Research Summary
Churchill, Manitoba, Canada — Global warming is most dramatically visible at the edge of the Arctic, where peatlands run in a broad strip around the globe. These wetlands contain as much as 20% of the world’s carbon, usually locked in permafrost. But as the permafrost thaws, carbon dioxide and methane — the most pernicious greenhouse gases — may be released, which in turn could increase the rate of global warming, with devastating implications for the planet. What happens to the peat here will not only alter the local ecosystem, but also the entire biosphere. You can help Dr. Peter Kershaw and colleagues monitor ecosystem responses and gather data on the potential impacts of this phenomenon — before it’s too late.
Meet the Scientists
Dr. Peter Kershaw
University of Alberta
"This project is one that requires a high investment of time in the field, something that I relish. The studies are labor-intensive and Earthwatch teams provide the people power that makes it possible to collect large amounts of data in relatively small windows of time. Between the long days of data collection and lab work, we make time for local attractions, from beluga whale watching to mountain biking. I strive for a balance between the science and providing opportunities for team members to immerse themselves in this unique environment."
Dr. Kershaw is a biogeographer, disturbance ecologist and periglacial geomorphologist specializing in the impacts of anthropogenic disturbances (e.g. burrow pits, vehicle tracks, and oil spills) and fire on tundra and forest ecosystems in addition to permafrost landforms’ responses to climate change. He has worked and taught in Churchill for more than 15 years, although his main field sites have been in the western Arctic along the Mackenzie River valley and in the Mackenzie Mountains, where he has conducted research since the early 1970s. He has published papers on vegetation responses to anthropogenic and natural disturbances as well as environmental parameters (snowpack, temperature, permafrost) which largely determine the timing and type of recovery of these communities.