Effects of physical, chemical, and botanical characteristics of peat on carbon gas fluxes
- Universite de Neuchatel (Switzerland)
- Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research, Ottawa (Canada)
Peatland ecosystems may contribute about 65% of all natural methane emission to the atmosphere. During May-June 1988, CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} fluxes were measured with the static chamber method at the surface of a basin swamp and at three depths. The daily average fluxes of CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} at the surface of the swamp ranged from 1.146 to 2.178 mmol m{sup -2} d{sup -1} and from 1.966 to 7.242 mmol m{sup -2}d{sup -1}, respectively. These amounts of CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} corresponded to 0.02-0.03% of what was released from the 45 to 60-cm depth when exposed to atmospheric pressure. Statistically significant correlations between physical and botanical peat properties and trapped CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} and water flow suggest that outgassing of trapped CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} are closely associated with the peat matrix, peat properties, hydraulic potential, temperature, and concentration gradients. 31 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 62038
- Journal Information:
- Soil Science, Vol. 158, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: 1994
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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