Núria Catalán
Ramon y Cajal fellow (RYC2021-033714-I)
437714
nuria.catalan@idaea.csic.es
https://nuriacatalan.weebly.com/
ORCID:
0000-0002-2433-4190
Research group: Surface Hydrology and Erosion
A major contributor to the uncertainties in climate change predictions is the unresolved evolution of carbon (C) sources and sinks. As inland waters were integrated as a relevant component of the global C cycle during the past decade, the question: do freshwaters substantially offset the continental carbon sink? became paramount. My work, pivoting around different facets of aquatic biogeochemistry, aims to contribute to our understanding of C processing across all types of freshwater ecosystems and its evolution in response to global change.
METAESTANY
El metabolisme dels estanys del Pirineu com indicador del canvi global
High-mountain lakes (estanys in Catalan) play a central role in the global carbon cycle, transforming, burying, emitting, and transporting it on its way from terrestrial ecosystems to the sea. Carbon is emitted into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Despite their relevance, we still do not understand the role of high-mountain lakes as sources or sinks of CO2 and, moreover, this role is unstable and susceptible to change due to climate change. Other impacts, such as the recreational use of ponds (for example for fishing), of particular relevance in a crowded area like the Pyrenees, can accelerate these effects by affecting their fragile metabolic balance.
METAESTANY wants to address this knowledge gap by monitoring the role of the Pyrenean lakes as sources or sinks of CO2. We will study two ponds of contrasted recreational use generating continuous measurements of CO2 and O2 available online together with a teaching module for students from regional schools and institutes. We aim to raise awareness of how important it is to develop resilience in the face of global change in mountain ecosystems, as well as foster creative minds that contribute to building a new socio-ecological model.
Funded by Fundació Catalana Recerca i Innovació (FCRi): Ajuts Joan Oró 2023
Start Date: 06/04/2023 – End Date: 01/04/2025
Project Leader: Núria Catalán
Funding: Regional Project
https://www.kilianjornetfoundation.org/ca/project/projecte-lacos/
DOCNUT
Influence of future runoff scenarios on dissolved organic carbon degradation and associated nutrient uptake in boreal lakes
Our aim is to understand how changes in run-off associated with increasing extreme rainfall events in the future will influence dissolved organic carbon (DOC) degradation and associated nutrient uptake in boreal lakes. The specific objectives are:
1. To estimate DOC degradation and associated nitrogen and phosphorus uptake during the mesocosm experimental periods in two boreal lakes with contrasting background dissolved organic matter, nutrients and communities.
2. To test different modeling approaches to accurately capture the effect of nutrient pulses on DOC degradation kinetics
3. To assess the influence of the different run-off scenarios on DOC degradation and nutrient uptake in the two study lakes.
Funded by: AQUACOSM Network (H2020-INFRAIA-2019-1), Project No 871081, European Union