PhD Opportunity in natural carbon sinks in Patagonia (fjords and peatlands) (University of Exeter, UK; Université Paris-Saclay, France)
The urgent challenge of anthropogenic climate change necessitates a comprehensive long-term understanding of natural carbon sinks, such as peatlands and marine sediments, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Fjords, particularly in the expansive Patagonian region of southern Chile and Argentina, are identified as crucial carbon storage hotspots due to their ability to trap and retain more organic carbon per unit area than any other marine sedimentary environment. Despite their significance, the impact of climate change and glacier melting on carbon cycling within fjords remains inadequately understood.
Similarly, peatlands, covering 3% of the global land area, harbour 25% of global soil carbon. However, they are underrepresented in climate projection models, raising concerns about their potential transition from carbon sinks to sources by the century's end. The proposed project in Patagonia aims to enhance understanding by analysing existing sediment cores and collecting new samples from fjords and peatlands. The research project, funded through collaboration between the Universities of Exeter and Paris-Saclay, involves geochemical and geochronological analyses to assess carbon budgets, depositional mechanisms, and long-term stability in these ecosystems. Ultimately, the project seeks to inform environmental management and restoration strategies by providing crucial insights into the role of fjords and peatlands in the global carbon cycle. Supervisors Sébastian Bertrand (Paris-Saclay) and Tom Roland (Exeter) bring expertise in fjord environments and Southern Hemisphere peatlands, respectively, enhancing the project's interdisciplinary approach.
For more details please visit: https://adum.fr/as/ed/voirproposition.pl?matricule_prop=53804&site=PSaclay#version
Deadline: 31st March 2024
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