Ecosystem Dynamics
Project # FWP-01fE04

Primary Performing Organization
Los Alamos National Laboratory

This project will adapt Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for the measurement of surface and subsurface soil carbon using a field deployable instrument.  The accessibility of accurate, rapid, and economical measurement of soil carbon will enable new scientific studies and will facilitate the verification of terrestrial carbon sequestration.

The immediate economic benefit of this project to the fossil energy community will be improved management practices for mine site reclamation, and more accurate carbon accounting.  Benefits to the scientific community will include better measurement capability and improved understanding of carbon storage in different ecosystems and their amenability to manipulation.

The specific objectives of this project are to:

• Extend initial calibration of LIBS to a wide array of soil types.
• Develop baseline estimates of carbon for initial sites that include a semiarid site and a mine reclamation site.
• Evaluate ecosystem carbon storage potential for initial sites using baseline field data, greenhouse data, and other analyses and their implications.

The information gained during this project will contribute to our understanding and potentially help improve management for soil productivity and the sustainability of this productivity and carbon storage.

Contact:
Project Manager:  John Litynski, john.litynski@netl.doe.gov

Related Papers and Publications:

• Coming Soon!