Ülo Mander
2023 - 2028 • Advanced Grant
How has receiving an ERC grant influenced you as a scientist?
It has led to a larger network of scientific contacts, increased responsibility, wider opportunities to publish in high-quality journals, and, unfortunately, less and less time to cope with all the duties.
N2O budgets in peatlands – from process to ecosystem
Nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting agent, is a growing environmental concern. Peatlands where agriculture and forestry thrive are major contributors to N2O emissions, yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of these emissions. In this context, the ERC-funded PeatlandN2O project will unravel the complexities of N2O emissions by using innovative measurement techniques and predictive modelling to combat this escalating environmental challenge. With innovative measurement techniques and a comprehensive approach, the project aims to not only shed light on the issue but also pave the way for more effective mitigation strategies in the battle against climate change.
Results
The project begun in September 2023 and lasts until 2028, thus it is too early to speak of meaningful results. However, the team has already conducted field measurements in Peruvian Amazon and Sarawak (Malaysia, northern Borneo Island) and completed the first expeditions to the Congo Basin and peatlands in Uganda. Tropical peatland forests are the global hotspot of N2O, but detailed studies of these forests have only just started.
Likewise, the team continues studies at one Estonian study site and is establishing three new stations. Preliminary studies support the hypothesis that the main factor of N2O increase is drainage, both artificial and/or due to droughts induced by climate change.
Impact
Peatlands cover only about 3% of terrestrial Earth but contain up to 30% of soil organic carbon and about 15% of nitrogen. Due to ongoing climate warming, the natural and anthropo-natural (human-affected) peatland ecosystems are increasingly important sources of GHG, especially for N2O. In addition, N2O is the main “legal” killer of stratospheric ozone, which absorbs dangerous UV radiation.