Articles | Volume 16, issue 13
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2651-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2651-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
09 Jul 2019
Research article |
| 09 Jul 2019
| 09 Jul 2019
Wildfire overrides hydrological controls on boreal peatland methane emissions
Scott J. Davidson
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
Christine Van Beest
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
Richard Petrone
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
Maria Strack
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1, Canada
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Xiaoran Zhu, Dong Chen, Maruko Kogure, Elizabeth Hoy, Logan T. Berner, Amy L. Breen, Abhishek Chatterjee, Scott J. Davidson, Gerald V. Frost, Teresa N. Hollingsworth, Go Iwahana, Randi R. Jandt, Anja N. Kade, Tatiana V. Loboda, Matt J. Macander, Michelle Mack, Charles E. Miller, Eric A. Miller, Susan M. Natali, Martha K. Raynolds, Adrian V. Rocha, Shiro Tsuyuzaki, Craig E. Tweedie, Donald A. Walker, Mathew Williams, Xin Xu, Yingtong Zhang, Nancy French, and Scott Goetz
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 3687–3703, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-3687-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-3687-2024, 2024
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The Arctic tundra is experiencing widespread physical and biological changes, largely in response to warming, yet scientific understanding of tundra ecology and change remains limited due to relatively limited accessibility and studies compared to other terrestrial biomes. To support synthesis research and inform future studies, we created the Synthesized Alaskan Tundra Field Dataset (SATFiD), which brings together field datasets and includes vegetation, active-layer, and fire properties.
Miranda Louise Hunter, Ian Strachan, Paul Moore, Sara Knox, and Maria Strack
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1111, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1111, 2025
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Peatlands are a globally important land cover due to their role as a carbon sink, though peat extraction for horticultural use converts them to net sources. Through ecosystem scale measurements at peat extraction sites, this study found that carbon dioxide interannual variability is driven by water table position. A unimodal carbon dioxide-water table relationship suggests that maintaining dry conditions could be a management strategy to reduce carbon loss during the 30 plus years of extraction.
Oluwabamise Lanre Afolabi, He Hongxing, and Maria Strack
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4049, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-4049, 2025
Preprint archived
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This modelling study elucidated the multi-decade carbon dynamics of a temperate swamp peatland and the important biotic and abiotic interactions and feedbacks that drive the carbon biogeochemical cycle of this ecosystem which is currently lacking. The carbon balance of the swamp reflected the strong relationship between the swamp’s carbon flux and controlling biotic processes, hydrological and thermal conditions that imprinted on carbon assimilation and losses at different time scales.
Xiaoran Zhu, Dong Chen, Maruko Kogure, Elizabeth Hoy, Logan T. Berner, Amy L. Breen, Abhishek Chatterjee, Scott J. Davidson, Gerald V. Frost, Teresa N. Hollingsworth, Go Iwahana, Randi R. Jandt, Anja N. Kade, Tatiana V. Loboda, Matt J. Macander, Michelle Mack, Charles E. Miller, Eric A. Miller, Susan M. Natali, Martha K. Raynolds, Adrian V. Rocha, Shiro Tsuyuzaki, Craig E. Tweedie, Donald A. Walker, Mathew Williams, Xin Xu, Yingtong Zhang, Nancy French, and Scott Goetz
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 3687–3703, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-3687-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-3687-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic tundra is experiencing widespread physical and biological changes, largely in response to warming, yet scientific understanding of tundra ecology and change remains limited due to relatively limited accessibility and studies compared to other terrestrial biomes. To support synthesis research and inform future studies, we created the Synthesized Alaskan Tundra Field Dataset (SATFiD), which brings together field datasets and includes vegetation, active-layer, and fire properties.
T. M. Munir, M. Perkins, E. Kaing, and M. Strack
Biogeosciences, 12, 1091–1111, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-1091-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-1091-2015, 2015
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Climate-induced drying and warming in continental bogs is expected to initially accelerate carbon losses via ecosystem respiration, but persistent drought and warming is expected to restore the peatland’s original carbon sink function as a result of the shifts in vegetation composition and productivity between the microforms and increased NPP of trees over time. Thus, the treed bogs are climate-sensitive but temporally adaptive ecosystems that have the potential to tolerate the changing climate.
