Mechanisms controlling the production and transport of methane, carbon dioxide, and dissolved solutes within a boreal peatland

Technical Report · Thu Apr 09 00:00:00 EDT 1992

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5448773· OSTI ID:5448773

Siegel, D I

Peatlands are one of the most important terrestrial reservoirs in the global cycle for carbon, and are a major source for atmospheric methane. However, little is known about the dynamics of these carbon reservoirs or their feedback mechanisms with the pool of atmospheric CO{sub 2} during the Holocene. Specifically, it is unknown whether large peat basins are sources, sinks, or steady-state reservoirs for the global carbon cycle. In particular, the production and transport of methane, carbon dioxide, and dissolved organic carbon form the deeper portions of these peatlands is unknown. Our DOE research program is to conduct an integrated ecologic and hydrogeochemical study of the Glacial Lake Agassiz peatlands (northern Minnesota) to better understand the carbon dynamics in globally significant peat basins. Specifically, our study will provide local and regional data on (1), rates of carbon accumulation and loss and fluxes of methane in the peat profiles; (2) the physical and botanical factors controlling the production of methane and carbon dioxide in the wetland; and (3) the role of hydrogeologic processes in controlling the fluxes of gases and solutes through the peat. We intend to use computer simulation models, calibrated to field data, to scale-up from local to regional estimates of methane and carbon dioxide within the basin. How gases and dissolved organic carbon escapes form peatlands in unknown. It has been suggested that the concentrations of methane produced in the upper peat are sufficient to produce diffusion gradients towards the surface. Alternatively, gas may move through the peat profile by groundwater advection.

• Research Organization: Syracuse Univ., NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-90ER61013
• OSTI ID: 5448773
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/61013-2; ON: DE92011752
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
CARBON CYCLE
GLOBAL ASPECTS
PEAT
GEOCHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
BOREAL REGIONS
CARBON
CARBON DIOXIDE
ECOLOGY
GEOLOGY
GEOMORPHOLOGY
HYDROLOGY
METHANE
MINNESOTA
PLANTS
PROGRESS REPORT
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMISTRY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROCARBONS
MATTER
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
USA
580000* - Geosciences