Project information
- Ref. PID2024-158786NB-C21
- Funding Agency: Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICIN/AEI) (Spain)
- Period: From 01/09/2024 to 31/08/2028
- PI: Enrique Pérez Sánchez-Cañete, Juan Luis Guerrero Rascado
- Researchers: Andrew S. Kowalski, Inmaculada Foyo Moreno, Penélope Serrano Ortiz, Paloma Cariñanos González
- Reference: Project PID2024-158786NB-C21 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, EU
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Summary
The NATURAL project aims to improve the understanding of the processes and interactions involved in GHGs and aerosol particles, together with atmospheric radiation and clouds, in the interplay between three primary compartments (atmosphere, ecosystem and vadose zone), through their continuous quantification and modeling. Its goal is to enhance the accuracy of climate models and improve predictions about the Earth's climate system. By combining advanced measurement techniques with interdisciplinary approaches and continued monitoring, the project seeks to address key challenges related to GHG dynamics and aerosol behavior in Mediterranean drylands.
1. Unknown CO2 sink: Could the "missing" CO2 sink be due to satellite underestimations or natural CO2 storage in the vadose zone?
2. Microplastics and GHGs: How does plastic degradation impact GHG emissions?
3. N2 O Sources and Sinks: Do ecosystems act as a source or a sink for N2 O?
4. Vadose Zone GHG Origins: What are the sources and drivers of elevated GHG concentrations in the vadose zone?
Regarding the GHG dynamics, we will study CO2 , CH4, and N2 O exchanges in ecosystems using advanced instrumentation like Eddy Covariance (EC) towers and automated chambers. This topic will be complemented through the use of isotopic and metagenomic techniques to trace the sources of GHGs, distinguishing between biological and abiotic contributions, along with the evaluation of the contribution of microplastic degradation to GHG emissions. At the level of the vadose zone, we will quantify GHG accumulation in this layer and its origin using isotopes, assessing its potential as a CO2 sink, especially under aquifer depletion scenarios. Furthermore, we will investigate the role of the atmospheric boundary layer in (biogenic and nonbiogenic) aerosol dispersion and its effects on radiative forcing and ecosystems. Finally, we will study how aerosols and clouds influence diffuse photosynthetically active radiation (PAR_Diff) and the influence of PAR_Diff and carbon uptake in vegetation, addressing potential underestimations in satellite models.
The project is structured around two supersites in southeastern Spain (an olive grove and a grassland). These sites are equipped with advanced instrumentation to continuously monitor GHG fluxes, aerosol distributions, radiative processes and isotopic compositions, including mainly EC towers, soil and branch chambers to measure GHG fluxes, isotopic analyzers, Sun-photometers, ceilometers, automatic solar trackers and automatic particle samplers for pollen, microplastics, mold and non-biogenic particles.
To reach these goals, we have designed a work program around the three levels organized as follows: two WPs devoted to coordination and dissemination, three WPs investigating three primary compartments (atmosphere, ecosystem and vadose zone), and, finally, one WP dedicated to integration to solve the four open questions.
The project aims to refine the Vegetation Photosynthesis and Respiration Model (VPRM), enhance the accuracy of satellite-derived carbon flux estimates, and better understand the interactions between human activities and natural processes influencing GHG dynamics.
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