Unlike carbon stored in forest biomass, which can be replaced within decades as vegetation regrows, peatland carbon lost to erosion is permanently removed. This represents a potentially significant but unquantified contribution to global carbon budgets. As climate change brings more intense rainfall and increasing river discharge, larger floods are expected to accelerate carbon removal from peatlands and floodplain forests through increased riverbank erosion. Quantifying these climate-driven changes alongside human alterations such as dam construction, deforestation, and channel dredging is essential for understanding carbon fluxes and improving carbon budgets.
Working in some of the most spectacular landscapes of the Peruvian Amazon, the successful candidate will investigate how river dynamics influence the storage, erosion, and transport of carbon within these geodiverse environments. The project combines hands-on fieldwork with cutting-edge technical and computational approaches, including remote sensing, automated data analysis, and the application of machine learning techniques.
Project goals
This project will quantify carbon removal from peatlands and forests by rivers in the Peruvian Amazon by:
- Developing automated remote sensing workflows using Google Earth Engine (GEE) to map riverbank erosion and deposition using 40+ years of satellite imagery (Landsat, Sentinel, Planet) at monthly to annual timescales.
- Conducting fieldwork campaigns along four rivers (Ucayali, Marañón, Tigre, and Chambira) with the Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP) to characterise riverbank properties and assess how carbon is being mobilised during flood events.
- Integrating remote sensing observations with above-ground (forest biomass) and below-ground (peatland and mineral soil) carbon stock datasets, providing river-scale estimates of carbon removal.
- Applying machine learning models to predict future change and establish mechanistic links between river-floodplain dynamics and carbon mobilisation. The workflow will be transferable, providing a framework that can be applied to tropical river-floodplain systems worldwide.
Skills, techniques and training
You will receive comprehensive training in:
- Fieldwork: During repeat field visits to the Peruvian Amazon, you will learn how to sample sediment and organic material from riverbanks, and apply remote sensing techniques to characterise riverbank properties (e.g., repeat LiDAR scanning, time-lapse photography). Local experts from IIAP will ensure safe working in remote tropical environments.
- Satellite remote sensing: You will develop advanced skills using Google Earth Engine for large-scale geospatial analysis, working with multi-sensor satellite data to track environmental change. You will develop programming skills in JavaScript and Python/R.
- Laboratory analysis: Analytical techniques for measuring carbon content in sediment and organic materials.
- Big data analytics and machine learning: You will handle large geospatial datasets and develop machine learning models to predict future riverbank erosion and carbon removal.
During a three-month bridge placement with our CASE partner RED YAKU, you will gain hands-on experience of consulting work. You will join RED YAKU’s team and contribute to delivering science-driven solutions to hydro-environmental challenges across South America.
These skills are in high demand across academic and non-academic roles (e.g., environmental consultancy, climate/carbon consultancy, Earth observation, conservation organisations, and natural capital services).
Research environment
Our research group offers a supportive, inclusive environment committed to your professional development. You will join an international, interdisciplinary team at the forefront of tropical river science, forest ecology, and carbon cycling.
At the University of Liverpool, you will have access to high-performance computing resources and state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. You will join the vibrant Environmental Change Research Group, contributing to the Biosphere and Hydrosphere sub-themes.
Project CASE Status
This project is a CASE project. Your project will be co-supervised by the non-academic partner organisation, and you will spend 3-6 months on a placement with your CASE partner in their workplace. You will experience training, facilities and expertise not available in an academic setting, and will build business and research collaborations.