PhD Studentship: Changing Seasons in a Changing World: The Role of Phenology and Physiology on Carbon Sequestration in Temperate Forests

The overarching aim of the study is to assess the different contributions of phenological and physiological processes on recent changes in carbon sequestration in temperate forests and consider how these processes may influence carbon sequestration in the future. 

This study will use an indicator-based approach to characterise recent historic variations and trends in temperate forest phenology e.g., start of season, growing season length, and physiology e.g., gross primary productivity, biomass, and how these different processes relate to carbon sequestration.  Phenological and physiological processes are both important influences on carbon sequestration, but they are regulated by different environmental drivers, timescales, and feedbacks. Therefore, understanding the differential roles of phenology and physiology (as well as their interactions) on carbon sequestration will help to assess the relative importance of these processes for future carbon changes. 

The implications of current and future projected changes in temperate forest phenology and physiology will be considered in the context of changes in carbon sequestration, including the potential for managing these ecosystems to enhance carbon sequestration. 
 
Background 

Forests are a major global carbon sink, they cover over 30% of the land surface and currently sequester about twice as much carbon as they emit each year (Harris et al., 2021). These processes are extremely challenging to monitor, and therefore it is difficult to determine the extent to which forests modify atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Temperate forests are one of the main forest biomes, covering about 16% of the global forest area (FAO, 2020), and relative to other forest biomes, temperate forests are very efficient at absorbing carbon, highlighting their importance for carbon sequestration. 

To reduce significantly the risks and impacts of climate change, the Paris Agreement (UNFCCC, 2015) committed global governments to limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The latest science (IPCC, 2018) shows that net anthropogenic carbon emissions would need to reach net-zero by around 2050 to achieve the 1.5°C goal. Transitioning to a world with net-zero carbon emissions is one of the greatest challenges currently facing humanity. Reaching net-zero will require both reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and increases in CO₂ sequestration from the atmosphere, the latter of which requires a substantial contribution from forests.

For further information on this project and details of how to apply to it please click on the above 'Apply' button

Further information on how to apply for a CENTA studentship can be found on the CENTA website: https://centa.ac.uk/

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