• Research Associate (School of Geographical and Earth Sciences)

telephone: 01413304395
email: Leena.Vihermaa@glasgow.ac.uk

I am studying the carbon in the Amazonian rivers and streams. The aim is to quantify outgassing of CO2 from water. The study is part of the NECR founded Amazonica project on the carbon balance of the Amazon rainforest. Detailed information on the outgassing of CO2 from rivers will aid understanding the carbon dynamics of the rainforest.

My fieldwork site is located in Tambopata natural reserve, near Puerto Maldonado in Southern Peru.  The main focus of my work is on dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC). Depending on pH, different proportions of the DIC pool will exist in form of free CO2 which can be outgassed to the atmosphere.  DIC concentration measurements yield information on the potential CO2 flux to atmosphere and δ13C measurements allow identification of the sources of the carbon. I also monitor water quality variables such as pH, conductivity, temperature and dissolved oxygen which are used to speciate the DIC pool as well as for modelling the carbon concentrations.

Tambopata river in the morning mist

Field lab at Explorer’s Inn

Biography

2010-  Post-doctoral research associate, School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow.

2006-2010 PhD, ‘Influence of site factors and climate on timber properties of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.)’, Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow.

2005-2006 Course and Research Assistant, Department of Environmental Conservation Science, University of Helsinki.

2003-2005 MSc Environmental Conservation Science, University of Helsinki.

1999-2003: BSc (Hons.) Environmental Chemistry, University of Glasgow.