Journal

Carbon in PermafrostPermanently frozen ground. Experimental Heating Research the name of the experiment(s) going on at the site along the Stampede Trail outside of Healy, AK. is just that. Soil is being warmed through the winter months at three separate plots by increasing the snow depth over part of the plot. This is done artificially by the construction of fences. These fences are arranged perpendicular to the prevailing winter winds.

Fences at CiPEHR
These fences allow the snow to build up on the north side to the left. The soils beneath are heated 2-3 degrees.

The height of the fences is designed to allow enough snow to drift up against them to increase the soil temperature by 2-3C. Snow insulates the ground. The deeper the snow the warmer the ground stays through the winter months.

Fence at Plot B CiPEHR
View of the fence at plot B (of three experimental plots) at the Carbon in Permafrost Experimental Heating Research Site in Healy, AK.

The side of the fence opposite the prevailing winds where the snow does theoretically build up is designated as a control. Carbon dioxide that is a by-product of microbial respiration and is also released during melting permafrost is measured throughout the year on the warming side of the fences as well as the control side. (See journal entry dated April 2, 2013.)

Access Tubes
Tubes leading to sampling points under the snow on the warming and control sides of the fences.

Sampling CO2 at the Fences
Elizabeth Webb and John Krapek are using a LI-COR CO2 analyzer to measure CO2 from tubes connected to sampling points under the snow at the warming (fences) plots.

The LI-COR CO2 analyzer is the primary instrument used by the research team to gather data on CO2 emitted by warmed and unwarmed (control) tundra soils.

LI-COR CO2 Gas Analyzer
A LI-COR CO2 Gas Analyzer pictured inside a case. One of several the research team uses at CiPEHR.

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