Influence of Hudson Bay on the carbon dynamics of the Hudson Bay lowland

This research serves as the first experimental study to assess the advective influence of Hudson Bay (HB) on the carbon dioxide dynamics of the Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBL). The HBL are extensive peatlands along the coast of HB, which sustains ice for most of the year, creating strong advective influence on the surrounding ecosystems. Changing synoptic-scale atmospheric variability under a warming climate has the potential to decrease the strength of the carbon sink in the HBL, by reducing the advective influence of HB. Its increasing ice-free season and decreasing onshore wind regimes will play a major role in the changing hydrologic, photosynthetic and ecological functioning of the adjacent ecosystems, which are likely to behave as carbon sources under such changes. These wind regime shifts and warming temperatures will increase ground heating, resulting in the degradation and aeration of permafrost soils. This, in turn, is expected to result in their enhanced melting and decomposition rates, creating a strong positive feedback process into the greenhouse gas effect.