Biometeorology Lab
Projects
Projects in progress |
Soil FUNgi in the FARMing landscapes (FUNFARM)Healthy soil is a strategic natural resource. In the light of European Green Deal, UN Sustainable Development Goals, and current global challenges, we need to: (1) assess and model soil biota diversity in farming landscapes;(2) understand functioning of farmland soil biota in landscapes of different complexity; (3) incorporate the meaning of soil biota for people involved in and impacted by green transition in diversity-based management guidelines. Focusing on a key soil organism group, plant beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), we will model their occurrence in Estonia as a consequence of landscape complexity and farm management; clarify the mechanistic roles of AMF in soil N2O emissions and N cycle; and involve farmers as co-creators and co-communicators in living lab trials and action groups. We will develop regionally informed evidence-based soil biota management guidelines aiming at biodiversity preservation with no compromise on agricultural productivity. PI: Maarja Öpik People involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Wetland restoration for the future (ALFAwetlands)Wetlands cover 5-8% of the world’s land area and have a huge capacity to sequester carbon. Healthy wetlands accumulate carbon effectively due to water-logged conditions promoting highly stable carbon content. The EU aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. This ambition requires new greenhouses gas mitigation measures within all sectors, including the LULUCF sector, where wetlands as carbon-rich ecosystems can contribute efficiently to both EU’s climate targets and biodiversity strategy. The project will advance the state-of-the-art geospatial knowledge base on wetlands and their use and degradation in Europe. We will apply a co-creation approach to develop procedural knowledge and find ways for integrating multiple targets, supporting more inclusive, community-based approaches to wetland restoration. The project will assess the societal impacts of wetland restoration, especially on biodiversity and other ecosystem services, benefits and costs of different restoration approaches and well-being impacts at local, national, and EU levels. PI: Kaido SoosaarPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Alar Teemusk, Reti Ranniku, Thomas Schindler, Muhammad Kamil Sardar Ali |
The impact of afforestation on ecosystem carbon and nitrogen balance of abandoned peat extraction areasAbandoned peat extraction areas (APEA) are important sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and losses of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Afforestation of APEA is one of the most important measures to mitigate GHG emissions and regulate the C and N balance of these areas. The objectives of this project are to: (1) clarify the best options for the restoration of residual bogs in terms of C sequestration using the following main typical tree species: pines, birches, and alders; (2) evaluate the effect of soil physicochemical parameters on C sequestration, CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes; (3) assess the impact of water regime and other environmental conditions on the productivity of afforested areas, on the C and N cycle, and compile C and N balances; (4) analyse the significant effects of environmental conditions on the functional genes controlling the CH4 and N2O balance and on the key processes involved in the processes; (5) assess the impact of different age forest stands on the balance of APEAs’ C and N balance; (6) assess the impact of water regime fluctuations on greenhouse gas emissions; (7) develop best practices for the management of afforested APEAs in order to maximize C sequestration and reduce GHG emissions. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Alar Teemusk, Kaido Soosaar, Reti Ranniku, Thomas Schindler |
LiWeFor: Living labs for Wetland Forest researchThe main aim of the LiWeFor is to establish and develop a global network of Living Labs of wetland forest research, education and management. The project team consists of the University of Helsinki and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology as top-class research counterparts and the University of Tartu as the recipient. As a driving vehicle of the project, four joint field campaigns to global greenhouse gas emission hotspots in tropical wetland forest regions (Peru and Malaysia) will enforce educational knowledge transfer. In addition to training, this exploratory research component binds together other activities from all partners. It will also serve as a proof-of-concept for testing the virtual framework of LLs that will enable hybrid formats of skills transfer, teaching and training on remote. LiWeFor – a research and education project – addresses the need to systematically raise the level of expertise among researchers and decision-makers in the widening country of Estonia. The Twinning partnership project will bring expertise from countries with top-level forest ecosystem research – Germany and Finland, particularly focusing on enhancing career awareness, enabling a capable workforce, and on promoting science-related careers. The major outcome will be a network of Living Labs of wetland forest research and education. A major focus is put on 1) closing the knowledge and experience gap between the donor and recipient partners, 2) building carbon and nutrient management strategies for temperate and tropical wetland forests involving stakeholders and policymakers, 3) creating an open data repository of GHG measurements and environmental factors in wetland forests, 4) constructing a basis for global spread of the Living Labs network of wetland forest research and education. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Reti Ranniku |