T. M. Munir, B. Xu, M. Perkins, and M. Strack
Biogeosciences, 11, 807–820, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-807-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-807-2014, 2014
M. Strack and Y. C. A. Zuback
Biogeosciences, 10, 2885–2896, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2885-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-10-2885-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Biogeochemistry: Greenhouse Gases
Water chemistry and greenhouse gas concentrations in waterbodies of a thawing permafrost peatland complex in northern Norway
Groundwater–CO2 emissions relationship in Dutch peatlands derived by machine learning using airborne and ground-based eddy covariance data
Methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide emissions from two clear-water and two turbid-water urban ponds in Brussels (Belgium)
Uncertainties in carbon emissions from land use and land cover change in Indonesia
Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra
Intercomparison of biogenic CO2 flux models in four urban parks in the city of Zurich
CO2 flux characteristics of the open savanna and its response to environmental factors in the dry–hot valley of Jinsha River, China
Rising Arctic seas and thawing permafrost: uncovering the carbon cycle impact in a thermokarst lagoon system in the outer Mackenzie Delta, Canada
Temporal patterns of greenhouse gas emissions from two small thermokarst lakes in Nunavik, Canada
Modelling decadal trends and the impact of extreme events on carbon fluxes in a temperate deciduous forest using a terrestrial biosphere model
Multidecadal trends in CO2 evasion and aquatic metabolism in a large temperate river
Surface CO2 gradients challenge conventional CO2 emission quantification in lentic water bodies under calm conditions
Spatiotemporal variability of CO2, N2O and CH4 fluxes from a semi-deciduous tropical forest soil in the Congo Basin
Organic soil carbon balance in drained and undrained hemiboreal forests
Eddy-covariance fluxes of CO2, CH4 and N2O in a drained peatland forest after clear-cutting
Eddy covariance evaluation of ecosystem fluxes at a temperate saltmarsh in Victoria, Australia, shows large CO2 uptake
Interferences caused by the biogeochemical methane cycle in peats during the assessment of abandoned oil wells
Carbon sequestration in different urban vegetation types in Southern Finland
Proglacial methane emissions driven by meltwater and groundwater flushing in a high-Arctic glacial catchment
Technical Note: Pondi – a low-cost logger for long-term monitoring of methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide in aquatic and terrestrial systems
Plant community composition controls spatial variation in year-round methane fluxes in a boreal rich fen
Seasonal and interannual variability in CO2 fluxes in southern Africa seen by GOSAT
Environmental drivers constraining the seasonal variability of satellite-observed methane at Northern high latitudes
Aquatic metabolism influences temporal variations of water carbon and atmospheric carbon dioxide fluxes in a temperate salt marsh
Air temperature and precipitation constraining the modelled wetland methane emissions in a boreal region in northern Europe
Ensemble estimates of global wetland methane emissions over 2000–2020
Seasonal carbon fluxes from vegetation and soil in a Mediterranean non-tidal salt marsh
Explainable machine learning for modeling of net ecosystem exchange in boreal forests
Dynamics of CO2 and CH4 fluxes in Red Sea mangrove soils
Inferring methane emissions from African livestock by fusing drone, tower, and satellite data
Reduced microbial respiration sensitivity to soil moisture following long-term N fertilization enhances soil C retention in a boreal Scots pine forest
Nitrous oxide (N2O) in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania
Technical note: A low-cost, automatic soil–plant–atmosphere enclosure system to investigate CO2 and evapotranspiration flux dynamics
Reviews and syntheses: Contribution of sulfate to methane oxidation in upland soils: a mini-review
Tidal influence on carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from tree stems and soils in mangrove forests
Drought conditions disrupt atmospheric carbon uptake in a Mediterranean saline lake
Physicochemical perturbation increases nitrous oxide production from denitrification in soils and sediments
Carbon degradation and mobilisation potentials of thawing permafrost peatlands in northern Norway inferred from laboratory incubations
Saturating response of photosynthesis to increasing leaf area index allows selective harvest of trees without affecting forest productivity
