Eurizon.eu

Organization: University of Edinburgh - School of Geosciences

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Field: Geosciences

Abstract:

The impacts of land-based renewables developed on peatlands require quantification to devise

Description:

Land-based renewables (windfarms) are being developed across Scotland to help meet the
Scottish Government’s target of 80% energy generation from renewables by 2020. The majority of constructed and planned windfarms are on less productive land, often peatlands. Windfarm
development has progressed faster than the capacity to make evidence-based decisions on
peatland management with respect to hydrology and carbon balance. Our previous work (Waldron
et al., 2009, Biogeosciences 6: 363-374) shows that increased export of aquatic carbon (C),
nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) occurs in catchments disturbed by windfarm developmen). This can result in the degradation of aquatic ecosystems and may impact also on nutrient cycling downstream. Although an increase in aquatic C and P exports related to windfarm development on peatlands has been demonstrated, understanding of the processes that underlie the mobilisation, time-scales and impacts of these changes is still lacking and will be the focus of this studentship.

Techniques and approach
The project methods will involve complementary field- and laboratory-based research. The field
research will focus on catchments draining the Whitelee windfarm, located south of Glasgow,
which is Europe’s largest onshore windfarm in terms of generating capacity. Two extensions have
been approved to the south-west of the existing windfarm and construction is scheduled for 2011-
2012. Since the site is representative of many peatlands under consideration for windfarm
development the research results will be applicable across upland Britain. Field research will involve the establishment and monitoring of gauged runoff plots and longitudinal sampling from the headwaters to the outlet of catchments in which the windfarm extension is occurring. Peat/soil core experiments will also be conducted in the laboratory to examine the extent of adsorption of nutrients mobilised into runoff. In addition high resolution quantification of C, N and P fluxes will be achieved by flow monitoring and sampling at the outlets of catchments impacted by windfarm development and comparing the data with those from “control” (unimpacted catchments). Finally, laboratory incubation experiments will be designed to investigate how changing C, N and P fluxes may impact on CO2 evasion from rivers draining peatland disturbed by windfarm development.
 
http://www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/geosciences/postgraduate/phd

All applications should be made through the School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh (info@geos.ed.ac.uk) or directly to the PhD project supervisor, Dr Kate Heal (k.heal@e...), and should include a covering letter and CV. Interviews are scheduled for the second half of May 2011.
 

Deadline: 29-04-2011

Contacts:

Email: info@geos.ed.ac.uk

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