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FY2005 FRED Database Project Description:

Project Information

 

 

Project Title:

Ecosystem Dynamics

 

Project I.D.:

FWP-01FE04

 

FE Program:

Carbon Sequestration

 

Research Type:

Basic Research          

 

Funding Memorandum:

Field Office Work Agreement            

 

 

Project Performer

 

 

Performer Type:

DOE/National Laboratory

 

Performer:

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)

 

Performer Address:

P.O. Box 1663
528 35th St.

 

Other Project Team Members:

 

 

 

Project Dates

 

 

Project Start Date:

1-Oct-00

 

Project End Date:

30-Nov-01

 

 

Project Location

 

 

City:

Los Alamos

 

State:

NM

 

ZIP Code:

87544-2201

 

Congressional District:

3

 

Responsible FE Site:

NETL

 

 

Project Contact

 

 

Name:

Benson, Richard A.

 

Telephone:

(505) 665-0640

 

Fax Number:

(505) 665-7652

 

Email Address:

 

 

 

DOE/FE Contact

 

 

Name:

Litynski, John T

 

Telephone Number:

(304) 285-1339

 

Site Location:

NETL

 

Email Address:

John.Litynski@netl.doe.gov

 

 

Cost & Funding Info.

 

 

Total Estimated Cost:

$1,705,000

 

DOE Share:

$1,145,000

 

Non-DOE Share:

$560,000

 

 

Project Description

 

 

Project Description:

 Goals and scope

We will use well-instrumented ecosystem test sites; including mine lands; crop lands and range lands; to measure carbon storage and water usage over time. These results; and those from the Partnership's accompanying greenhouse studies; will provide valuable data for ecosystem modeling and simulation.



 Objectives

1. Extend initial calibration of LIBS to a wide array of soil types (i.e.; different chemical and physical properties).

2. Develop baseline estimates of carbon for initial site that include a semiarid site and a mine reclamation site.

3. Evaluate ecosystem carbon storage potential for initial sites using baseline field data; greenhouse data; and other analyses (e.g.; modeling) and their economic implications.



For LIBS Development:

a) Goals and scope

Develop new field-deployable; laser-based instruments for measurement and characterization of soil carbon.  These instruments will revolutionize the practice of soil carbon science and allow for a more accurate accounting for terrestrial carbon sequestration.



b) Objectives

i) Develop field-deployable LIBS instrument for rapid; economical; and accurate measurement of     

            surface and subsurface soil carbon

ii) Develop field-deployable dual-function instrument for detailed soil characterization

iii) Work with partners to conduct field evaluations of the instruments

 

Project Background:

a) Introduction

Human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy; deforestation; and aggressive agricultural practices appear to have perturbed the global carbon cycle and have significantly increased atmospheric carbon levels over the last century.  Terrestrial carbon fluxes account for more than half of the carbon transferred between the atmosphere and the earth's surface (ca. 120 gigatons/yr).  By returning even a fraction of the carbon lost from soils and vegetation; we can make a significant contribution to offsetting carbon emissions.  While terrestrial carbon sequestration has been identified as the best short-term carbon sequestration option; applying state-of-the-art science and technology will allow us to maximize net carbon storage and increase land productivity.  Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Energy Technology Laboratory will lead the Applied Terrestrial Sequestration Partnership in achieving these goals. This work involves evaluation and modeling of ecosystem dynamics at several well-instrumented test sites; including mine lands; crop lands; and range lands. Economic analysis of carbon storage and land reclamation options as a function of land management strategy will be conducted in order to understand the relationships of carbon sequestration and land management practices to the economics of carbon management.



b) Technical feasibility and performance targets

We will extend initial laboratory calibration of LIBS to a wide suite of soils that vary in properties such as texture; carbon content; and other properties.  This will make the LIBS method applicable to most soils found in the world.  We will also demonstrate the utility of LIBS in the field; based on initial studies with prototype instruments.  We will use LIBS and other methods to estimate initial carbon concentrations for a set of initial sites that will include a baseline semiarid site a mine reclamation site.  On the basis of these results and additional analyses; including modeling; we will evaluate carbon storage options in various ecosystems and their economic implications.



c) Economic benefit  (to fossil energy and scientific communities)

The immediate economic benefit to the fossil energy community of the work proposed here will be improved management practices for mine site reclamation; and more accurate carbon accounting.  Benefits to the scientific community will include better measurement capability and improved understanding of carbon storage in different ecosystems and their amenability to manipulation.  The information gained during these studies will contribute to our understanding and potentially help improve management for soil productivity and the sustainability of this productivity and carbon storage.



For LIBS Development:

a) Introduction

For the past 20 years; LANL has been developing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) as a field-deployable method of determining the elemental composition of materials.  Using LIBS; elements in soil; including carbon can be determined rapidly using portable instrumentation. Carbon is easily detected in soil using LIBS via the strong emission line at 247.8 nm in the ultraviolet spectral region.



b) Technical feasibility and performance targets

A field-deployable LIBS instrument adapted for surface and subsurface carbon measurement has already been designed and tested.  The next generation of this instrument and the new dual-function instrument will be built and tested in FY01. Soil carbon will also be measured ex situ using existing lab-based LIBS instrumentation.



c) Economic benefit  (to fossil energy and scientific communities)

Accurate; rapid and economical measurement of soil carbon in the field will allow for the development of less expensive and more efficient reclamation of coal mine sites.  Detailed soil characterization using the dual-function instrument will include carbon type; mineral type and even level of nutrients such as potassiu

 

Project Accomplishments:

[NOTE: Updated information not available beginning 2004]

30-Sep-02:
Accomplishment: LIBS Benchmark                                                                                     
Description: Completed the benchmark of LIBS capabilities for the detection of total carbon in soil.  Preliminary work has already shown the applicability of LIBS to determine carbon in soil.  This work will verify previous measurements.  Analytical parameters of interest include detection limits and measurement accuracy and precision. Dry combustion carbon data were completed for Woodward Ok., site, Jornada soil core samples, and LIBS samples were prepared from each set of samples. After LIBS data are collected on each sample, will have a complete set of carbon analyses by LIBS and dry combustion by size class.  These data will be fundamental to advancing the LIBS calibration.

30-Sep-02:
Accomplishment: Ecosystem Baseline Results                                                                          
Description: Initial statistical analyses  from baseline sampling and analysis by dry combustion confirm that, in the top 30 cm of soil, more carbon is found under piņon and juniper canopies than in either grass or bare areas surrounding trees.  Initial analyses also indicate that carbon concentrations are  greater  under juniper than piņon.  Future statistical analyses will evaluate the effects of tree size on carbon distribution.

 

 

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