Seasonal dynamics and regional distribution patterns of CO2 and CH4 in the north-eastern Baltic Sea
Interannual and seasonal variability of the air–sea CO2 exchange at Utö in the coastal region of the Baltic Sea
CO2 emissions of drained coastal peatlands in the Netherlands and potential emission reduction by water infiltration systems
Influence of wind strength and direction on diffusive methane fluxes and atmospheric methane concentrations above the North Sea
Using eddy covariance observations to determine the carbon sequestration characteristics of subalpine forests in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau
Isotopomer labeling and oxygen dependence of hybrid nitrous oxide production
The emission of CO from tropical rainforest soils
Modelling CO2 and N2O emissions from soils in silvopastoral systems of the West African Sahelian band
A case study on topsoil removal and rewetting for paludiculture: effect on biogeochemistry and greenhouse gas emissions from Typha latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and Azolla filiculoides
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Timescale dependence of airborne fraction and underlying climate–carbon-cycle feedbacks for weak perturbations in CMIP5 models
Jacqueline K. Knutson, François Clayer, Peter Dörsch, Sebastian Westermann, and Heleen A. de Wit
Biogeosciences, 22, 3899–3914, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3899-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3899-2025, 2025
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Thawing permafrost at Iškoras in northern Norway is transforming peat plateaus into thermokarst ponds and wetlands. These small ponds show striking oversaturation of dissolved greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), partly owing to organic matter processing. Streams nearby emit CO2, driven by turbulence. As permafrost disappears, carbon dynamics will change, potentially increasing emissions of CH4. This study highlights the need to integrate these changes into climate models.
Laura M. van der Poel, Laurent V. Bataille, Bart Kruijt, Wietse Franssen, Wilma Jans, Jan Biermann, Anne Rietman, Alex J. V. Buzacott, Ype van der Velde, Ruben Boelens, and Ronald W. A. Hutjes
Biogeosciences, 22, 3867–3898, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3867-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3867-2025, 2025
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We combine two types of carbon dioxide (CO2) data from Dutch peatlands in a machine learning model: from fixed measurement towers and from a light research aircraft. We find that emissions increase with deeper water table depths (WTDs) by 4.6 tons of CO2 per hectare per year for each 10 cm deeper WTD on average. The effect is stronger in winter than in summer and varies between locations. This variability should be taken into account when developing mitigation measures.
Thomas Bauduin, Nathalie Gypens, and Alberto V. Borges
Biogeosciences, 22, 3785–3805, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3785-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3785-2025, 2025
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To investigate if greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from ponds vary among clear-water ponds with macrophytes and turbid-water ponds with phytoplankton, we measured CO2, CH4, and N2O concentrations and emissions in two clear- and two turbid-water urban ponds in the city of Brussels from June 2021 to December 2023. Differences in CH4 ebullitive emissions were observed between clear- and turbid-water ponds but none for CO2 and N2O emissions.
Ida Bagus Mandhara Brasika, Pierre Friedlingstein, Stephen Sitch, Michael O'Sullivan, Maria Carolina Duran-Rojas, Thais Michele Rosan, Kees Klein Goldewijk, Julia Pongratz, Clemens Schwingshackl, Louise P. Chini, and George C. Hurtt
Biogeosciences, 22, 3547–3561, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3547-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-3547-2025, 2025
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Indonesia is the world's third-highest carbon emitter from land use change. However, there are uncertainties in the carbon emissions of Indonesia. Our best estimate of carbon emissions from land use change in Indonesia is 0.12 ± 0.02 PgC/yr with a steady trend. Despite many uncertainties created by drivers, models, and products, we also found robust agreements between these models and products. All agree that Indonesian carbon emissions from LULCC (land use and land cover change) have had no decreasing trend for the last 2 decades.
