Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/23/2013 - 12:56
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Carbon Balance in Warming and Drying Tundra 2013

Dear Tom: How much CO2 have you obtained in your readings? By Jonathan Aciares Class 603 "Columbia" MS324 Patria Mirabal Middle School, New York City. Dear Elizabeth: How are you guys doing in terms of housing? Is it rough out in the Alaska Tundra?Mr.Fulcar

Tue, 04/23/2013 - 23:28

Tom Lane

Thanks for the question Jonathan.At the Snow Pits we have recorded an average of 400-420ppm of CO2.
At the "warming" side of the fences at CiPEHR we get readings of 600-700ppm of CO2.
Why the difference? Elizabeth Webb (researcher) thinks the fences at CiPEHR are a more accurate means of measuring CO2 emissions from warmed tundra than the Snow Pits. The Snow Pits though an older method have some inherent error. For example, when you dig up the snow above the PVC rings embedded in the tundra you can change its density. That can affect its insulative qualities.