Urbanization impacts on the land carbon cycle

• Applicant: Professorin Galina Churkina, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: Funded in 2007
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 41837035

Covering less than two percent of the Earth’s surface, cities account for roughly 80 percent of the carbon emissions from human activities. Cities also have a footprint extending to distant and remote places, arising from transport of air pollution originating in the cities as well as urban demands for energy and material goods. In this research proposal, I intend to investigate the urbanization effect on the land carbon cycle at regional and continental scale, its significance and extent. To quantify this effect I propose to review and analyse urban matrics (e.g. built-up density, vegetation composition, etc.) and urban footprint (e.g. extent of city’s major pollutions). This analysis will lead to a biogeochemical model for urban systems, which can be corroborated with CO2 measurements, and eventually be incorporated in an Earth System Model. Given that cities are centres of human activities driving changes in the carbon cycle and climate, understanding cities’ functioning and their role in the carbon cycle can help to reduce carbon emissions and climate change.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: USA
• Host: Professorin Rosina Bierbaum