Antonio Donateo, Daniela Famulari, Donato Giovannelli, Arturo Mariani, Mauro Mazzola, Stefano Decesari, and Gianluca Pappaccogli
Biogeosciences, 22, 2889–2908, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2889-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2889-2025, 2025
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This study focuses on measurements of CO2 and CH4 turbulent fluxes in tundra ecosystems in the Svalbard islands over a 2-year period. Our results reveal dynamic interactions between climatic conditions and ecosystem activities such as photosynthesis and microbial activity. In summer, photosynthesis and microbial activity increase, leading to net carbon uptake and methane consumption. Wind influences soil drying and CH4 emissions. Thermal anomalies can reduce annual carbon uptake.
Stavros Stagakis, Dominik Brunner, Junwei Li, Leif Backman, Anni Karvonen, Lionel Constantin, Leena Järvi, Minttu Havu, Jia Chen, Sophie Emberger, and Liisa Kulmala
Biogeosciences, 22, 2133–2161, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2133-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2133-2025, 2025
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The balance between CO2 uptake and emissions from urban green areas is still not well understood. This study evaluated for the first time the urban park CO2 exchange simulations with four different types of biosphere model by comparing them with observations. Even though some advantages and disadvantages of the different model types were identified, there was no strong evidence that more complex models performed better than simple ones.
Chaolei Yang, Yufeng Tian, Jingqi Cui, Guangxiong He, Jingyuan Li, Canfeng Li, Haichuang Duan, Zong Wei, Liu Yan, Xin Xia, Yong Huang, Aihua Jiang, and Yuwen Feng
Biogeosciences, 22, 2097–2114, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2097-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2097-2025, 2025
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Due to the influence of extreme-drought events in southwest China, the carbon sequestration capacity of the open savanna in the dry–hot valley of the Jinsha River has been significantly diminished, with soil water content being the key environmental factor governing CO2 flux. Under the climate scenario where the frequency and severity of extreme droughts are expected to continue increasing, the CO2 emissions from the open savanna are also anticipated to rise persistently.
Maren Jenrich, Juliane Wolter, Susanne Liebner, Christian Knoblauch, Guido Grosse, Fiona Giebeler, Dustin Whalen, and Jens Strauss
Biogeosciences, 22, 2069–2086, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2069-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-2069-2025, 2025
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Climate warming in the Arctic is causing the erosion of permafrost coasts and the transformation of permafrost lakes into lagoons. To understand how this affects greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, we studied carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) production in lagoons with varying sea connections. Younger lagoons produce more CH₄, while CO₂ increases under more marine conditions. Flooding of permafrost lowlands due to rising sea levels may lead to higher GHG emissions from Arctic coasts in future.
Amélie Pouliot, Isabelle Laurion, Antoine Thiboult, and Daniel F. Nadeau
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1497, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1497, 2025
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Small thermokarst lakes release greenhouse gases (GHGs) as permafrost thaws, but most studies focus on diurnal measurements, potentially overlooking significant variations. We measured GHG fluxes from 2 lakes in Nunavik over twosummers—one colder, one warmer—alongside two years of continuous water column monitoring. Fluxes were higher in the warmer summer, with strong day-night differences. Our findings show that accurate GHG estimates require full diel measurements and seasonal considerations.
Tea Thum, Tuuli Miinalainen, Outi Seppälä, Holly Croft, Cheryl Rogers, Ralf Staebler, Silvia Caldararu, and Sönke Zaehle
Biogeosciences, 22, 1781–1807, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1781-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1781-2025, 2025
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Climate change has the potential to influence the carbon sequestration potential of terrestrial ecosystems, and here the nitrogen cycle is also important. We used the terrestrial biosphere model QUINCY (QUantifying Interactions between terrestrial Nutrient CYcles and the climate system) in a mixed deciduous forest in Canada. We investigated the usefulness of using the leaf area index and leaf chlorophyll content to improve the parameterization of the model. This work paves the way for using spaceborne observations in model parameterizations, also including information on the nitrogen cycle.
