Methane transport mechanisms and isotopic fractionation in emergent macrophytes of an Alaskan tundra lake

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/90JD01542· OSTI ID:6764743

Chanton, J P; Martens, C S; Kelley, C A; Crill, P M; Showers, W J ^[1]

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1. Florida State Univ., Tallahassee (United States) North Carolina Univ., Chapel Hill (United States) New Hampshire Univ., Durham (United States) North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (United States)

The stable carbon isotopic composition of methane associated with and emitted by the two dominant emergent macrophytes abundant in the many Alaskan tundra lakes, Carex rostrata and Arctophila fulva, is determined. The carbon isotopic composition of the methane was -58.6 +/- 0.5 (n=2) for Arctophila and -66.6 +/- 2.5 (n=6) for Carex. The methane emitted by these species is depleted in C-13 by 12 per mil for Arctophila and 18 per mil for Carex relative to methane withdrawn from plant stems 1-2 cm below the waterline. The results suggest more rapid transport of (C-12)H4 relative to (C-13)H4 through plants to the atmosphere. Plant stem methane concentrations ranged from 0.2 to 4.0 percent in Arctophila, with an isotopic composition of -46.1 +/- 4.3 percent (n=8). Carex stem methane concentrations ranged from 150 to 1200 ppm, with an isotopic composition of -48.3 +/- 1.4 per mil (n=3). 60 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6764743
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 97; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ALKANES
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CARBON ISOTOPES
ECOSYSTEMS
FRACTIONATION
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPES
LAKES
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PRODUCTION
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSPORT THEORY
TUNDRA