Seasonal variations in the stable carbon isotopic signature of biogenic methane in a coastal sediment

Journal Article · Fri Sep 19 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.11536566· OSTI ID:6907128

Martens, C S; Blair, N E; Green, C D; Des Marais, D J

Systematic seasonal variations in the stable carbon isotopic signature of methane gas occur in the anoxic sediments of Cape Lookout Bight, a lagoonal basin on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Values for the carbon isotope ratio (delta /sup 13/C) of methane range from -57.3 per mil during summer to -68.5 per mil during winter in gas bubbles with an average methane content of 95%. The variations are hypothesized to result from changes in the pathways of microbial methane production and cycling of key substrates including acetate and hydrogen. The use of stable isotopic signatures to investigate the global methane cycle through mass balance calculations, involving various sediment and soil biogenic sources, appears to require seasonally averaged data from individual sites. 17 references, 2 figures, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• OSTI ID: 6907128
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 233:9; ISSN SCIEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALKANES
CARBON 13
CARBON ISOTOPES
COASTAL WATERS
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION IV
GLOBAL ASPECTS
HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
METHANE
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH CAROLINA
NUCLEI
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SEDIMENTS
STABLE ISOTOPES
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VARIATIONS
WATER POLLUTION