Overview
Hasan is a biogeochemist and specializes in the carbon dynamics of terrestrial ecosystems. His recent work investigated plant-soil-microbe interactions in regulating CO2 and CH4 emissions from fire-degraded tropical peatlands in Southeast Asia and urban parkland soils in Singapore.
He is currently working on the FACE Underground project, part of the NERC-funded QUINTUS project. This project aims to determine whether mature temperate forests can access more soil nutrients and act as a substantial carbon sink under elevated CO2. The outcomes of this project will address significant uncertainties in carbon modelling studies regarding the terrestrial ecosystem’s response to future climate warming.
Broad Research Specialisms
Tropical peat biogeochemistry; CO2 and CH4 emissions from peat and grassland soils; Plant-soil-microbe interactions in regulating carbon dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems
Qualifications
Ph.D. Physical Geography (National University of Singapore)
M.Tech. Environmental Sciences and Engineering (Indian Institute of Technology-ISM Dhanbad, India)
M.Sc. Environmental Science (University of Allahabad, India)
B.Sc. Chemistry and Botany (University of Allahabad, India)
Links
Research group links
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Key publications
Akhtar H, Lupascu M, Sukri RS (2022). Interactions between microtopography, root exudate analogues and temperature determine CO2 and CH4 production rates in fire-degraded tropical peat.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY,
169 Author URL.
Akhtar H, Lupascu M, Sukri RS, Smith TEL, Cobb AR, Swarup S (2021). Significant sedge-mediated methane emissions from degraded tropical peatlands.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS,
16(1).
Author URL.
Lupascu M, Akhtar H, Smith TEL, Sukri RS (2020). Post-fire carbon dynamics in the tropical peat swamp forests of Brunei reveal long-term elevated CH4 flux.
Glob Chang Biol,
26(9), 5125-5145.
Abstract:
Post-fire carbon dynamics in the tropical peat swamp forests of Brunei reveal long-term elevated CH4 flux.
Tropical peatlands hold about 15%-19% of the global peat carbon (C) pool of which 77% is stored in the peat swamp forests (PSFs) of Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, these PSFs have been drained, exploited for timber and land for agriculture, leading to frequent fires in the region. The physico-chemical characteristics of peat, as well as the hydrology of PSFs are affected after a fire, during which the ecosystem can act as a C source for decades, as C emissions to the atmosphere exceed photosynthesis. In this work, we studied the longer-term impact of fires on C cycling in tropical PSFs, hence we quantified the magnitude and patterns of C loss (CO2 , CH4 and dissolved organic carbon) and soil-water quality characteristics in an intact and a degraded burnt PSF in Brunei Darussalam affected by seven fires over the last 40 years. We used natural tracers such as 14 C to investigate the age and sources of C contributing to ecosystem respiration (Reco ) and CH4 , while we continuously monitored soil temperature and water table (WT) level from June 2017 to January 2019. Our results showed a major difference in the physico-chemical parameters, which in turn affected C dynamics, especially CH4. Methane effluxes were higher in fire-affected areas (7.8 ± 2.2 mg CH4 m-2 hr-1 ) compared to the intact PSF (4.0 ± 2.0 mg CH4 m-2 hr-1 ) due to prolonged higher WT and more optimal methanogenesis conditions. On the other hand, we did not find significant differences in Reco between burnt (432 ± 83 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1 ) and intact PSF (359 ± 76 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1 ). Radiocarbon analysis showed overall no significant difference between intact and burnt PSF with a modern signature for both CO2 and CH4 fluxes implying a microbial preference for the more labile C fraction in the peat matrix.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Publications by category
Journal articles
Akhtar H, Lupascu M, Sukri RS (2022). Interactions between microtopography, root exudate analogues and temperature determine CO2 and CH4 production rates in fire-degraded tropical peat.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY,
169 Author URL.
Akhtar H, Lupascu M, Sukri RS, Smith TEL, Cobb AR, Swarup S (2021). Significant sedge-mediated methane emissions from degraded tropical peatlands.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS,
16(1).
Author URL.
Lupascu M, Akhtar H, Smith TEL, Sukri RS (2020). Post-fire carbon dynamics in the tropical peat swamp forests of Brunei reveal long-term elevated CH4 flux.
Glob Chang Biol,
26(9), 5125-5145.
