skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Above- and below-ground methane fluxes and methanotrophic activity in a landfill-cover soil

Abstract

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We quantify above- and below-ground CH{sub 4} fluxes in a landfill-cover soil. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We link methanotrophic activity to estimates of CH{sub 4} loading from the waste body. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Methane loading and emissions are highly variable in space and time. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Eddy covariance measurements yield largest estimates of CH{sub 4} emissions. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Potential methanotrophic activity is high at a location with substantial CH{sub 4} loading. - Abstract: Landfills are a major anthropogenic source of the greenhouse gas methane (CH{sub 4}). However, much of the CH{sub 4} produced during the anaerobic degradation of organic waste is consumed by methanotrophic microorganisms during passage through the landfill-cover soil. On a section of a closed landfill near Liestal, Switzerland, we performed experiments to compare CH{sub 4} fluxes obtained by different methods at or above the cover-soil surface with below-ground fluxes, and to link methanotrophic activity to estimates of CH{sub 4} ingress (loading) from the waste body at selected locations. Fluxes of CH{sub 4} into or out of the cover soil were quantified by eddy-covariance and static flux-chamber measurements. In addition, CH{sub 4} concentrations at the soil surface were monitored using a field-portable FID detector. Near-surface CH{sub 4} fluxes and CH{sub 4} loading weremore » estimated from soil-gas concentration profiles in conjunction with radon measurements, and gas push-pull tests (GPPTs) were performed to quantify rates of microbial CH{sub 4} oxidation. Eddy-covariance measurements yielded by far the largest and probably most representative estimates of overall CH{sub 4} emissions from the test section (daily mean up to {approx}91,500 {mu}mol m{sup -2} d{sup -1}), whereas flux-chamber measurements and CH{sub 4} concentration profiles indicated that at the majority of locations the cover soil was a net sink for atmospheric CH{sub 4} (uptake up to -380 {mu}mol m{sup -2} d{sup -1}) during the experimental period. Methane concentration profiles also indicated strong variability in CH{sub 4} loading over short distances in the cover soil, while potential methanotrophic activity derived from GPPTs was high (v{sub max} {approx} 13 mmol L{sup -1}(soil air) h{sup -1}) at a location with substantial CH{sub 4} loading. Our results provide a basis to assess spatial and temporal variability of CH{sub 4} dynamics in the complex terrain of a landfill-cover soil.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [4]
  1. Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zuerich, Universitaetstrasse 2, 8092 Zuerich (Switzerland)
  2. Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zuerich, Universitaetstrasse 16, 8092 Zuerich (Switzerland)
  3. Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, EPF Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne (Switzerland)
  4. Oester Messtechnik, Bahnhofstrasse 3, 3600 Thun (Switzerland)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21612967
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Waste Management
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 32; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2011.11.003; PII: S0956-053X(11)00500-9; Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0956-053X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; AIR; COMPLEX TERRAIN; EMISSION; GREENHOUSE GASES; METHANE; MICROORGANISMS; ORGANIC WASTES; OXIDATION; RADON; SANITARY LANDFILLS; SINKS; SOILS; SWITZERLAND; ALKANES; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; ELEMENTS; EUROPE; FLUIDS; GASES; HYDROCARBONS; MANAGEMENT; NONMETALS; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; RARE GASES; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; WESTERN EUROPE

Citation Formats

Schroth, M.H., E-mail: martin.schroth@env.ethz.ch, Eugster, W, Gomez, K E, Gonzalez-Gil, G, Niklaus, P A, and Oester, P. Above- and below-ground methane fluxes and methanotrophic activity in a landfill-cover soil. United States: N. p., 2012. Web. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2011.11.003.
Schroth, M.H., E-mail: martin.schroth@env.ethz.ch, Eugster, W, Gomez, K E, Gonzalez-Gil, G, Niklaus, P A, & Oester, P. Above- and below-ground methane fluxes and methanotrophic activity in a landfill-cover soil. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.11.003
Schroth, M.H., E-mail: martin.schroth@env.ethz.ch, Eugster, W, Gomez, K E, Gonzalez-Gil, G, Niklaus, P A, and Oester, P. 2012. "Above- and below-ground methane fluxes and methanotrophic activity in a landfill-cover soil". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2011.11.003.
@article{osti_21612967,
title = {Above- and below-ground methane fluxes and methanotrophic activity in a landfill-cover soil},
author = {Schroth, M.H., E-mail: martin.schroth@env.ethz.ch and Eugster, W and Gomez, K E and Gonzalez-Gil, G and Niklaus, P A and Oester, P},
abstractNote = {Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We quantify above- and below-ground CH{sub 4} fluxes in a landfill-cover soil. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer We link methanotrophic activity to estimates of CH{sub 4} loading from the waste body. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Methane loading and emissions are highly variable in space and time. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Eddy covariance measurements yield largest estimates of CH{sub 4} emissions. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Potential methanotrophic activity is high at a location with substantial CH{sub 4} loading. - Abstract: Landfills are a major anthropogenic source of the greenhouse gas methane (CH{sub 4}). However, much of the CH{sub 4} produced during the anaerobic degradation of organic waste is consumed by methanotrophic microorganisms during passage through the landfill-cover soil. On a section of a closed landfill near Liestal, Switzerland, we performed experiments to compare CH{sub 4} fluxes obtained by different methods at or above the cover-soil surface with below-ground fluxes, and to link methanotrophic activity to estimates of CH{sub 4} ingress (loading) from the waste body at selected locations. Fluxes of CH{sub 4} into or out of the cover soil were quantified by eddy-covariance and static flux-chamber measurements. In addition, CH{sub 4} concentrations at the soil surface were monitored using a field-portable FID detector. Near-surface CH{sub 4} fluxes and CH{sub 4} loading were estimated from soil-gas concentration profiles in conjunction with radon measurements, and gas push-pull tests (GPPTs) were performed to quantify rates of microbial CH{sub 4} oxidation. Eddy-covariance measurements yielded by far the largest and probably most representative estimates of overall CH{sub 4} emissions from the test section (daily mean up to {approx}91,500 {mu}mol m{sup -2} d{sup -1}), whereas flux-chamber measurements and CH{sub 4} concentration profiles indicated that at the majority of locations the cover soil was a net sink for atmospheric CH{sub 4} (uptake up to -380 {mu}mol m{sup -2} d{sup -1}) during the experimental period. Methane concentration profiles also indicated strong variability in CH{sub 4} loading over short distances in the cover soil, while potential methanotrophic activity derived from GPPTs was high (v{sub max} {approx} 13 mmol L{sup -1}(soil air) h{sup -1}) at a location with substantial CH{sub 4} loading. Our results provide a basis to assess spatial and temporal variability of CH{sub 4} dynamics in the complex terrain of a landfill-cover soil.},
doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2011.11.003},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21612967}, journal = {Waste Management},
issn = {0956-053X},
number = 5,
volume = 32,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012},
month = {Tue May 15 00:00:00 EDT 2012}
}