Flux to the atmosphere of CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} from wetland ponds on the Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBLs)

Journal Article · Thu Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/93JD03020· OSTI ID:81545

Hamilton, J D; Kelly, C A ^[1]; Rudd, J W.M.; Hesslein, R H ^[2]; Roulet, N T ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg (Canada)
2. Freshwater Institute, Winnipeg (Canada)
3. York Univ., Ontario (Canada)

Ponds on peatlands of the Hudson Bay Lowlands (HBLs) are complex ecosystems in which the fluxes to the atmosphere of CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} were controlled by interacting physical and biological factors. This resulted in strong diel variations of both dissolved gas concentrations and gas fluxes to the atmosphere, necessitating frequent sampling on a 24-hour schedule to enable accurate estimates of daily fluxes. Ponds at three sites on the HBL were constant net sources of CH{sub 4} and CO{sub 2} to the atmosphere at mean rates of 110-180 mg CH{sub 4} m{sup {minus}2} d{sup {minus}1} and 3700-11,000 mg CO{sub 2} m{sup {minus}2} d{sup {minus}1}. Rates peaked in August and September. For CH{sub 4} the pond fluxes were 3-30 times higher than adjacent vegetated surfaces. For CO{sub 2} the net pond fluxes were similar in magnitude to the vegetated fluxes but the direction of the flux was opposite, toward atmosphere. Even though ponds cover only 8-12% of the HBL area, they accounted for 30% of its total CH{sub 4} flux to the atmosphere. There is some circumstantial evidence that the ponds are being formed by decomposition of the underlying peat and that this decomposition is being stimulated by the activity of N{sub 2} fixing cyanobacteria that grow in mats at the peat-water interface. The fact that the gas fluxes from the ponds were so different from the surrounding vegetated surfaces means that any change in the ratio of pond to vegetated area, as may occur in response to climate change, would affect the total HBL fluxes. 43 refs., 10 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 81545
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: D1 Vol. 99; ISSN JGREA2; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ABUNDANCE
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON SOURCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ECOSYSTEMS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
HUDSON RIVER
METHANE
PONDS
SAMPLING
WETLANDS