Estonian Environmental ObservatoryThe Estonian Environmental Observatory is an integrated network of experimental environment stations of Estonian universities. It covers three main fields of environmental studies: 1) Atmosphere, climate and Earth studies, 2) Biodiversity studies, 3) Marine environment studies. The network of experimental research stations is a system of field laboratories and automatic stations representing different geographical and climatic areas in Estonia. Observatory functions include monitoring and experimental analysis of biota and surrounding environment. The observatory integrates different studies on biodiversity, sea and lake water, bottom environment, composition and properties of atmosphere. Important part of the network is the Järvselja claster of stations including the SMEAR station (athmosphere-biosphere interactions), Rõka FAHM experiment (forestry manipulations), and Soontaga forest environment station. Marine environmental changes are studied in the station on the Gulf of Finland. PI: Leho AinsaarPeople involved: Anto Raig, Kaido Soosaar |
Assessment of emissions and carbon stock dynamics in Estonian drained organic forest soils in the national greenhouse gas inventoryThe aim of the study is to develop a country-specific emission factor suitable for Estonian conditions for the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from decomposed peat soils formed on the basis of drained transitional bog (spruce, pine, conifer) and bog (pine). PI: Kaido SoosaarPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Greenhouse gas (GHG) measurements from agricultural experiment soilThe project focuses on greenhouse gas (CH4, N2O and CO2) emissions from the agricultural sites in the use of advanced bio-based fertilizers from fisheries wastes. PI: Kaido SoosaarPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Thomas Schindler, Hanna Vahter |
Water level restoration in cut-away peatlands: development of integrated monitoring methods and monitoringPI: Ain KullPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Demonstration of climate change mitigation measures in nutrient-rich drained organic soils in Baltic States and FinlandThe general aim of the Project is implementation of innovative climate change mitigation measures in management of nutrient-rich organic soils in cool temperate moist climatic region to contribute to meet EU and national targets by reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from nutrient-rich drained organic soils in cropland, grassland and forest land. The aim of the Project will be reached by improving the knowledge base, enhancing the capacity to apply the knowledge in practice and demonstration of the climate-smart management approaches in Baltic States and Finland for implementation of the EU commitments under the UNFCCC Paris agreement and provision of transferable and replicable tools for elaboration and implementation of the post 2020 strategies and action plans. The following specific Project objectives have been set out: (1) to improve the GHG emission factors and activity data for nutrient-rich organic soils under conventional management conditions; (2) to identify and to demonstrate sustainable and cost-effective climate change mitigation measures in nutrient-rich drained organic soils; (3) to provide tools and guidelines for elaboration, implementation and monitoring of policies necessary for implementation of the proposed measures. The project will improve the knowledge base for the quantitative assessment, monitoring, evaluation and implementation of the most effective climate change mitigation measures for management of organic soils and will enhance the capacity of national and local authorities to apply obtained knowledge in practice in the cool temperate moist climate region. The project will facilitate the development and implementation of integrated and cross-sectoral approaches in LULUCF and agriculture sector for climate friendly management of nutrients-rich drained organic soils through the climate change mitigation strategies and action plans at local, national and regional level. The project will also contribute to the identification, verification and demonstration of innovative climate change mitigation technologies, systems, methods and instruments that are suitable for being replicated, transferred or mainstreamed for management of organic soils in the whole cool temperate moist climatic region. The project will also strengthen the capacity of national GHG inventory teams and develop bilateral and regional channels of information exchange. PI: Kaido SoosaarPeople involved: Alar Teemusk, Mae Uri, Muhammad Kamil Sardar Ali, Thomas Schindler |
