On June, 6-9 Yugra State University hosted the International symposium “Multidisciplinary experimental research of mire ecosystems and climate change in Western Siberia”, which attracted scientists from Moscow State University, Siberian Division of RAS and University of Orleans and CNRS, France. All of them are involved into the experiment conducted at Mukhrino field station of Yugra State University since 2012.

In frames of it open top chambers made of polycarbonate were installed in order to increase temperature artificially to simulate global warming. Then different parameters (temperature, humidity, chemical composition of water, greenhouse gases fluxes and others) have been measured to find out about the changes occurred in ecosystems due to climate change. By now average annual temperature at the plots with open top chambers is 1°С higher than in the environment.

This experiment conducted with the same scientific protocol is installed at different sites in France and Poland as well, and scientists are interested in comparing the results received at different climatic zones. And measurements received at Mukhrino field station will control ones for the boreal zone since it is located at a natural intact peatland. Western Siberia itself is rich in peatlands, unique ecosystems able to absorb greenhouse gases, which can probably balance the climate in the future.

So, one of the goals of the symposium was to present and compare the preliminary results of the experiment received in three countries and to set up the action plan for the future measurements. The practical part of the symposium took part at Mukhrino field station where researchers provided lectures and workshops for students of Yugra State University.

As the result of the symposium, the action plan was worked out. In 2017 peat samples will be sent to France to be analyzed. Next year the experimental plots will be equipped with special chambers for measuring emission of greenhouse gases with the help of the French partners. Besides, they will take an active role in the international conference “Carbon balance of the Western Siberian mires in the context of global climate change” that Yugra State University will host in 2017.