The Breakdown of Arctic Carbon - Incite at Columbia University

The Arctic is changing quickly, warming nearly four times faster than at the equator.

These changes have significant implications not only for Arctic peoples and landscapes, but for all of humanity as we share a common atmosphere.

With support from Incite, Kevin Griffin and Ed Barry (Earth and Environmental Sciences; Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology) aim to create new knowledge and provide critical insights into the ecology of the Arctic and the massive amount of carbon stored there.

More specifically, they will address the urgent need for a comprehensive understanding of Arctic carbon dynamics through fieldwork at Toolik Lake, Northern Alaska. Their research aims to deploy six cutting-edge RQ (Respiratory Quotient) instruments, recently developed and tested by their team, to measure simultaneous CO2 and O2 fluxes in Arctic ecosystems. This effort will provide a detailed insight into the respiratory processes of Arctic plants, identifying the breakdown of substrates and variability in energy generation—critical information for understanding carbon release and storage.

Their Breakdown/(Re)generation Award will primarily support a first-year PhD student, facilitating their development and deployment of these RQ instruments, contributing to the sustainability of carbon stores against the backdrop of climate change. This pioneering research not only aims to fill a significant knowledge gap but also fosters a broader dialogue on Arctic carbon management and climate mitigation strategies.