Young Scientists Workshop “Monitoring carbon pools and fluxes in natural ecosystems” was held at the Museum of Applied Environmental Research of the Karelian Research Center RAS on September 19. The discussion was held in the framework of the international conference “Regional cooperation within the BRICS: modern environmental and nature management issues” held for the second time in Karelia on September 18-20. The museum site gathered 16 young researchers from Karelia, Moscow and Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, Volgograd, Orenburg, and China.
Research Engineer at the Laboratory for Ecological Monitoring and Modeling of the Department for Multidisciplinary Research KarRC RAS Dmitry Bortsov presented the AUGP-23 gas analyzer. The device measures carbon stocks in soil and its transfer from soil to the atmosphere. The device is connected to a special application - after analysis, the data can be displayed on cell phone screen already in the field. The gas analyzer was designed by Karelian researchers, and the model is continuously calibrated and upgraded.
A presentation on monitoring of carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes in lakes of Karelia was given by Yulia Novikova, PhD student, Junior Researcher at the Laboratory of Geography and Hydrology of the Northern Water Problems Institute (NWPI) KarRC RAS and Irina Morozova, Junior Researcher at the Bottom Sediments Research Group of NWPI KarRC RAS. The researchers presented a methodology for measuring hydrophysical parameters and methane emissions in Lake Chudesnaya Lamba in the Kivach Nature Reserve. The team at NWPI KarRC RAS researches the topic “Development of a system for monitoring carbon pools and greenhouse gas fluxes in aquatic ecosystems of North European Russia” within the key innovative project of national importance “Unified national system for monitoring climate-active substances”.
Methane in the air is sampled using original design traps. The trapping chamber is a plastic hemisphere of 6.4 liter volume with a 633 cm2 base area. The trapping chamber for benthic sampling looks like a similar hemisphere of 8.7 l volume with a base area of 616 cm2, with a gas collection tank in the upper part and weights around the perimeter in the lower part of the chamber.
Traps for sampling over water surface and near the bottom. Photos by staff of NWPI KarRC RAS
The scientists determined the duration of the periods of greenhouse gas accumulation and emission intensification. Methane distribution in water is uneven. Its concentrations are lowest in the surface water layer and the highest near the bottom.
— The irregularity of the gas distribution in water is due to its release from bottom sediments, — explained Irina Morozova.
Victor Mironov, Researcher at the Mire Ecosystems Laboratory of the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS, reported the results of long-term monitoring of Sphagnum moss growth. The scientist presented the dependence of the growth rate of Sphagnum riparium on the ambient temperature. It was found that temperatures in May and September can potentially control carbon uptake by peatlands in the next season. However, further research is needed to understand their regulatory function.
A total of 11 presentations were delivered at the workshop. The topics included harnessing technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during intensive livestock farming, estimation of the carbon and methane footprint of liquefied natural gas supply, and others. Presentations of guests from Volgograd were devoted to quantification of carbon stocks and fluxes in the dry-steppe zone, and PhD Student from St. Petersburg State University Wang Wenjuan talked about the results of studying carbon in permafrost soils of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The workshop also covered the questions of low-carbon cooperation among BRICS countries and the investment costs of China's renewable energy development.
Photos: Department for International Cooperation KarRC RAS
News
September 23, 2024
Young scientists from Russia and China discussed the methods of studying carbon in natural ecosystems
Young scientists' workshop on estimating carbon pools and fluxes in natural ecosystems took place within the forum “Regional cooperation within the BRICS”. Researchers from KarRC RAS told about methods of monitoring carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes in forest ecosystems and lakes of Karelia, as well as demonstrated a gas analyzer designed at the Laboratory for Ecological Monitoring and Modeling of the Department for Multidisciplinary Research KarRC RAS.
Young scientists' workshop on estimating carbon pools and fluxes in natural ecosystems took place within the forum “Regional cooperation within the BRICS”. Researchers from KarRC RAS told about methods of monitoring carbon stocks and greenhouse gas fluxes in forest ecosystems and lakes of Karelia, as well as demonstrated a gas analyzer designed at the Laboratory for Ecological Monitoring and Modeling of the Department for Multidisciplinary Research KarRC RAS.
