Peatland and forest reclamation in Canada’s Oilsands
In collaboration with Sean Carey at McMaster University and colleagues at Wilfred Laurier University and the University of Alberta, we study the energy and carbon balances of constructed forests and wetlands on lands reclaimed after oil sand mining in the Fort McMurray region. These efforts shed light on the fundamental processes involved in ecosystem carbon sequestration and provide research to help improve future management and reclamation practices.
Selected Publications:
Clark MG, Humphreys ER, Carey SK. 2020. Low methane emissions from a boreal wetland constructed on oil sand mine tailings. Biogeosciences, 17: 667–682.
Clark MG, Humphreys E, Carey SK. 2019. The initial three years of carbon dioxide exchange between the atmosphere and a reclaimed oil sand wetland. Ecol Eng.,135: 116–126.
Strilesky SL, Humphreys ER, Carey SK. 2017. Forest water use in the initial stages of reclamation in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region. Hydrological Processes, 31 (15), 2781-2792. doi: 10.1002/hyp.11220.
Nicholls EM, Carey SK, Humphreys ER, Clark MG, Drewitt GB, 2016. Multi-year water balance assessment of a newly constructed wetland, Fort McMurray, Alberta. Hydrological Processes, 39 (16), 2739-2753.