[Enviro-lunch] This THURSDAY 4/19: Kimber Moreland

[Jing Yan]

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Hello Everyone,
Please join us for a talk this THURSDAY 4/19 by , 12-1pm in Room SE2-302.

Deep Soil Carbon in the Critical Zone: climatic controls on the amount and turnover of carbon in weathered bedrock

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Abstract:
Up to 60-80% of the Carbon (C) stored in soils is found below 30cm and deep CO2 efflux changes seasonally showing the direct connection between atmospheric conditions and deep soil C dynamics. Despite this link there is very little data on C storage and stability in weathered bedrock or saprolite. The overall objective of this research is to investigate how climate regulates organic matter (OM) storage, composition, stability, and stabilization mechanisms. Expecting that the amount of OM stored in deep soil and the stability are a function of soil thickness and availability of weathering products (i.e. reactive minerals), the stock and stability of deep SOM is expected to follow a similar relationship with climate, as does the intensity of weathering. This research is conducted in the NSF funded Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatories that is located along a climosequence, the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Here we will present results derived from characterization of soils and weathered bedrock using elemental and stable isotope elemental analysis, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy as a proxy for decomposition of bulk OM, and Accelerator Mass Spectroscopy to determine the turnover time of C from the topsoil down to 10 meters deep. Our findings show that adding in subsoil and weathered bedrock C stocks increases estimates of soil C stock by 23-29%, that weathered bedrock is an active cycling pool of C, and that the turnover time generally increases with depth and responds to climate regime.

Bio:
Kimber Moreland is interested in how climate impacts the biogeochemical cycling of deep soil organic carbon. She completed her undergraduate at Regis University in Denver, Colorado completing two self driven projects on flooding effects on mangroves and estrogenic effects on coral polyps. She is currently in her fourth year of her phD program at UC Merced under the guidance of Asmeret Asefaw Berhe. Kimber is part of the Southern Sierra Critical Zone Observatory and has also recently joined the team at Lawrence Livermore National Labs. Outside of research she has co-founded the group BiotaQ, a K-12 STEAM outreach program here at UC Merced. She is passionate about helping her local community through the science work she does her at UCM.


When: Apr., 19 Thursday, 12pm - 1pm

Where: SE2-302

Coffee and treats will be provided, please bring your own mugs.

We look forward to seeing you,

Nate & Jing

Organizers for Spring 2018: Nate Bogie and Jing Yan
Faculty coordinator: Asmeret Asefaw Berhe

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