Drivers of methane emissions in tropical peatlands, Geography Department – PhD (Funded)

Project Description:

Tropical peatlands are the most carbon-dense ecosystems in the world and they store the equivalent of ~10 years of global anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Despite their importance, crucial questions remain about carbon cycling in tropical peatlands and improving understanding is critical as they are at high risk from climate change and drainage for oil palm cultivation. Protection and improved management of tropical peatlands can also play an important role in meeting the greenhouse gas emissions targets set out under the Paris Agreement.

The tropics are thought to be responsible for more than half of the global emissions of methane. However, methane emission measurements on the ground in tropical areas remain sparse and this is a stumbling block for models, which cannot be evaluated with a sufficient number of ground observations. If we wish to understand the present and future of tropical methane emissions, then ground observations of methane across the tropics are essential.

The main research questions that the project aims to answer are: How large is the methane flux in tropical peatlands? What are the main controls at the intercontinental scale?

During this PhD project, you will use two different techniques to capture the controls of methane production and release in tropical peatlands.
1. Instantaneous measurements of methane using a portable gas flux analyser and a static closed chamber set on the ground and on tree trunks.
2. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) in transmission mode in the laboratory on monoliths collected from the sites.
These two techniques will be deployed in a total of 6 sites divided into three different regions in the tropics (South America, Central Africa and South East Asia).

During your PhD, you will gain practical experience of doing work both in the field and in the laboratory, as well developing high-level data analysis skills. You will also be supported in writing the results of your research in high impact journals.

This award provides annual funding to cover UK/EU/International tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of at least £15,285 per year.
This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 865403).