An Truong Nguyen, Gwenaël Abril, Jacob S. Diamond, Raphaël Lamouroux, Cécile Martinet, and Florentina Moatar
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1478, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1478, 2025
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This 32-year study of France’s Loire River shows cleaner water reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 62 %, despite increased contributions from aquatic plant activity. Seasonal emissions were higher in autumn than spring, while long-term declines were driven by reduced external carbon inputs from groundwater and soils. Results highlight how ecosystem changes influence rivers' role in global carbon cycles and climate management.
Patrick Aurich, Uwe Spank, and Matthias Koschorreck
Biogeosciences, 22, 1697–1709, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1697-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1697-2025, 2025
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Lakes can be sources and sinks of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. The gas exchange between the atmosphere and the water can be measured by taking gas samples from them. However, the depth of water samples is not well defined, which may cause errors. We hypothesized that gradients of CO2 concentrations develop under the surface when wind speeds are very low. Our measurements show that such a gradient can occur on calm nights, potentially shifting lakes from a CO2 sink to a source.
Roxanne Daelman, Marijn Bauters, Matti Barthel, Emmanuel Bulonza, Lodewijk Lefevre, José Mbifo, Johan Six, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Benjamin Wolf, Ralf Kiese, and Pascal Boeckx
Biogeosciences, 22, 1529–1542, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1529-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1529-2025, 2025
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The increase in atmospheric concentrations of several greenhouse gases (GHGs) since 1750 is attributed to human activity. However, natural ecosystems, such as tropical forests, also contribute to GHG budgets. The Congo Basin hosts the second largest tropical forest and is understudied. In this study, measurements of soil GHG exchange were carried out during 16 months in a tropical forest in the Congo Basin. Overall, the soil acted as a major source of CO2 and N2O and a minor sink of CH4.
Aldis Butlers, Raija Laiho, Andis Lazdiņš, Thomas Schindler, Kaido Soosaar, Jyrki Jauhiainen, Arta Bārdule, Muhammad Kamil-Sardar, Ieva Līcīte, Valters Samariks, Andreas Haberl, Hanna Vahter, Dovilė Čiuldienė, Jani Anttila, and Kęstutis Armolaitis
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1032, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1032, 2025
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A two-year study in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania evaluated the carbon balance of drained and undrained nutrient-rich forest organic soils, ranging from highly mineralized soils close to the threshold of organic soil definition to deep peat. The soils varied in pH, macronutrient levels, and C:N ratio, which contributed to the observed behavior of the soils demonstrating carbon sink and source dynamics under both drained and undrained conditions.
Olli-Pekka Tikkasalo, Olli Peltola, Pavel Alekseychik, Juha Heikkinen, Samuli Launiainen, Aleksi Lehtonen, Qian Li, Eduardo Martínez-García, Mikko Peltoniemi, Petri Salovaara, Ville Tuominen, and Raisa Mäkipää
Biogeosciences, 22, 1277–1300, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1277-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1277-2025, 2025
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The emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) were measured from a clear-cut peatland forest site. The measurements covered the whole year of 2022, which was the second growing season after the clear-cut. The site was a strong GHG source, and the highest emissions came from CO2, followed by N2O and CH4. A statistical model that included information on different surfaces at the site was developed to unravel surface-type-specific GHG fluxes.
Ruth Reef, Edoardo Daly, Tivanka Anandappa, Eboni-Jane Vienna-Hallam, Harriet Robertson, Matthew Peck, and Adrien Guyot
Biogeosciences, 22, 1149–1162, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1149-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1149-2025, 2025
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Studies show that saltmarshes excel at capturing carbon from the atmosphere. In this study, we measured CO2 flux in an Australian temperate saltmarsh on French Island. The temperate saltmarsh exhibited strong seasonality. During the warmer growing season, the saltmarsh absorbed 10.5 g CO2 m−2 on average daily from the atmosphere. Even in winter, when plants were dormant, it continued to be a CO2 sink, albeit a smaller one. Cool temperatures and high cloud cover inhibit carbon sequestration.
