The effects of fire on biogenic emissions of methane and nitric oxide from wetlands

Journal Article · Tue Feb 20 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JD095iD02p01853· OSTI ID:5034251

Levine, J S; Cofer, III, W R; Sebacher, D I; Rhinehart, R P ^[1]; Winstead, E L; Sebacher, S ^[2]; Hinkle, C R; Schmalzer, P A; Koller, Jr, A M ^[3]

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1. NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA (United States)
2. ST Systems Corp., Hampton, VA (United States)
3. Bionetics Corp., NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cocoa Beach, FL (United States)

Enhanced emissions of methane (CH{sub 4}) and nitric oxide (NO) were measured following three controlled burns in a Florida wetlands in 1987 and 1988. Wetlands are the major global source of methane resulting from metabolic activity of methanogenic bacteria. Methanogens require carbon dioxide, acetate, or formate for their growth and the metabolic production of methane. All three water-soluble compounds are produced in large concentrations during biomass burning. Postfire methane emissions exceeded 0.15 g CH{sub 4}/m{sup 2} d. Nitric oxide is produced by nitrifying bacteria using ammonium as the substrate. Ammonium is also produced in large concentrations during biomass burning. Preburn and postburn measurements of soil nutrients indicate significant postburn increases in soil ammonium, from 8.35 to 13.49 parts per million (ppm) in the upper 5 cm of the Juncus marsh and from 8.83 to 23.75 ppm in the upper 5 cm of the Spartina marsh. Soil nitrate concentrations were found to decrease in both marshes after the fire. These measurements indicate that the combustion products of biomass burning exert an important fertilizing effect on the biosphere and on the biogenic production of environmentally significant atmospheric gases. These findings are particularly important since global biomass burning appears to be far more widespread and extensive than previously believed.

• OSTI ID: 5034251
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 95:D2; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
540220 -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ACETATES
ALKANES
AMMONIA
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BACTERIA
BIOMASS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYLIC ACID SALTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
COMBUSTION
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
DEGASSING
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOSYSTEMS
EMISSION
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IV
FIRES
FLORIDA
FORMATES
HYDRIDES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MICROORGANISMS
NITRATES
NITRIC OXIDE
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NITROGEN OXIDES
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOIL CHEMISTRY
SYNTHESIS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TROPOSPHERE
USA
WETLANDS