Land Ocean Carbon Transfer (1-year extension)
Lead Research Organisation:
NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE
Department Name: Science and Technology
Abstract
The Land Ocean Carbon Transfer (LOCATE) programme has established genuinely new and highly effective collaborations across NOC, CEH, PML and BGS to deliver new understanding of terrigenous dissolved organic matter (tDOM) fluxes across streams, rivers, estuaries and into coastal seas and the global ocean. These fluxes collectively represent a significant and changing, yet poorly understood, component of the global C cycle. Together, we have already achieved the following, major advances: 1) the first internally consistent integration of tDOM fluxes to the tidal extent of GB rivers, demonstrating that coniferous forestry in uplands enhances this flux; 2) the largest study of tDOM transport across temperate estuarine waters, highlighting that the composition and fate of this material is strongly influenced by human activities on land; 3) the most comprehensive assessment of the distribution of tDOM throughout the North Sea, identifying that the bulk of tDOM exported from the Northwest European and Scandinavian landmasses must be buried or remineralized internally, with potential losses to the atmosphere; 4) the development of a fundamentally new model, UniDOM, that unifies concepts, state variables and parameterisations of tDOM turnover across the land-ocean aquatic continuum (LOAC).
Our developments in understanding the fluxes and fate of tDOM have brought into sharp focus how little is known about greenhouse gas (GHGs; CO2, CH4, N2O) fluxes and the processes that control these in aquatic ecosystems. Our key stakeholders, including BEIS and major water companies, recognise that this lack of understanding hinders national GHG emissions reporting and the development of sustainable land- and water management policies to enable the UK government to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Building upon our previous achievements, our proposed extension activities aim to:
1) develop a GHG budget for the GB LOAC,
2) understand the biotic and abiotic processes that control these, and
3) assess the influence of human activities.
We will achieve these through a series of interconnected objectives that combine desk-based syntheses and modelling activities, analysis of archived samples from our original year-long GB-scale field programme, use of our legacy focal catchments to establish a suite of baseline observations, and stakeholder engagement. We will continue to work with our diverse range of regional, national and international stakeholders to identify where and how this new understanding can achieve beneficial outcomes for policies and practices relating to C sequestration and climate regulation.
Our developments in understanding the fluxes and fate of tDOM have brought into sharp focus how little is known about greenhouse gas (GHGs; CO2, CH4, N2O) fluxes and the processes that control these in aquatic ecosystems. Our key stakeholders, including BEIS and major water companies, recognise that this lack of understanding hinders national GHG emissions reporting and the development of sustainable land- and water management policies to enable the UK government to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Building upon our previous achievements, our proposed extension activities aim to:
1) develop a GHG budget for the GB LOAC,
2) understand the biotic and abiotic processes that control these, and
3) assess the influence of human activities.
We will achieve these through a series of interconnected objectives that combine desk-based syntheses and modelling activities, analysis of archived samples from our original year-long GB-scale field programme, use of our legacy focal catchments to establish a suite of baseline observations, and stakeholder engagement. We will continue to work with our diverse range of regional, national and international stakeholders to identify where and how this new understanding can achieve beneficial outcomes for policies and practices relating to C sequestration and climate regulation.
Publications
Bell V
(2021)
Long term simulations of macronutrients (C, N and P) in UK freshwaters
in Science of The Total Environment
Brown AM
(2022)
Anthropogenic-estuarine interactions cause disproportionate greenhouse gas production: A review of the evidence base.
in Marine pollution bulletin
García-Martín E
(2021)
Contrasting Estuarine Processing of Dissolved Organic Matter Derived From Natural and Human-Impacted Landscapes
in Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Pickard A
(2021)
Greenhouse gas budgets of severely polluted urban lakes in India.
in The Science of the total environment
Pickard A
(2022)
Effects of peatland management on aquatic carbon concentrations and fluxes
in Biogeosciences
Sanwlani N
(2022)
Rising dissolved organic carbon concentrations in coastal waters of northwestern Borneo related to tropical peatland conversion.
