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Title: Relationship between methane flux and peatland water-table and the feedback to global climate change

Abstract

This field study examined the relationship between methane flux and peatland water-table height while limiting variation of other factors. My goal was to quantify the feedback that water-table drawdown, as-predicted by global climate change, will have on methane emission. Closed-chamber ground measurements were used from June through October to quantify methane emission from one drained and one undrained forested sphagnum bog in Minnesota. Water-table height in the drained bog varied, along a water-table gradient, from [minus]60 cm to [minus]5 cm (1991) and [minus]45 cm to +14 cm (1992). Water-table height in the undrained peatland ranged, on hummocks, hollows, and flooded bog corrals, from [minus]29 cm to +10 cm (1992). Mean methane emission in the drained bog was 11.2 mg CH[sub 4] m[sup [minus]2] day[sup [minus]1] (1991) and 14.3 mg CH[sub 4]m[sup [minus]2] day[sup [minus]1] (1992). Mean methane emission in the undrained bog was 99.1 mg CH[sub 4] m[sup [minus]2] day[sup [minus]1] (1992). A significant positive relationship was found between 1n (methane flux) and pleated water-table. This relationship implies a negative feedback to global warming. The results of this study suggest that the first stages in water-table drawdown will be the most significant in reducing methane emission from peatlands.

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
5985439
Report Number(s):
CONF-930798-
Journal ID: ISSN 0012-9623; CODEN: BECLAG
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 74:2; Conference: 78. annual Ecological Society of America (ESA) meeting, Madison, WI (United States), 31 Jul - 4 Aug 1993; Journal ID: ISSN 0012-9623
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; CLIMATIC CHANGE; GLOBAL ASPECTS; DRAWDOWN; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS; METHANE; EMISSION; WATER TABLES; WETLANDS; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; PEAT; ALKANES; AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS; ECOSYSTEMS; ENERGY SOURCES; FOSSIL FUELS; FUELS; HYDROCARBONS; MATTER; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; ORGANIC MATTER; 540120* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)

Citation Formats

Braunschweig, A M. Relationship between methane flux and peatland water-table and the feedback to global climate change. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Braunschweig, A M. Relationship between methane flux and peatland water-table and the feedback to global climate change. United States.
Braunschweig, A M. 1993. "Relationship between methane flux and peatland water-table and the feedback to global climate change". United States.
@article{osti_5985439,
title = {Relationship between methane flux and peatland water-table and the feedback to global climate change},
author = {Braunschweig, A M},
abstractNote = {This field study examined the relationship between methane flux and peatland water-table height while limiting variation of other factors. My goal was to quantify the feedback that water-table drawdown, as-predicted by global climate change, will have on methane emission. Closed-chamber ground measurements were used from June through October to quantify methane emission from one drained and one undrained forested sphagnum bog in Minnesota. Water-table height in the drained bog varied, along a water-table gradient, from [minus]60 cm to [minus]5 cm (1991) and [minus]45 cm to +14 cm (1992). Water-table height in the undrained peatland ranged, on hummocks, hollows, and flooded bog corrals, from [minus]29 cm to +10 cm (1992). Mean methane emission in the drained bog was 11.2 mg CH[sub 4] m[sup [minus]2] day[sup [minus]1] (1991) and 14.3 mg CH[sub 4]m[sup [minus]2] day[sup [minus]1] (1992). Mean methane emission in the undrained bog was 99.1 mg CH[sub 4] m[sup [minus]2] day[sup [minus]1] (1992). A significant positive relationship was found between 1n (methane flux) and pleated water-table. This relationship implies a negative feedback to global warming. The results of this study suggest that the first stages in water-table drawdown will be the most significant in reducing methane emission from peatlands.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5985439}, journal = {Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America; (United States)},
issn = {0012-9623},
number = ,
volume = 74:2,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993},
month = {Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1993}
}

Conference:
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