Are we experiencing a riverine silicon surge? Implications for the global carbon cycle
The amounts of silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in rivers are crucial for determining which types of algae grow.
The amounts of silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in rivers are crucial for determining which types of algae grow. This affects how much carbon dioxide is absorbed through photosynthesis in water ecosystems. Diatoms, a common type of algae, need large quantities of silicon. Changes in the levels of Si, N, or P can lead to different algae types growing, which can change the food web and carbon absorption rates. This study aims to understand global patterns and changes in the ratios of Si to N and P in rivers. The research will look at how these ratios vary from the start of rivers to their mouths, across different regions, and over time. It will also explore what causes these changes. The study will use data from over 450 rivers in 19 countries on all continents to see how river Si ratios are changing and what this means for aquatic life and global carbon cycles.
Principal Investigators
Joanna Carey (Babson College)
Kathi Jo Jankowski (United States Geological Survey)
Pamela Sullivan (Oregon State University)
The amounts of silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in rivers are crucial for determining which types of algae grow.
The amounts of silicon (Si), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in rivers are crucial for determining which types of algae grow. This affects how much carbon dioxide is absorbed through photosynthesis in water ecosystems. Diatoms, a common type of algae, need large quantities of silicon. Changes in the levels of Si, N, or P can lead to different algae types growing, which can change the food web and carbon absorption rates. This study aims to understand global patterns and changes in the ratios of Si to N and P in rivers. The research will look at how these ratios vary from the start of rivers to their mouths, across different regions, and over time. It will also explore what causes these changes. The study will use data from over 450 rivers in 19 countries on all continents to see how river Si ratios are changing and what this means for aquatic life and global carbon cycles.
Principal Investigators
Joanna Carey (Babson College)
Kathi Jo Jankowski (United States Geological Survey)
Pamela Sullivan (Oregon State University)