in Science advances
Tye A
(2022)
Dissolved inorganic carbon export from rivers of Great Britain: Spatial distribution and potential catchment-scale controls
in Journal of Hydrology
| Description | The LOCATE programme demonstrated across many environments that land use by humans continues to have a significant effect on the quantity and biochemical composition of organic matter and nutrients that are transported from the land into to aquatic ecosystems. In turn, these changes can affect the healthy functioning of freshwater and coastal marine ecosystems. |
| Exploitation Route | Our work is of relevance to policy makers considering if/how to regulate changing patterns of land use, and to the water industry for better understanding how decisions made in the management of the surrounding catchment could impact upon the amount of processing required to produce clean drinking water. It is also of relevance to aquatic ecosystem managers, both in the UK and overseas, and industries interested in carbon accounting. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Government Democracy and Justice |
| Description | Work delivered through LOCATE has influenced catchment management strategies to help ensure the provision of clean drinking water in Scotland. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Greenhouse Gas Instrumentation System for Aquatic Ecosystems (GHG-Aqua) |
| Amount | £994,280 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/V01627X/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 01/2023 |
| Description | Hydro Nation Research Leader Fellowship |
| Amount | £160,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Government of Scotland |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2021 |
| End | 08/2027 |
| Title | Aquatic carbon and greenhouse gas concentrations in headwater streams draining from natural, drained and restored peatland catchments in the Flow Country, Scotland, September 2008-August 2010 |
| Description | The dataset contains aquatic carbon and dissolved greenhouse gas data collected from 6 headwater stream sampling sites within the UK's largest tract of blanket bog, the Flow Country of N. Scotland. The streams drain from catchments under different peatland management regimes: natural non-drained peatland, drained peatland, and restored peatland (achieved via ditch blocking). Sites were sampled on an approximately fortnightly basis between September 2008 and August 2010. Data were obtained via collection of water and gas samples in situ, and concentrations were derived via subsequent sample processing and analysis. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | New use of data. |
| URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/7525088d-e504-456a-bc55-e48d8ca85303 |
| Title | Greenhouse gas and nutrient data measured across estuaries in the UK, 2017-2018 |
| Description | The dataset contains dissolved greenhouse and nutrient data collected from seven UK estuaries: the Clyde, Clywd, Conwy, Dart, Forth, Tamar and Tay, for the LOCATE project. Sampling was conducted from July 2017 to April 2018 on a quarterly basis, and was coordinated to occur on falling tides and to target specific salinities of interest: 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 25 psu. Data were obtained via collection of gas and water samples in situ, and concentrations were derived via subsequent sample processing and analysis. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Use of data by UK researchers. |
| URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/328cacca-c33b-450a-a39c-302b4eed07a2 |
| Title | Greenhouse gas and water chemistry data measured across the Tay estuary, Scotland, from 2009-2011 |
| Description | The dataset contains dissolved greenhouse gas and water chemistry data collected across 12 axial surveys of the Tay estuary, Scotland, starting in April 2009 and ending in July 2011. Ten fixed sampling points on the estuary were surveyed on each boat based campaign. Data were obtained either via direct, field-based measurements, or via subsequent sample processing and analysis in laboratories at UKCEH Edinburgh. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | These data were used in the preparation of an ISI publication on greenhouse gas emissions in UK estuaries. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X21012741?via%3Dihub |
| URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/documents/ec78b74e-631d-4bef-8c28-618b4dc0fffd |
| Title | Monthly sampling of riverine chemistry and organic matter for 41 rivers in Great Britain in 2017 as part of the LOCATE project |
| Description | This dataset contains particulate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations, nutrients (ammonia, nitrates, phosphate), alkalinity, pH, particulate organic nitrogen, delta-C-13 and delta-15-N isotopes, fluorescence and absorbance from river water samples. Data come from 41 rivers from around Great Britain, sampled on a monthly basis during 2017. LOCATE (Land Ocean CArbon TransfEr) is a multi-disciplinary project that undertakes coordinated sampling of the major rivers in Great Britain to establish how much carbon from soils is getting into rivers and estuaries and to determine what is happening to it. LOCATE is a multidisciplinary NERC project involving the National Oceanography Centre, the British Geological Survey, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, with assistance from the University of Lancaster, University of Durham, University of Hull, the University of the Highlands and Islands and the Environment Agency. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The data has been used to produce two key Locate papers to date. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10533-021-00762-2 https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021GB007023 |
| URL | https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/documents/08223cdd-5e01-43ad-840d-15ff81e58acf |
| Title | NEMO-FABM-ERSEM with terrestrial DOC: 1981-2015 |
| Description | NEMO-FABM-ERSEM simulation (1981-2015) for the AMM7 domain with the addition of terrestrial DOC (tDOC). Riverine inputs of of tDOC are taken from the LTLS Integrated Model (Great Britain; Bell et al., 2021) and published literature. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Model results have been given to CEFAS for use in another project |
| Description | Peatland Research in Scotland |
| Organisation | University of the Highlands and Islands |
| Department | Environmental Research Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Joint field observations on water quality and greenhouse gas emissions from inland waters in the Halladale catchment |
| Collaborator Contribution | ERI conducted sample collection and sample analysis within their laboratory facility at Thurso. |
| Impact | ERI staff have contributed to publications on dissolved organic carbon processing in peatland aquatic ecosystems. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | SAERI - South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute |
| Organisation | South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute |
| Country | Falkland Islands (Malvinas) |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | Prof Chris Evans consults on monitoring of aquatic carbon processing and on the assessment of peatland status |
| Collaborator Contribution | SAERI staff conduct monitoring in the field and lab analysis to produce data on water quality of inland waters as well as peatland quality in the Falkland Island. |
| Impact | None as yet |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Briefing notes for UK Water Industry on dissolved organic matter sources and management in drinking water reservoirs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Locate project during its extension year synthesized evidence across academic and industry experts in the field of DOM management. This evidence was presented publicly through the UKCEH website through the FREEDOM portal. Responses to these materials has been positive, with feedback from our industry colleagues indicating that it is being used to inform decision making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022,2023 |
| URL | https://www.ceh.ac.uk/freedom-bccr |
| Description | Meetings with water industry on legacy contaminant behaviour in drinking water reservoirs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussions were invited by Scottish Water, Welsh Water and Yorkshire Water in response to recent issue with legacy contaminants in drinking water reservoirs. This involved presentations and informal discussions on the sources and fate of manganese, DOM, iron, and phosphorus in the natural environment. The discussions were virtual and involved up to five UKCEH staff, other academics staff from partner universities (estimated <10) and key representatives from the water industry (estimated at <10). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Seminar series with UK Water Industry on DOM cycling in drinking water catchments and climate change resilience options |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Develop understanding of in-reservoir and catchment interventions for the control of DOM concentrations and treatability in raw water. Three Evidence Review Seminars. The seminars were coordinated by the NERC FREEDOM BCCR and Locate teams and in consultation with our industry partners to develop joint presentations with some key questions discussed during the sessions. Coordination teams have worked to prepare written outputs as industry briefing notes which will be published 2021. 2nd July 2020 10:00 - 12:30 Catchment management 9th July 2020 10:00 - 12:30 In-reservoir management 16th July 2020 10:00 - 12:30 DOM treatability modelling and management implications Outputs were co-developed with industry in 2021 as outlined at URL below, with Locate team responsible for outputs on water quality. Engagement with industry has continued under the Locate extension stakeholder engagement tasks with a focus on GHG emissions and nutrient interactions, informing land management directions within industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.ceh.ac.uk/freedom-bccr |