Tomsk State University is actively studying the carbon cycle – the main component of greenhouse gases that significantly affect the transformation of the planet’s climate. TSU equipped a new station in Gorny Altai to monitor carbon. It became part of the carbon polygon created in Tomsk Region under the auspices of the university. The new equipment will allow monitoring the level of carbon and other elements in the atmosphere and different environments (water, soil) and predict further climate changes.
– The station is located in the area of the Cherga village, since there is a branch of TSU – Altai experimental farm. This is a mountainous territory with unique fauna and flora, so a large number of studies organized by TSU scientists, including climatic ones, are carried out there, – explains Lyudmila Borilo, TSU Chief Scientific Secretary for Scientific and Innovative Activities. – The new carbon polygon station will expand the coverage of different types of landscape. In our region, it includes swamp, forest and floodplain areas. The changes that are taking place in the highlands have their own characteristics and are very important for understanding the transformation of the planet at this stage.
Scientists will receive new data using the FLUX INFOMET CARBON system for measuring greenhouse gas flows (CO2 and water vapor). The complex includes gas analyzers to measure CO2 and N2O concentrations, meteorological sensors to monitor environmental parameters, a sampling system, a data recorder to collect and store information, a power source, including backup batteries and solar panels.
The equipment allows assessing the sensitivity of ecosystems to climatic changes, identifying the spatio-temporal variability of the carbon balance, monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and assessing the primary productivity of ecosystems.
Most measurements are made automatically, information is transmitted online to the server.
The data on the carbon cycle will be used in various research projects of TSU, in particular, in a project to study meadow vegetation in Gorny Altai. Its task is to find solutions to increase the yield of meadow ecosystems and assess the scale of carbon conversion to organic matter by plants and soil.
Besides, in 2025 TSU scientists began interdisciplinary research that will help assess the scale of changes and the adaptive potential of the ecosystems of the Altai Mountains. The result will be a model for the sustainable development of the region, based on its rich natural potential, on the concept of environmental management and biodiversity conservation. The study is carried out with the support of the federal program “Priority 2030”.
For reference: The carbon polygon was created in the region upon the initiative of TSU together with its partners - V.E. Zuev Institute of Atmospheric Optics SB RAS, Institute for Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS and Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture and Peat. The polygon acts as a large-scale platform for the study and monitoring of the carbon cycle, as well as for the creation of carbon farms, where plants with increased carbon absorption capacity are grown.