CLIMATE AND EARTH
SYSTEM SCIENCES
Photo: UHH/Denstorf
10 December 2024
Photo: private
We are proud to announce the successful disputation of our SICSS member Leonardo de Aro Galera.
His dissertation “Controls of greenhouse gases production and soil nutrients dynamics in the Lena River Delta, Northeastern Siberia” was supervised by Dr. Christian Knoblauch and Prof. Dr. Christian Beer (both Universität Hamburg).
Leonardo investigated the dynamics of greenhouse gas emissions and soil nutrient availability in the Arctic's permafrost-affected soils. He quantified in situ CO2:CH4 production ratios in polygonal tundra soils of Samoylov Island, revealing that active layer depth and soil temperature significantly regulate these ratios. His research demonstrated that methane production is closely linked to subsoil conditions, while CO2 emissions are dominated by topsoil processes. Additionally, he assessed the impact of warming on phosphorus and potassium availability in soils from Kurungnakh Island, finding that these nutrients were immobilized rather than mineralized under warming conditions. His work highlights the critical role of soil processes in Arctic carbon and nutrient cycles under climate change scenarios.
Leonardo was a member of the Institute of Soil Science at the University of Hamburg.
His future plans?
Leonardo intends to follow his scientific career with a post doctoral position at the University of São Paulo.
More on Leonardo's work: