Research
The research of the group aims at an improved mechanistic and quantitative understanding of processes that control the mobility, bioavailibility and cycling of carbon, nutrients and trace elements (e.g. As, Zn) in terrestrial environments. This fundamental knowledge will help to better predict how terrestrial environments respond to changing environmental conditions.
Current Projects
Funding: SNSF Starting Grant (2025 – 2030)
Soils and sediments are critical reservoirs for carbon and play a pivotal role in regulating the global carbon balance. Carbon dynamics, including the transformation of organic carbon to carbon dioxide and methane; two major greenhouse gases, are influenced by complex interactions with soil iron mineral phases. However, changing environmental conditions may lead to mineral transformations. Yet, our understanding of the impact of mechanisms and processes that control soil organic carbon dynamics are incomplete.
This research investigates the impact of iron mineral transformations on carbon dynamics in redox-affected soils and sediments both in the laboratory and in-situ. The expected outcomes of this work include knowledge on the environmental factors influencing mineral-mediated carbon dynamics in redox active soils; information which is critical to improving predictions of carbon turnover in soils the context of climate change. Read more about it in the links below:
Details coming soon…
Funding: SNSF Project Grant (2023 – 2025) ‘Coupled biogeochemical cycles: The impact of changing climate on (iron) mineral protection of organic carbon in high latitude, volcanic soils’,
Swiss Polar Institute Polar Access fund (2020 – 2021) ‘Coupled biogeochemical cycles of Fe and C during redox cycling in Fe-rich wetland soils of Iceland’
The aim of this project is to investigate the role of mineral phases for the stabilization and mineralization of organic carbon in high latitude volcanic soils and assess their vulnerability under changing global climate. To this end, we will collect soil samples from selected high latitude volcanic soils (e.g., Iceland) to be used in laboratory-based experiments. Our specific goals are (1) to investigate the nature of mineral organic associations responsible for the storage of organic carbon and (2) to identify environmental parameters influencing mineral-related mechanisms of SOC stabilization.
Our work will generate important information about the processes controlling carbon turnover in high latitude, volcanic soils which should enable a better understanding of the role of these soils in global carbon cycling. In addition, this work will strengthen our understanding of how changes in environmental parameters may impact the stabilization and mobilization of soil organic carbon in these soils. This information is necessary to better predict the possible impacts of climate change on high latitude volcanic soils.
Details coming soon…
Funding: Swiss Polar Institute Exploratory Grant (2024 – 2025) ‘Assessing the role of iron minerals as drivers of carbon release during permafrost thaw in the Icelandic highlands’
Permafrost soils are a major stock of soil organic carbon, storing an estimated 1300 Pg (petagrammes, i.e. millions of tonnes) of carbon. However, this carbon stock is vulnerable to thaw; a process which releases large quantities of carbon in the form of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4. In Iceland, permafrost is widespread above 800 m.a.s.l., yet evidence of permafrost thaw is found in palsa landscapes sporadically distributed through the central highlands above 600 m.a.s.l. Palsas are peaty permafrost mounds and, with continued climate change disproportionally impacting high-latitude soils, permafrost thaw is expected to increase.
This project explores thawing permafrost soils from a palsa landscape in the Icelandic highlands. Specifically, we are interested in the role of soil minerals during permafrost thaw and their potential to promote or inhibit carbon release and transformation. To study this, we will collect soil and porewater samples from the active layer and characterize both the mineralogy and organic carbon to determine the fraction of mineral-bound organic carbon in the soil. This information will help predict the role of Icelandic permafrost soils regarding carbon emissions under continued climate change. The project will be completed in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Iceland, the University of Iceland and the Northwest Iceland Nature Research Center.
