TOMSK, Jan 9 –
RIA Tomsk. Scientists of Tomsk State University (TSU) and University of Newcastle will study the carbon cycle of the
Vasyugan Swamp together, the press service of TSU said on Thursday.
It was
previously reported that a quarter of all carbon accumulated by terrestrial
ecosystems is stored in the marshes of Western Siberia. In 2018, scientists
from York University studied peatlands in the Vasyugan Swamp, which absorb from
the atmosphere greenhouse gases – carbon and methane – and play a crucial role
in cooling the planet.
With reference
to the Director of the TSU Center of Excellence "BioClimLand" Sergey
Kirpotin, it is explained that the Vasyugan Swamp attracts the attention of
many scientific groups of the world because this swamp plays a large
climate-forming role. Its study helps to understand the causes of global
environmental changes that are happening on the planet.
"Researchers
of TSU and University of Newcastle will study the carbon cycle of the Vasyugan
Swamp together. The first step will be the holding of the workshops necessary
to "dock" the research groups. The UK Science and Innovation Network
which supports the creation of international research projects, allocated a
grant to the British", – is said in the message.
© предоставлено Сергеем Кирпотиным
It is specified
that already in February 2020, TSU scientists will go to the first joint
seminar in Britain. They will also deliver peat samples taken in the Vasyugan
Swamp in December 2019 to analyze lignin, which "will provide more
accurate data on the representation of woody vegetation in the past, and,
ultimately, on the carbon cycle on which on our planet depends a lot of
things".
"It was the
long-term change in the carbon cycle in the distant past that led to the
alternation of cold ice ages and warm interglacials. In order to predict
further changes on the planet, it is very important to understand the patterns
of processes that took place in the past", – Kirpotin is quoted.
Also in February
2020, scientists from University of Newcastle will visit two TSU research
stations included in SecNet network and the international project Interact II.
During the seminars, researchers plan to discuss the topic of joint research
and decide on the filing of joint applications to research foundations
supporting international projects, adds the TSU press service.