Do you own a pond? Are you curious to learn more about its ecology, and are you willing to let Cornell researchers come sample? If so, consider participating in this new project measuring pond greenhouse gas emissions and carbon burial. The aim of the project is to better understand the drivers of carbon emissions and burial so that we can identify strategies to reduce pond greenhouse gas emissions.
Requirements for a pond to be included in the study:
- Pond must be human-made (though natural ponds are needed for a separate study!)
- We need to know year of pond construction
- We need to know if the pond has been dredged, and when the last dredging occurred
- Pond is < 5 hectares (< 12 acres) in surface area
- Pond depth is < 5 meters (16 feet) in maximum depth (it’s okay if depth is currently unknown)
What pond sampling entails:
If your pond is included in the study, Cornell researchers will sample your pond between three (extensive survey, 22 sites) and eight times (intensive survey, 8 sites), with each sampling event happening over two days. Sediment coring may occur in 2022; other sampling will occur in 2023. Sampling will include:
- Collecting 2-3 sediment cores
- Mapping sediment thickness
- Collecting water samples for water chemistry and greenhouse gas concentrations
- Measuring greenhouse gas flux off the pond using chambers and bubble traps
- Vegetation surveys
- Fish surveys
- Outfitting a subset of sites with temperature sensors, oxygen sensors, and methane bubble traps continuously for 5-8 months
Do you want your pond to be considered for this study?
If so, email Meredith Holgerson (meredith.holgerson@cornell.edu). Include your pond’s location (address or latitude/longitude) and surrounding land use, pond age, and if the pond has been dredged.
Please include a pond photo if you have one.