Sebastian F. A. Jordan, Stefan Schloemer, Martin Krüger, Tanja Heffner, Marcus A. Horn, and Martin Blumenberg
Biogeosciences, 22, 809–830, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-809-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-809-2025, 2025
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Using a multilayer approach, we studied the methane flux, soil gas composition, and isotopic signatures of soil methane and carbon dioxide at eight cut and buried abandoned oil wells in a peat-rich area of northern Germany. The detected methane emissions were of biogenic, peat origin and were not associated with the abandoned wells. Additional microbial analysis and methane oxidation rate measurements demonstrated a high methane emission mitigation potential in the studied peat soils.
Laura Thölix, Leif Backman, Minttu Havu, Esko Karvinen, Jesse Soininen, Justine Trémeau, Olli Nevalainen, Joyson Ahongshangbam, Leena Järvi, and Liisa Kulmala
Biogeosciences, 22, 725–749, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-725-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-725-2025, 2025
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Cities aim for carbon neutrality and seek to understand urban vegetation's role as a carbon sink. Direct measurements are challenging, so models are used to estimate the urban carbon cycle. We evaluated model performance at estimating carbon sequestration in lawns, park trees, and urban forests in Helsinki, Finland. Models captured seasonal and annual variations well. Trees had higher sequestration rates than lawns, and irrigation often enhanced carbon sinks.
Gabrielle E. Kleber, Leonard Magerl, Alexandra V. Turchyn, Stefan Schloemer, Mark Trimmer, Yizhu Zhu, and Andrew Hodson
Biogeosciences, 22, 659–674, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-659-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-659-2025, 2025
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Our research on Svalbard shows that glacier melt rivers can transport large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By studying a glacier over one summer, we found that its river was highly concentrated in methane, suggesting that rivers could provide a significant source of methane emissions as the Arctic warms and glaciers melt. This is the first time such emissions have been measured on Svalbard, indicating a wider environmental concern as such processes are occurring across the Arctic.
Martino E. Malerba, Blake Edwards, Lukas Schuster, Omosalewa Odebiri, Josh Glen, Rachel Kelly, Paul Phan, Alistair Grinham, and Peter I. Macreadie
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/54rd2, https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/54rd2, 2025
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The Pondi is a cost-effective, lightweight logger designed for long-term monitoring of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide emissions in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. It addresses key challenges in greenhouse gas monitoring by providing an automated, low-cost, solar-powered solution with cloud connectivity and real-time analytics. Its robust design enables deployment in diverse environmental conditions, supporting large-scale, high-resolution emission assessments.
Eeva Järvi-Laturi, Teemu Tahvanainen, Eero Koskinen, Efrén López-Blanco, Juho Lämsä, Hannu Marttila, Mikhail Mastepanov, Riku Paavola, Maria Väisänen, and Torben Røjle Christensen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-217, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-217, 2025
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Our research investigates how plant community composition influences methane emissions in a northern boreal rich fen. We measured methane fluxes year-round using manual chambers across 36 plots. Our findings suggest that sedges, particularly Carex rostrata, significantly impact the fluxes throughout the year. This study enhances our understanding of vegetation-driven methane emissions, providing valuable insights for predicting future changes in peatland methane emissions.
Eva-Marie Metz, Sanam Noreen Vardag, Sourish Basu, Martin Jung, and André Butz
Biogeosciences, 22, 555–584, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-555-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-555-2025, 2025
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We estimate CO2 fluxes in semiarid southern Africa from 2009 to 2018 based on satellite CO2 measurements and atmospheric inverse modeling. By selecting process-based vegetation models, which agree with the satellite CO2 fluxes, we find that soil respiration mainly drives the seasonality, whereas photosynthesis substantially influences the interannual variability. Our study emphasizes the need for better representation of the response of semiarid ecosystems to soil rewetting in vegetation models.