Impact of selective felling on the carbon balance of the forest ecosystem and economic aspectsThe main focus of the project is both ecological (ie impact on the C cycle) and economical assessment of selective felling in Estonia. The main objectives of the project are to assess the direct and long-term (up to 15 years) impact of selective felling on the forest ecosystem C cycle and stocks, to assess the main ecosystem C inputs and outputs in three different experimental options (selective felling, control and clear felling), on the basis of which to explain the direct impact of different management methods on the interconnection of stands C. Also evaluate the forest reserves and production after the selective felling and, based on the obtained results and previous studies, model the dynamics of stand growth and C binding in the comparison of selective felling versus clear-cutting up to 15 years. over time. In addition, validate the prepared C balances with simultaneous turbulent airflow measurements (EC method) and provide a relevant error estimate for the C balances of selected felling areas based on the EC results. PI: Kaido SoosaarPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Alisa Krasnova, Thomas Schindler |
N2O Budgets in Peatlands – from Processes to Global Comprehension (N2OPEAT)Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas and dangerous stratospheric O3 depleting agent. Agriculture and forestry in peatlands are the main sources of N2O emissions. Climate extreme events may boost the emissions but knowledge on their effect is scarce. N2O is a product of a variety of soil processes, including denitrification, nitrification and less studied mechanisms. Partitioning of N2O fluxes between all these different mechanisms is a challenge. Microbial processes are important for N2O budgets. The role of canopy and tree stems in N2O budgets is currently unknown. Novel flux measurement techniques in combination with remote sensing methods can provide a solid basis for adequate estimation of long-term N2O fluxes in peatlands from local to the global scale. The novelty of the proposal lies in integrated use of a combination of innovative methods yielding a synthesis and modelling of nitrous oxide fluxes at various spatial scales, linked to microbial processes. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Reti Ranniku, Muhammad Kamil Sardar Ali |
Completed projects |
Impact of climate warming and land use dynamics on greenhouse gas fluxes in wetlands from local to global scaleOur overall objective is to create novel insights into trends in greenhouse gases (GHG) CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes under climate and land-use change. Their relationships with environmental conditions and microbiological factors in organic soils under various management statuses at various spatial scales from local (experimental site) through regional (the Baltic region) to global scale will be analysed. Existing datasets but also soil and water samples from our earlier studies will be used for further analysis. In addition, we will gather new research data from different experimental sites with water regime manipulation to simulate effects from climate extreme events. All these datasets in combination with literature databases will serve for development of a GHG-emission transfer function based on environmental and microbiological variables, and process-based models. The final output will be management guidelines to mitigate GHG fluxes and adaptation strategies based on scenarios. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Alar Teemusk, Mae Uri, Reti Ranniku, Hanna Vahter, Anto Raig |
Ecology of global change: natural and managed ecosystems (TK131)EcolChange will represent a synergistic network of expertise to elaborate global and local scenarios for terrestrial ecosystems in the context of global change. Through lateral integration of six top-level research teams, it will contribute towards further internationalization and strengthening of the research agenda and provide the necessary resources to target national priorities in environmental and agricultural research and adaptation to climate change. It aims to (1) integrate studies of ecosystem function, biodiversity and adaptability, (2) create symbiosis between macroecological big-data, genetic and experimental approaches, (3) incorporate ecological knowledge into principles of adaptation to global change through sustainable ecosystem management, (4) enhance ecologically sustainable economic growth via smart regional planning in forestry and agriculture: functionally diverse forests, cultivars for future climates, novel crops, sustainable nutrient cycles. PI: Martin ZobelPeople involved: |
