Grant: Alliance Grants

Climate change and associated increases in the frequency and severity of events such as drought, heat waves, heavy rainfall, permafrost thaw, and fires will alter processes such as redox conditions and hydrological regimes which govern the production and transport of natural nanoparticle systems (NNS). These NNS play critical roles in ecosystem processes, including governing the transport, toxicity, and availability of both contaminants and nutrients. However, we do not know how changes to the processes which control the creation and properties of NNS which are induced by climate change will independently or synergistically impact the concentration, diversity and other properties of NNS such as size distribution, surface area, and composition. Changes to these NNS have impacts on ecosystem functioning, and potential for positive or negative feedbacks on climate change. This initial catalyst grant will lay the groundwork for a Canadian-led collaboration focusing on the Environmental Nanogeochemistry of climate change to address these research gaps surrounding the response of NNS to climate change, and the corresponding impacts on their ecosystem functions, including positive and negative feedbacks on climate change. It will also provide critical collaboration experience and training on cutting-edge scientific techniques for Canadian students, facilitating their future success as globally recognized researchers.