Ella Kivimäki, Tuula Aalto, Michael Buchwitz, Kari Luojus, Jouni Pulliainen, Kimmo Rautiainen, Oliver Schneising, Anu-Maija Sundström, Johanna Tamminen, Aki Tsuruta, and Hannakaisa Lindqvist
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-249, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-249, 2025
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We investigate how environmental variables influencing natural methane fluxes explain the large-scale seasonal variability of satellite-observed methane at Northern high latitudes. Our findings show that soil moisture, snow cover, and soil temperature have the strongest influence, with snowmelt playing a surprisingly significant role, likely through soil isolation and wetting. This study highlights the value of multi-satellite observations for understanding large-scale wetland emissions.
Jérémy Mayen, Pierre Polsenaere, Aurore Regaudie de Gioux, Jonathan Deborde, Karine Collin, Yoann Le Merrer, Élodie Foucault, Vincent Ouisse, Laurent André, Marie Arnaud, Pierre Kostyrka, Éric Lamaud, Gwenaël Abril, and Philippe Souchu
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-335, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-335, 2025
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In a salt marsh, we performed seasonal 24-h cycles to look for aquatic metabolism influence on water carbon dynamics and net ecosystem CO2 exchanges (NEE). From high to low tide in winter, marsh anaerobic respiration induced the highest levels of dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity. On the contrary, in spring and summer, marsh primary production led to CO2-depleted water exportations downstream. Aquatic heterotrophy at high tide can influence NEE during the highest immersion levels only.
Tuula Aalto, Aki Tsuruta, Jarmo Mäkelä, Jurek Müller, Maria Tenkanen, Eleanor Burke, Sarah Chadburn, Yao Gao, Vilma Mannisenaho, Thomas Kleinen, Hanna Lee, Antti Leppänen, Tiina Markkanen, Stefano Materia, Paul A. Miller, Daniele Peano, Olli Peltola, Benjamin Poulter, Maarit Raivonen, Marielle Saunois, David Wårlind, and Sönke Zaehle
Biogeosciences, 22, 323–340, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-323-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-323-2025, 2025
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Wetland methane responses to temperature and precipitation were studied in a boreal wetland-rich region in northern Europe using ecosystem models, atmospheric inversions, and upscaled flux observations. The ecosystem models differed in their responses to temperature and precipitation and in their seasonality. However, multi-model means, inversions, and upscaled fluxes had similar seasonality, and they suggested co-limitation by temperature and precipitation.
Zhen Zhang, Benjamin Poulter, Joe R. Melton, William J. Riley, George H. Allen, David J. Beerling, Philippe Bousquet, Josep G. Canadell, Etienne Fluet-Chouinard, Philippe Ciais, Nicola Gedney, Peter O. Hopcroft, Akihiko Ito, Robert B. Jackson, Atul K. Jain, Katherine Jensen, Fortunat Joos, Thomas Kleinen, Sara H. Knox, Tingting Li, Xin Li, Xiangyu Liu, Kyle McDonald, Gavin McNicol, Paul A. Miller, Jurek Müller, Prabir K. Patra, Changhui Peng, Shushi Peng, Zhangcai Qin, Ryan M. Riggs, Marielle Saunois, Qing Sun, Hanqin Tian, Xiaoming Xu, Yuanzhi Yao, Yi Xi, Wenxin Zhang, Qing Zhu, Qiuan Zhu, and Qianlai Zhuang
Biogeosciences, 22, 305–321, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-305-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-305-2025, 2025
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This study assesses global methane emissions from wetlands between 2000 and 2020 using multiple models. We found that wetland emissions increased by 6–7 Tg CH4 yr-1 in the 2010s compared to the 2000s. Rising temperatures primarily drove this increase, while changes in precipitation and CO2 levels also played roles. Our findings highlight the importance of wetlands in the global methane budget and the need for continuous monitoring to understand their impact on climate change.
Lorena Carrasco-Barea, Dolors Verdaguer, Maria Gispert, Xavier D. Quintana, Hélène Bourhis, and Laura Llorens
Biogeosciences, 22, 289–304, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-289-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-289-2025, 2025
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Carbon dioxide fluxes have been measured seasonally in four plant species in a Mediterranean non-tidal salt marsh, highlighting the high carbon removal potential that these species have. Carbon dioxide and methane emissions from soil showed high variability among the habitats studied, and they were generally higher than those observed in tidal salt marshes. Our results are important for making more accurate predictions regarding carbon emissions from these ecosystems.