Estimating N2O Budgets in Organic soils – from Local to Global Scale (N2ORG)Climate change and ozone depletion are among gravest environmental challenges. The accelerating increase in atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) concentrations is concerning not only because N2O is a dangerous greenhouse gas (responsible for 6% of global radiative forcing) but also considered as a major ozone-layer depleting agent. The 120-years atmospheric lifetime of N2O means that atmospheric concentrations would take more than a century to stabilise. Recently found rapidly depleting ozone layer in lower stratosphere at tropical latitudes can be caused by increasingly high N2O in the troposphere over the tropics. Land use changes and alterations of hydrological regime in peatlands and other types of organic soils (holding about 10% of the world’s soil nitrogen (N) pool) have been identified as major factors of N2O emissions. Our proposal is aimed to revise a ERC Advance grant proposal on this topic. The N2ORG grant was successful in the first phase (B1) in 2018 but was not granted. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Thomas Schindler, Alisa Krasnova, Alar Teemusk |
Global Warming and Material Cycling in Landscapes. Global Warming- and Human-Induced Changes of Landscape Structure and Functions: Modelling and Ecotechnological Regulation of Material Fluxes in LandscapesThe study will focus on the spatio-temporal dynamics of the Estonian landscapes and related changes in material cycling caused by natural and anthropogenic factors. One task of the project is to analyse influences of changes in the Arctic climate on the Estonian ecosystems and landscapes. The second task is to study anthropogenic landscape changes and to work out optimal models and decision support systems for landscape and ecosystem management. The third task is to analyse both climate change-induced and anthropogenic impacts on the nutrient and carbon cycling of landscapes and to work out methods for a better regulation of material fluxes which are based on innovative analyses (i.e., soil metagenomics, eddy covariance for gaseous fluxes) and enhanced sustainable technologies (constructing treatment wetlands with recent filter materials and optimal flow regimes). New methods of spatial data processing elaborated by our working group will be applied for spatial analyses. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: |
Effect of clearcut and thinning on forest carbon cyclingPI: Krista LõhmusPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Centre of Excellence in Environmental AdaptationEcosystems have a large capacity to adapt to environmental perturbations, but so far, most of the future projections of global change ignore the adaptation responses. A truly interdisciplinary consortium involving five top teams from three major Estonian universities is formed addressing adaptation of temperate terrestrial ecosystems to environmental alterations. In the core of the proposed centre of excellence is the Estonian Science Roadmap project „Estonian Environmental Observatory“. Interdisciplinary experimental and modelling approaches are used to scale from molecular stress response mechanisms to ecosystem adaptation analysing abiotic and biotic stress effects at phenotypic, physiological and molecular levels, and determining the limits of adaptation to multiple sequential and interacting stresses. Apart from excellence in science, the consortium builds a foundation for sustainable management of natural resources of Estonia and other Nordic countries under global change. PI: Ülo NiinemetsPeople involved: Alisa Krasnova, Kaido Soosaar |
Research and development activities on biosphere and atmosphere of the Esronian Ekvironmental Observatory (BioAtmos)PI: Kaido SoosaarPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Dynamics of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Wetlands and Riparian Buffer Zones as Hot Spots in Agricultural LandscapesThe main objectives are: (1) to clarify the impact of the change in land use intensity (abandonment from one side and intensification from another) on fluxes of N2O and CH4 from riparian buffer zones (RBZ) on different soils; (2) to determine the range of potential greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes influenced by the change of water regime in both wetlands RBZs within agricultural landscapes; (3) to compile scenarios for optimal siting and management of RBZs and constructed wetlands (CW) to minimize the GHG emission (e.g., biomass production for sustainable energy consumption). PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Material cycling of landscapes in changing climate and land use conditions and ecotechnological control thereofThe main objectives are: (1) to improve understanding of the impact of climate change (in its interaction with changes of land use & nutrient loading) on the dynamics of material cycling in landscapes; (2) to analyse extreme climatic events in relation to certain circulation types and synoptic situations, and to compile a regionalization scheme of Estonia based on climate extremes; (3) to estimate impact of climate change and extreme events on variations in water regime and nutrient runoff using statistical methods; (4) to create a GIS-based hierarchical simulation model on nutrient fluxes in catchments and a decision support system for sustainable catchment management; (5) to estimate effectiveness of ecotechnological measures in nutrient runoff control in catchments; (6) to work out optimal structures and operational regimes for wastewater treatment wetlands. This project is related to the implementation of EU Water Framework Directive and other directives on sustainable development. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar, Alar Teemusk, Alar Teemusk |
Nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon transport, and denitrification in agricultural landscapes under temperate climateThe general objective of the project is to analyse the transport of N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus) and TOC (organic carbon), and denitrification intensity in north temperate agricultural catchments. The specific targets are to explain: 1)the relationships between the N and P losses and landscape factors; 2) trends in TOC runoff from north temperate catchments during 1992–2010 with the impact of climate, water chemistry, soil, and land use change; 3) denitrification activity with ecological parameters; 4) the activity dynamics of denitrification with landscape elements. We also intend to create and validate a catchment denitrification model and N and P indexes for the small agricultural catchments (< 5000 km2) in Estonia. The hypotheses are: 1) The N and P losses are positively correlated to land use intensification and negatively correlated to the functioning of riparian buffer zones; 2) TOC trends and denitrification acivity dynamics correlate with the respective environmental parameters; 3) Denitrification activity differs significantly between arable upland, adjacent riparian wetland, and their interface, indicating hot spots; 4) The Estonian N and P index describes >75% of the nutrient runoff from the small agricultural catchments in Estonia during 2007–2012. In international cooperation, we intend to acquire data on TOC runoff and other data from catchments under temperate climate. We will perform Mann-Kendall’s trend analyses and utilise land use change parameters correlate with trends in TOC. In order to analyse denitrification activity, we plan to establish 15 transects corresponding to a gradient of soil moisture conditions at the upland-riparian interfaces in the agricultural landscapes of Estonia. In every sampling location, we will analyse the soil and the gas. We will upscale the data into a landscape-scale model. This analysis will utilise the laboratories and the geoinformatical capacity of the Department of Geography. The project is planned for four year during the period 2012–2015. Seven principal investigators will be active, including the project leader and two doctoral students of environmental technology. PI: Kaido SoosaarPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Mitigation of greenhouse gas emission from drained peatlands by growing bioenergy cropsThe European Union has committed to increase the proportion of renewable energy from today 9% to 20% of total energy consumption by 2020. Bioenergy feedstock consists of forest products (e.g., wood, pellets), industrial and agricultural residues (e.g., straw, sawdust), conventional crops (e.g., maize), and dedicated new energy crops (e.g., hybrid poplar, reed canary grass or Miscanthus spp.). It is predicted that 17-21 Mha of additional land will have to be converted to energy crop production in Europe before 2020. Biomass energy from conventional and new crops is expected to make a considerable contribution to climate change mitigation. However, bioenergy is not carbon neutral because emissions of CO2, N2O and CH4 during crop production may reduce or completely counterbalance CO2 savings of the substituted fossil fuels. We plan measure CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes using soil enclosure and eddy covariance techniques in two disturbed peatland areas in Estonia – the Lavassaare peat extraction area and the Aardla polder – which are partly used for bioenergy grass cultivation. Also, relevant soil and water parameters, microbial communities and expression of functional genes controlling denitrification and methanogenesis, and plant biomass parameters will be measured. Life Cycle Analysis of different restoration and peat consumption pathways will be provided, and GIS-based modelling and scenario-based spatial analysis of bioenergy crops perspectives on organic soils will be conducted. The main hypotheses of this project are: (1) the GWP of abandoned peat extraction areas used for reed canary grass cultivation as well as of restored fen meadows with various grass communities will be significantly lower than that from areas without vegetation cover; (2) balance of individual GHGs is influenced by different factors: water table, harvesting practice and litter layer, S and N content in peat; (3) rapid changes in water regime will significantly increase emission of CH4 and N2O emissions, as well as the N2O:N2 ratio; (4) microbial communities as well as expression of denitrification genes and methane monogygenase genes of peat extraction areas will be significantly different from initial conditions of undisturbed peatlands; (5) the LCA will demonstrate significant benefits of bioenergy crops’ cultivation when comparing with (natural) secondary succession, restoration of water regime, afforestation or other alternative ways of land use. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
