Methane emissions from Alaska Arctic tundra - an assessment of local spatial variability

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JD00063· OSTI ID:6831004

Morrissey, L A; Livingston, G P ^[1]

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1. NASA, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA (United States)

The findings of an extensive midsummer survey of CH4 emissions measurements representing the Alaska Arctic tundra are presented. Variability in rates of emissions was similar in magnitude on local and regional scales, ranging from 0 to 286.5 mg/sq m/d overall and often varying across two orders of magnitude within 0.5 m distances. Primary control on rates of emission was determined by the substrate and position of the water table relative to the surface. Emission rates in the Arctic Foothills ranged from 0.2 mg/sq m/d for tussock tundra to 55.53 mg/sq m/d over wet meadows. Plant-mediated release of CH4 to the atmosphere was directly proportional to green leaf area and represented 92-98 percent of the total emission rates over vegetated sites. The results suggest the current published emission rates may have overestimated the contribution of boreal ecosystems to the global CH4 budget by several fold. 46 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6831004
• 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
ARCTIC REGIONS
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLAR REGIONS
TUNDRA