Award Abstract # 9911122
Preliminary Investigation of Paleoenvironment, Processes, and Carbon Stocks of Drained Thaw-Lake Basins, Arctic Coastal Plain, Alaska

NSF Org: OPP
Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Recipient:
Initial Amendment Date: December 23, 1999
Latest Amendment Date: March 18, 2003
Award Number: 9911122
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Neil R. Swanberg
OPP
 Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
GEO
 Directorate For Geosciences
Start Date: March 1, 2000
End Date: February 29, 2004 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $346,899.00
Funds Obligated to Date:
History of Investigator:
  • Wendy Eisner (Principal Investigator)
    wendy.eisner@uc.edu
  • Kenneth Hinkel (Co-Principal Investigator)
  • Robert Frohn (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Cincinnati Main Campus
University Hall, Suite 530
Cincinnati
OH  US  45221-0222
(513)556-4358
Sponsor Congressional District:
Primary Place of Performance:
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): ARCTIC RESRCH SUPPRT & LOGISTI,
ARCTIC SYSTEM SCIENCE PROGRAM
Primary Program Source:
Program Reference Code(s): 0000, 1079, 5219, 9178, 9251, EGCH, OTHR
Program Element Code(s): 5205, 5219
Award Agency Code:
Fund Agency Code:
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ABSTRACT

Tundra on the north slope of Alaska is covered with a large number of thaw-basin lakes which are the primary site of carbon storage via peat formation. This three-year collaborative study will evaluate the overall coverage by lakes of the tundra near Barrow and Atqasuk (Alaska) based on high resolution satellite data. Detailed on-site examination of thirty lakes will be done using ground penetrating radar to determine the thickness and distribution of peat and soil under the lakes. Sediment cores will be collected to check the validity of the radar data. Also, detailed examination of strata within the cores will be made based on soil composition, microfossil identification, pollen analysis and other measures. In 4 detailed cores, the ages of the various strata will be determined by radiocarbon dating. These results will allow the investigators to assess the carbon storage and peat formation history in the thirty lakes. The regional history of peat accumulation may be estimated when the individual lakes are put in context of the regional lake distribution assessed via satellite data. Consequently, this study may yield valuable information about carbon storage and peat formation in the Alaskan tundra.

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