BC3. Basque centre for climate change – Klima aldaketa ikergai

Seminar / Mintegia / Seminario
Study of mechanisms of greenhouse gas emissions at different scales

Lecturer: Dr. Laura Cardenas  - Rothamsted Research

Abstract

Nitrous oxide is an important gas due to its warming potential which is ~300 times larger than CO2. It has a long lifetime allowing its permanence in the atmosphere for about 114 years which gives time to reach the stratosphere where it acts as a precursor of ozone destruction. It is currently increasing in the atmosphere at a rate of about 0.8 ppbv per year and its main source in the UK is agriculture (>60%). The main sources of N2O in soils are nitrification which involves oxidation of NH4+; and denitrification involving reduction of NO3- to N2 but other processes can be involved. The main controlling factors for emissions are available N and C, soil moisture, temp and soil characteristics and microbial populations. Studies to measure emissions and understand production mechanisms are carried out at various scales. These include from the microbial to the plot and landscape scale and a variety of techniques are used for these purposes.  Models are also useful to express our understanding of the processes and to assess scenarios. The knowledge gained from this scaling is very important for developing and assessing mitigation strategies for reducing emissions at national scale.

Profile Dr. Laura M. Cardenas
Specialist in greenhouse gases research. Initially trained in Chemistry followed by an MSc on Atmospheric Chemistry, measuring emissions of NO from agriculture. Later she studied and completed a PhD in the University of East Anglia, UK, measuring formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and dimethylsulphide in clean and semi- polluted atmospheres. Laura has worked at Rothamsted Research, North Wyke (previously IGER) since 1999 measuring N2O, CO2, CH4 and N2 emissions from soils at the laboratory scale. This work has included the use of isotopes and the isotopomers of N2O to investigate the mechanisms of production of greenhouse gases and testing mitigation measures at the lab scale. She has also studied N2O and CO2 emissions at field scale. She also contributes to the compilation of the greenhouse gas inventory from agriculture for the UK and its submission to the United Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) and is an advisor for the National Inventory Steering Committee (NISC) from DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change). She uses various models including NGAUGE and UK_DNDC to estimate N losses from agricultural systems at a range of scales.

If you are interested in attending the Seminar, please register yourself clicking here

10th of April 2013, BC3 offices, Alameda Urquijo 4 4º Bilbao, 13:00

* The Seminar will be in English. / Mintegia ingelesez burutuko da. / El seminario se realizará en inglés.