Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C513585/1
Orbital tuning of a thick late Oligocene peat: a basis for high-resolution studies of long-term peatland evolution in W Europe.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor DJ Large, University of Nottingham, Sch of Chemical and Environmental Eng
- Grant held at:
- University of Nottingham, Sch of Chemical and Environmental Eng
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- Freshwater
- Earth
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Natural Resource Management
- Global Change
- Science Topics:
- Earth Surface Processes
- Land - Ocean Interactions
- Palaeoenvironments
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- The aim of this research is to place a high resolution 1 million year record of peatland evolution in Western Europe in an absolute time frame. This record will be used to understand the influence of changing climate on long-term carbon storage in peatland and will form the basis for future studies of the influence of marine and climate systems on Western European peatland. The need to understand the long-term evolution of peatland arises from the fact that peatland is an important terrestrial carbon reservoir that contains more than 25% of soil carbon. The potential for the peatland carbon to influence the global carbon cycle and global climate is high. For example peatland currently accounts for 25%-38% of natural methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The fact that most peatland carbon is contained within mid to high latitude peatland restricts our understanding of peatland in the carbon cycle to periods of less than 10,000 years. To understand peatland evolution on longer time scales under warmer climatic conditions we need to explore thick lignite deposits many of which accumulated over periods exceeding 0.5 m.y. The aim of the research will be achieved by establishing two records of environmental change in the Ballymoney lignite, Northern Ireland, a 70 m thick, 27 million year old peat deposit. The carbon isotope record in the lignite will be measured and should reflect the isotopic composition of carbon in the atmosphere. As the atmosphere interacts with both land and sea it should be possible to identify similar isotopic trends in marine records of a similar age. The lignite colour record reflects the wetness of the peatland and this should be reflected in isotopic records of sea temperature Based on previous work it is expected that both records will contain evidence of 20,000 , 40,000 and 100, 000 year cycles produced by periodic changes in the earths orbit about the sun and these will be used to produce the internal time frame. The location of the Ballymoney lignite in Western Europe places it close to some of the world's best-studied recent peatland enabling direct comparison of past and present processes. Future research will explore the potential for using oxygen and hydrogen isotopes to explore the link between sea temperatures and peatland hydrology. In addition Northern Ireland has some of the most diverse and interesting geology in the UK. Significant efforts have been made to enhance the public awareness and tourist potential of geology in the province and this work will boost understanding and interest in Northern Irish geology and so bring benefit to the province.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C513585/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Small Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Small Grants
This grant award has a total value of £10,168
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Other Costs |
|---|---|
| £2,073 | £8,095 |
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