Field Notes
Studying permafrost thaw and wildfire in Alaska and their effects on the global carbon cycle
Amplified climate warming at high latitudes is thawing permafrost and increasing the prevalence of wildfire in tundra ecosystems. These changes are occurring rapidly and will likely have large impacts on the global carbon cycle. Postdoctoral fellow Mike Loranty is in Alaska participating in several field studies seeking to understand more about permafrost thaw and wildfire, and their effects on the carbon cycle.
Working with colleagues from the University of Florida, Dr. Loranty will apply a novel technique to measure differences in permafrost thaw across a range of environmental conditions. Mike will also be participating in a study examining the effects of fire on tundra vegetation communities lead by colleagues at the Marine Biological Laboratory’s Ecosystems Center.
Jump to entry for: 7/18 | 7/21 | 7/25 | 7/28 | 8/05
Denali National Park
