrology and release of methane gasses into the atmosphere. This project will use subsurface geophysical sensing methods to image this hidden post-glacial landscape in order to understand how it regulates groundwater flow in peatlands and where/when methane emissions occur. Hydrological observations and computer simulations of deeper groundwater and peat porewater flow will be compared to direct measurements of methane gas emissions from peatlands in the search for evidence that peatland hydrology and carbon cycling are regulated by this hidden landscape. In addition to advancing scientific understanding of the link between hydrologic processes in the deep critical zone of northern peatlands and carbon fluxes to the atmosphere, this project will bring unique elements of benefit to society. It will contribute to the development of a diverse workforce with a strong engagement of underrepresented students, support graduate and undergraduate students, and build collaborative interactions with the forest management industry.
The goal of this project is to evaluate how the deep critical zone regulates coupled water-carbon processes across peatland landforms at a regional scale. Geophysical imaging, hydrological observations and computational modeling of groundwater flow and transport will be performed across 10 peatlands to explore three hypotheses (abbreviated here): [1] Unidentified esker (glacially derived sand and gravel) ridges lie buried beneath numerous Maine peatlands; [2] These (or similar) permeable deposits hydraulically connect peatland pore waters to the underlying groundwater aquifer; and [3] This hydraulic connection results in hotspots of methane release centered on buried permeable mineral deposits. Ground penetrating radar and frequency domain electromagnetics will be used to illuminate the geological framework beneath these peatlands and to locate buried esker deposits. Coring and permeability tests will constrain flow and transport models calibrated on [1] hydraulic heads recorded with pressure transducers connected to data loggers, and [2] specific conductance measured in water samples. Ebullition fluxes will be estimated at predicted methane hotspots using low maintenance methods (gas traps, moisture probe arrays). Underrepresented minority students from urban areas will engage in wilderness research experiences focusing on all aspects of data acquisition. A collaboration with a forestry management company secures access to privately owned peatlands for research. Informational brochures describing peatland processes investigated in this project will be developed targeting the local community and the State of Maine.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
Intellectual Merit
The unique vegetation patterning and distribution of pools found in northern raised peat bogs has long fascinated ecologists and hydrologists. This project explored a central hypothesis that the similarity in bog surface hydrology observed across the bogs of central Maine results from similar post-glacial geological structures underlying these bogs that regulate hitherto poorly recognized groundwater inputs into these otherwise rainfall-fed ecosystems. Based on principles similar to non-invasive medical imaging, non-invasive geophysical imaging methods were utilized to image peat basin structures and the distribution of low-permeability (resistant to the flow of water) versus high permeability (allowing the flow of water) geological structures underlying the bog basins. Exploiting the significant temperature contrast between upwelling groundwater and peat bog surface water, temperature contrasts mapped with thermal cameras (drone and hand-deployed), continuous fiber optic cables deployed in pools, and temperature loggers installed in the peat matrix were used to locate and quantify focused discharges of groundwater into these raised bogs. Direct observations of bog water levels were used to develop hydrogeological models for predicting the exchange of peat bog water with underlying groundwater. The results revealed evidence that pools in raised bogs are partially groundwater-fed via highly focused discharges that appear to be associated with the development of pipes in the peat matrix. These discharges impact vegetation communities, likely contribute to the striking pool patterning observed in northern bogs, and may influence carbon cycling by locally accelerating the (otherwise slow) decomposition of organic material.
Broader Impacts
Northern peatlands are unique, sensitive ecosystems that play an important role in the global carbon cycle by acting as a sink of carbon dioxide but a source of methane emissions to the atmosphere. Peatland hydrology plays an important role in regulating carbon cycling in peatlands and is an important factor to understand with respect to how peatlands respond to a warming climate. The bogs studied in this work were owned by a forward-looking forestry management (logging) company that facilitated the scientific study of these ecosystems that were traditionally viewed as uneconomical land of no commercial value. One of the studied bogs is a traditional Passamaquoddy site used for fishing, maple syrup gathering, camping and various other cultural purposes. Ownership of this site recently returned back to the tribe, and our team has communicated the results of our work to tribal leaders. Three summer field campaigns under this project allowed a diverse community of students from two Hispanic-serving institutions (Rutgers University Newark (RUN) and Florida Atlantic University) to participate in a unique wilderness active learning through research experience. The project supported the dissertation thesis of one Ph.D. student at (RUN) and provided unique training opportunities for multiple graduate and undergraduate students.
Last Modified: 05/02/2025
Modified by: Lee Slater
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