The influence of termites on atmospheric trace gases: CH sub 4 , CO sub 2 , CHCl sub 3 , N sub 2 O, CO, H sub 2 , and light hydrocarbons
- Oregon Graduate Center, Beaverton (United States)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Highett, Victoria (Australia)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Townsville, Queensland (Australia)
Based on field studies of mounds of Australian termites the authors estimate that on a global scale termites emit about 12 {times} 10{sup 12} g/yr of methane (< 20 tg/yr) and about 4 {times} 10{sup 15} g CO{sub 2}/yr (< 8 pg/yr). Most of the detailed results are based on studies of the species Coptotermes lacteus. They found that in mid-latitudes the emissions vary seasonally. As much methane is emitted in the summers as in all other seasons combined. The soils a few meters from the mounds consumed methane at an average rate of 40 {mu}g/m{sup 2}/h. They found no evidence of net emissions of CO and found that H{sub 2} is consistently consumed by the mounds and the soils near the mounds. All six species studied produced chloroform. The concentrations of chloroform inside the mounds of C. lacteus were a thousand times greater than ambient levels, but calculations show that termites are not likely to be a significant global source of chloroform. Finally, they used the results of this study, and others before them, to construct a view of the role of termites in the global carbon cycle.
- OSTI ID:
- 5042563
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 95:D4; ISSN 0148-0227
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
ANTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
CARBON DIOXIDE
EMISSION
METHANE
CARBON CYCLE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CHLOROFORM
GREENHOUSE GASES
HYDROGEN
NITROUS OXIDE
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SINKS
SOIL CHEMISTRY
UPTAKE
ALKANES
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ELEMENTS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HYDROCARBONS
HYMENOPTERA
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN OXIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
VARIATIONS
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