Abstract:
Post-fire carbon dynamics in the tropical peat swamp forests of Brunei reveal long-term elevated CH4 flux.
Tropical peatlands hold about 15%-19% of the global peat carbon (C) pool of which 77% is stored in the peat swamp forests (PSFs) of Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, these PSFs have been drained, exploited for timber and land for agriculture, leading to frequent fires in the region. The physico-chemical characteristics of peat, as well as the hydrology of PSFs are affected after a fire, during which the ecosystem can act as a C source for decades, as C emissions to the atmosphere exceed photosynthesis. In this work, we studied the longer-term impact of fires on C cycling in tropical PSFs, hence we quantified the magnitude and patterns of C loss (CO2 , CH4 and dissolved organic carbon) and soil-water quality characteristics in an intact and a degraded burnt PSF in Brunei Darussalam affected by seven fires over the last 40 years. We used natural tracers such as 14 C to investigate the age and sources of C contributing to ecosystem respiration (Reco ) and CH4 , while we continuously monitored soil temperature and water table (WT) level from June 2017 to January 2019. Our results showed a major difference in the physico-chemical parameters, which in turn affected C dynamics, especially CH4. Methane effluxes were higher in fire-affected areas (7.8 ± 2.2 mg CH4 m-2 hr-1 ) compared to the intact PSF (4.0 ± 2.0 mg CH4 m-2 hr-1 ) due to prolonged higher WT and more optimal methanogenesis conditions. On the other hand, we did not find significant differences in Reco between burnt (432 ± 83 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1 ) and intact PSF (359 ± 76 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1 ). Radiocarbon analysis showed overall no significant difference between intact and burnt PSF with a modern signature for both CO2 and CH4 fluxes implying a microbial preference for the more labile C fraction in the peat matrix.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Publications by year
2022
Akhtar H, Lupascu M, Sukri RS (2022). Interactions between microtopography, root exudate analogues and temperature determine CO2 and CH4 production rates in fire-degraded tropical peat.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY,
169 Author URL.
2021
Akhtar H, Lupascu M, Sukri RS, Smith TEL, Cobb AR, Swarup S (2021). Significant sedge-mediated methane emissions from degraded tropical peatlands.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS,
16(1).
Author URL.
2020
Lupascu M, Akhtar H, Smith TEL, Sukri RS (2020). Post-fire carbon dynamics in the tropical peat swamp forests of Brunei reveal long-term elevated CH4 flux.
Glob Chang Biol,
26(9), 5125-5145.
Abstract:
Post-fire carbon dynamics in the tropical peat swamp forests of Brunei reveal long-term elevated CH4 flux.
Tropical peatlands hold about 15%-19% of the global peat carbon (C) pool of which 77% is stored in the peat swamp forests (PSFs) of Southeast Asia. Nonetheless, these PSFs have been drained, exploited for timber and land for agriculture, leading to frequent fires in the region. The physico-chemical characteristics of peat, as well as the hydrology of PSFs are affected after a fire, during which the ecosystem can act as a C source for decades, as C emissions to the atmosphere exceed photosynthesis. In this work, we studied the longer-term impact of fires on C cycling in tropical PSFs, hence we quantified the magnitude and patterns of C loss (CO2 , CH4 and dissolved organic carbon) and soil-water quality characteristics in an intact and a degraded burnt PSF in Brunei Darussalam affected by seven fires over the last 40 years. We used natural tracers such as 14 C to investigate the age and sources of C contributing to ecosystem respiration (Reco ) and CH4 , while we continuously monitored soil temperature and water table (WT) level from June 2017 to January 2019. Our results showed a major difference in the physico-chemical parameters, which in turn affected C dynamics, especially CH4. Methane effluxes were higher in fire-affected areas (7.8 ± 2.2 mg CH4 m-2 hr-1 ) compared to the intact PSF (4.0 ± 2.0 mg CH4 m-2 hr-1 ) due to prolonged higher WT and more optimal methanogenesis conditions. On the other hand, we did not find significant differences in Reco between burnt (432 ± 83 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1 ) and intact PSF (359 ± 76 mg CO2 m-2 hr-1 ). Radiocarbon analysis showed overall no significant difference between intact and burnt PSF with a modern signature for both CO2 and CH4 fluxes implying a microbial preference for the more labile C fraction in the peat matrix.
Abstract.
Author URL.
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