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November 12, 2024
New technique to promote efficient communication between authorities and citizens on social media
Scientists at the Institute of Economics KarRC RAS have developed a methodology for assessing the digital divide in the outreach of authorities via social media. This was done by analyzing the performance indicators of almost all official VKontakte groups of districts, cities and rural settlements in Northwest Russia. Ideally, social networks are supposed to help identify and tackle local problems. However, this work is not yet organized efficiently enough, partly due to the different conditions and capabilities of local administrations. The new methodology is intended to help to adequately assess and find the most appropriate practices of governmental public pages.
Scientists at the Institute of Economics KarRC RAS have developed a methodology for assessing the digital divide in the outreach of authorities via social media. This was done by analyzing the performance indicators of almost all official VKontakte groups of districts, cities and rural settlements in Northwest Russia. Ideally, social networks are supposed to help identify and tackle local problems. However, this work is not yet organized efficiently enough, partly due to the different conditions and capabilities of local administrations. The new methodology is intended to help to adequately assess and find the most appropriate practices of governmental public pages.
November 8, 2024
Scientists find a mosquito species new for Karelia
Entomologists have for the first time noted a new species of bloodsucking mosquitoes in Karelia - Anopheles claviger. It occurs in Europe and in some regions of Russia, but has not been encountered in our region before. The main implication of this finding for humans is that Anopheles claviger is a vector of malaria. However, there is no reason to be alarmed: there are no local foci of the disease in Karelia as the pathogen itself, the malaria plasmodium, is absent.
Entomologists have for the first time noted a new species of bloodsucking mosquitoes in Karelia - Anopheles claviger. It occurs in Europe and in some regions of Russia, but has not been encountered in our region before. The main implication of this finding for humans is that Anopheles claviger is a vector of malaria. However, there is no reason to be alarmed: there are no local foci of the disease in Karelia as the pathogen itself, the malaria plasmodium, is absent.
October 30, 2024
Literary scholar Elena Soini presented the pivotal role of the Karelian period in the art of Nicholas Roerich
The Karelian period was exceptionally fruitful for the artist Nicholas Roerich: it was while living near Ladoga that he developed the ideas that guided him through the rest of his life. Doctor of Philology Elena Soini presented the results of many years of research on the artist's literary and journalistic heritage created in the North in her lecture “The life and creative work of N.K. Roerich in Sortavala in the context of the 1917-1918 historical events” at the KarRC RAS Learned Council meeting on October 29.
The Karelian period was exceptionally fruitful for the artist Nicholas Roerich: it was while living near Ladoga that he developed the ideas that guided him through the rest of his life. Doctor of Philology Elena Soini presented the results of many years of research on the artist's literary and journalistic heritage created in the North in her lecture “The life and creative work of N.K. Roerich in Sortavala in the context of the 1917-1918 historical events” at the KarRC RAS Learned Council meeting on October 29.
October 23, 2024
One of the country’s largest conferences on Finno-Ugric studies, Bubrikh’s Readings, opened in Petrozavodsk for the 20th time
The 20th Bubrikh’s Readings Conference started at the Petrozavodsk State University the day before. Its theme this year is “Traditions and novelties in Finno-Ugric language and culture studies”. The forum has gathered specialists from all Finno-Ugric republics of the country, as well as from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Yakutsk, Tver and Murmansk. Scientists are recapitulating on the results achieved in their field over a quarter century and charting the joint trajectory for the future.
The 20th Bubrikh’s Readings Conference started at the Petrozavodsk State University the day before. Its theme this year is “Traditions and novelties in Finno-Ugric language and culture studies”. The forum has gathered specialists from all Finno-Ugric republics of the country, as well as from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Yakutsk, Tver and Murmansk. Scientists are recapitulating on the results achieved in their field over a quarter century and charting the joint trajectory for the future.