Dr. Andres Tangarife-Escobar
Main Focus
My research focuses on understanding and predicting the complex dynamics of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from rewetted fen peatlands. As part of the WETSCAPES 2.0 project, I am developing advanced integration of neural networks with mechanistic (physics-based) models (hybrid modeling) to simulate the production and consumption of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O)—along with peat accumulation.
My work moves beyond a simple focus on CO2 by incorporating the crucial role of oxygen and other terminal electron acceptors at varying soil depths, which fundamentally controls microbial activity. Through the integration of model simulations with data from mesocosm experiments, my research seeks to test and represent three core hypotheses that drive peatland carbon cycling: the Redox Ladder, which examines how microbial decomposition is influenced by the availability of terminal electron acceptors; the Trophic Latch, which explores how trophic interactions control the rate of peat decomposition; and the Enzymatic Latch, which proposes that phenolic compounds in peatlands inhibit key decomposition enzymes, ultimately favoring carbon accumulation. By developing these hybrid models, my goal is to provide a more accurate and comprehensive framework for predicting how peatlands will respond to future changes in climate and land management.
Curriculum Vitae
During my PhD, my focus were the timescales of the carbon cycle. I investigated how environmental changes affect the allocation and cycling rates of carbon within soils, vegetation, and the atmosphere across diverse ecosystems. To achieve this, I combine fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and modeling studies to understand these interactions and provide data to help mitigate climate change.
My doctoral research addressed key questions across different environments:
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Peatlands & Grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau: I explored how temperature and soil moisture affect CO2 fluxes and the age and transit times of carbon in these soils. My research also focused on using radiocarbon (14C) data from bulk soil and respired CO2 to understand how decomposition rates influence carbon ages and transit times.
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Boreal Forests of Northern Sweden: I investigated the variation in isotopic disequilibrium of Δ14C among different carbon pools. This research provides crucial insights into the dynamics of carbon allocation and the timescales of its cycling.
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Arctic Tundra Permafrost Soils of Alaska: My work here assessed the model complexity needed to accurately describe the dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) decomposition. I also studied how snow depth affects the mean age and mean transit time f carbon in these permafrost soils.
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Tropical ecosystems: My previous experience was related to the understanding of the water cycle in tropical ecosystems through hydrogeochemical and isotopic proxies (clay mineralogy, hydrochemistry and stable isotopes) and the impacts caused by natural and anthropogenic processes.
Awards
DAAD EPOS scholarship holder (2017 - 2019)
Education
| PhD. in Geosciences | Leibniz Universität Hannover | 2021 - 2025 |
| M.Sc. Tropical Hydrogeology and Environmental Engineering | Technische Universität Darmstadt | 2017 - 2019 |
| B.Sc. in Geology | Universidad Nacional de Colombia | 2008 - 2012 |