The impact of changes in land use and water regime on emission of methane and nitrous oxide from agricultural landscapesThe main objectives are: (1) to clarify the impact of the change in land use intensity (abandonment from one side and intensification from another) on fluxes of N2O and CH4 from agricultural fields on different soils; (2) to determine the range of potential GHG fluxes influenced by the change of water regime in both forested and cultivated lands; (3) to upscale GHG emissions from various land use types of different management regime to the agricultural landscapes in Estonia, using the GIS technique; (4) to compile scenarios for optimal land use strategies of abandoned lands to minimize the GHG emission (e.g., biomass production for sustainable energy consumption in abandoned areas). We hypothesize that: (1) in abandoned lands with low N supply, both the rate of denitrification and nitrification will decrease, and thus emissions of N2O will decrease as well, (2) abandonment of cultivated lands on automorphic soils will not significantly influence the CH4 emission but will decrease the N2O emission; (3) changes in water regime influence CH4 and N2O emissions differently: on Gleysols and Histols drainage causes a decrease in CH4 emission but enhances the N2O emission, and vice versa, re-wetting of abandoned lands on hydric soils will result in increase of CH4 and in decrease of N2O flux; (4) in winter the main component of gaseous N fluxes from cultivated areas and also forests is N2O, whereas in summer, N2 is dominating in the flux; (5) the energy forest plantations on Gleysols and Histosols with no significant fertilization level will help decrease both CH4 and N2O fluxes from landscapes. Following field site complexes will be established: (1) on cultivated land with intensive agricultural practices (high N & P input, intensive tillage) and abndoned land on similar soils; (2) patches of energy forest land (willow plantations) within the agricultural landscape, (3) an experimental field site for manipulation with fertilization intensity and soil water table. Gaseous emissions will be studied using the closed chamber, the 15N, the acetylene, and the He-O method. Gas analyses will be carried out in labs of following institutions: the ZALF, Germany, the BioForsk, Norway, and the Institute of Technology, University of Tartu. Supporting water, soil and plant analysis is planned in field sites. Ten principal investigators (including the project leader and 5 PhD students of environmental technology) will be active in this project planned for 4 years (2008-2011). PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Kaido Soosaar |
Landscape Material Cycling in Changing Climatic and Socio-Economic Conditions: Analysis, Modelling and Optimization Using Ecotechnological MeasuresDramatic changes in the whole socio-economic system which happened in Estonia during the last decade, especially significant decrease in agricultural production, in combination with climate change (e.g., changing inter-annual patterns of precipitation and river runoff, milder winters with less snow and shorter snow-cover period) have caused significant decrease in nutrient losses from rural catchments. On the other hand, possible intensification of agriculture in some areas, especially after the joining the EU, should be followed by the comprehensive catchment management including the ecotechnological measures. It requires a comprehensive decision making system based on GIS. Main scope and objectives of this research project are: (1) analysis of changes of landscape pattern and material cycling in respect with significant changes of anthropogenic and natural driving forces in rural landscapes during last decades; (2) creating a GIS-based simulation model and related scenarios based on information gathered during the fundamental research; (3) quantitative assessment of the dynamics of climatic conditions and hydrological regime in Estonia regarding the global climate change; (4) scenarios and decision support systems for implementation ecotechnological measures to control nutrient fluxes in sustainable catchment management; (5) optimisation of design and management parameters of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment and riparian buffer zones in terms of water quality and trace gas emissions. Main expected results are: (1) GIS-based simulation model for forecasting of nutrient fluxes in respect with changing climatic and land-use conditions; (2) GIS of Estonian landscape pattern and nutrient flows; (3) explanation of Estonia?s climate and hydrological regime over the past century; (4) spatial decision support system for sustainable catchment management. PI: Ülo ManderPeople involved: Alar Teemusk, Kaido Soosaar |
