An integrative framework for understanding and predicting the role of inland waters in the carbon cycle

The purpose is to study climate impacts on carbon fluxes of whole networks of inland waters (stream/rivers/lakes).

We focus on northern high latitudes, a region of critical importance in a changing climate because of its high density of inland waters and ongoing and predicted strong climate change.

Specific aims and methods include to: (A) Collect empirical data from different types of inland water networks across gradients in temperature and precipitation to test hypothesis that the extent to which inland waters emit (carbon dioxide, methane), bury, and export carbon downstream depends on the different climatic conditions and the structure of the inland water network. (B) Develop a model that accounts for the movement and transformation of carbon in stream-lake-river networks, validate this with existing data, and use this model to project future carbon fluxes from various types of inland water networks in response to changes in temperature and precipitation.

The project is carried out over 4-years and brings together a strong cross-disciplinary team of investigators contributing distinctive expertise from various fields (biogeochemistry, hydrology, modelling, remote sensing) and environments (stream, lake, river) to a highly integrated project.

We anticipate that the project will fundamentally advance the understanding and predictability of inland waters in the carbon cycle and its response to climate change.