The STING26 workshop includes oral and poster presentations in the following 4 sessions
Background measurements: Precision, calibration, and comparability (Convener: Eliza Harris):
Isotopic measurements at background and baseline stations provide essential insights into global and regional biogeochemical cycles. The integration of isotope observations into measurement networks such as ICOS is an area of growing interest. However, achieving the required levels of precision and accuracy presents significant challenges, necessitating advancements in instrumentation, calibration strategies, intercomparison initiatives, and standardized data processing workflows. This session welcomes contributions on isotopic measurements at baseline stations, advancements in high-precision instrumentation, calibration and standardization efforts, as well as modeling studies exploring the potential of isotopic observations within existing and emerging measurement networks.
Rare Isotopes (Convener: Joachim Mohn):
The clumped isotope approach measures differences in abundances of doubly substituted species, i.e. 13CH3D for CH4 and 15N14N18O for N2O, relative to the expected stochastic distribution of atoms. The resulting D13CH3D and D15N14N18O serve as proxies for formation temperature und thermodynamic equilibrium, while departure from equilibrium indicates contributions of kinetically controlled formation and consumption mechanisms, as well as post-generation processes. This session invites contributions on analytical developments, lab based as well as field application studies and novel modelling approaches.
Co-location of isotope measurements (Convener: Benjamin Wolf):
Thorough knowledge on the relative contributions of different N2O producing processes to the bulk emission is pertinent to develop tailored N2O mitigation strategies, however, few methods are available for source partitioning. Labelling studies based on 15N are rather suitable for managed systems, but they stop short of covering rewetting events or unmanaged systems. Simultaneously, approaches based on site preference (SP) assume fixed isotope effects to calculate the share of N2O production to total denitrification, but co-location of such approaches is in its infancy. This session invites contributions using both labelling and natural abundance studies, including novel approaches for determination of auxiliary quantities such as d15N in ammonium and nitrate. The session aims at discussing field experiment designs that maximize the output of co-located measurement campaigns.
Isotopes in Field Applications (Convener: Phillip Agredazywczuk):
Isotope measurements can improve our understanding of biogeochemical processes in complex environments. However, interpreting isotopes across space and time remains challenging, particularly when distinguishing between overlapping processes in dynamic systems. There is a requirement to address methodological approaches for scaling isotope observations from plot to regional levels and strategies for integrating isotope data with complementary measurements (e.g., meteorological parameters or soil microclimate variables) to enhance biogeochemical process understanding. This session welcomes contributions on innovative field applications, sampling methodologies optimised for challenging conditions, data integration approaches, and case studies demonstrating how isotope techniques have advanced our understanding of biogeochemical processes across scales.