Ekaterina Ezhova, Topi Laanti, Anna Lintunen, Pasi Kolari, Tuomo Nieminen, Ivan Mammarella, Keijo Heljanko, and Markku Kulmala
Biogeosciences, 22, 257–288, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-257-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-257-2025, 2025
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Machine learning (ML) models are gaining popularity in biogeosciences. They are applied as gap-filling methods and used to upscale carbon fluxes to larger areas. Here we use explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) methods to elucidate the performance of machine learning models for carbon dioxide fluxes in boreal forests. We show that statistically equal models treat input variables differently. XAI methods can help scientists make informed decisions when applying ML models in their research.
Jessica Breavington, Alexandra Steckbauer, Chuancheng Fu, Mongi Ennasri, and Carlos M. Duarte
Biogeosciences, 22, 117–134, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-117-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-117-2025, 2025
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Mangrove carbon storage in the Red Sea is lower than average due to challenging growth conditions. We collected mangrove soil cores over multiple seasons to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) flux of carbon dioxide and methane. GHG emissions are a small offset to mangrove carbon storage overall but punctuated by periods of high emission. This variation is linked to environmental and soil properties, which were also measured. The findings aid understanding of GHG dynamics in arid mangrove ecosystems.
Alouette van Hove, Kristoffer Aalstad, Vibeke Lind, Claudia Arndt, Vincent Odongo, Rodolfo Ceriani, Francesco Fava, John Hulth, and Norbert Pirk
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3994, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3994, 2025
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Research on methane emissions from African livestock is limited. We used a probabilistic method fusing drone and flux tower observations with an atmospheric model to estimate emissions from various herds. This approach proved robust under non-stationary wind conditions and effective in estimating emissions as low as 100 g h-1. We also detected herd locations using spectral anomalies in satellite data. Our approach can be used to estimate diverse sources, thereby improving emission inventories.
Boris Ťupek, Aleksi Lehtonen, Stefano Manzoni, Elisa Bruni, Petr Baldrian, Etienne Richy, Bartosz Adamczyk, Bertrand Guenet, and Raisa Mäkipää
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3813, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3813, 2024
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We explored soil microbial respiration (Rh) kinetics of low-dose and long-term N fertilization in N-limited boreal forest in connection to CH₄, and N₂O fluxes, soil, and tree C sinks. The insights show that N fertilization effects C retention in boreal forest soils through modifying Rh sensitivities to soil temperature and moisture. The key findings reveal that N-enriched soils exhibited reduced sensitivity of Rh to moisture, which on annual level contributes to enhanced soil C sequestration.
Johnathan Daniel Maxey, Neil D. Hartstein, Hermann W. Bange, and Moritz Müller
Biogeosciences, 21, 5613–5637, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5613-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5613-2024, 2024
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The distribution of N2O in fjord-like estuaries is poorly described in the Southern Hemisphere. Our study describes N2O distribution and its drivers in one such system in Macquarie Harbour, Tasmania. Water samples were collected seasonally in 2022 and 2023. Results show the system removes atmospheric N2O when river flow is high, whereas the system emits N2O when the river flow is low. N2O generated in basins is intercepted by the surface water and exported to the ocean during high river flow.
Wael Al Hamwi, Maren Dubbert, Jörg Schaller, Matthias Lück, Marten Schmidt, and Mathias Hoffmann
Biogeosciences, 21, 5639–5651, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5639-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5639-2024, 2024
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We present a fully automatic, low-cost soil–plant enclosure system to monitor CO2 and evapotranspiration fluxes within greenhouse experiments. It operates in two modes: independent, using low-cost sensors, and dependent, where multiple chambers connect to a single gas analyzer via a low-cost multiplexer. This system provides precise, accurate measurements and high temporal resolution, enabling comprehensive monitoring of plant–soil responses to various treatments and conditions.
Rui Su, Kexin Li, Nannan Wang, Fenghui Yuan, Ying Zhao, