Integrative assessment of distrubance and land-use change on total greenhouse gas balance and nutrient cycling in savanna ecosystems

This project provides a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from tropical savannas of north Australia. Soil derived emissions of nitrous oxide and methane plus carbon sequestration will be assessed at savanna sites of contrasting land use (cleared vs uncleared, burnt vs unburnt). Emissions from soil termites will also be examined, a potentially significant but unquantified flux. Emission estimates plus data describing emissions from savanna burning will be integrated into the AGO's National Carbon Accounting System to improve model precision and calibration and provide a management tool for land managers to track emissions from tropical savannas, a biome occupying 25% of the Australian continent.