Methane production and oxidation in lakes impacted by the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1988 · Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GB002i004p00357· OSTI ID:6877297

Lilley, M D; Baross, J A; Dahm, C N ^[1]

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1. Washington Univ., Seattle (USA)

The concentrations of CH{sub 4} and CH{sub 4} oxidation rates were measured in lakes impacted by the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens. The highest CH{sub 4} concentrations were recorded during the first summer after the eruption and ranged in surface waters from 5 microM in the moderately impacted Ryan Lake to 28 microM in the heavily impacted North Coldwater Lake. At depths below the oxic/anoxic interface, CH{sub 4} levels reached 250 microM in North Coldwater Lake, 184 microM in Spirit Lake, 70 microM in Castle Creek lake, and 60 microM in Ryan Lake. The CH{sub 4} flux measurements from these lakes during the summer following the May 18, 1980 eruption were the highest ever recorded in lakes with ranges of 1.1-2.9 mmol CH{sub 4}/sq m/day in the light to moderately impacted McBride and Ryan Lakes to ranges of 17.4-25.3 mmol CH{sub 4}/sq m/day in the heavily impacted Castle Creek, North Coldwater, and Spirit Lakes. Evidence of CH{sub 4} oxidation was seen in all of the lakes during the summer of 1981, and rates of CH{sub 4} oxidation using C{sup 14}-CH{sub 4} were measured in spirit Lake from 1982 to 1986. The highest rates of CH{sub 4} oxidation measured were during the summer stratification and ranged from 50 to 150 nmol CH{sub 4} oxidized/L/day. methane oxidation rates were measured in waters having oxygen concentrations less than 100 microM with highest activity occurring at concentrations of 30-60 microM. 36 refs., 12 figs. 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6877297
• Journal Information: Global Biogeochemical Cycles; (USA), Vol. 2:4; ISSN 0886-6236
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
LAKES
WATER POLLUTION
METHANE
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
WASHINGTON
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
ORGANIC MATTER
OXIDATION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
VOLCANIC GASES
VOLCANOES
ALKANES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FEDERAL REGION X
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540311 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- Radiometric Techniques- (1990-)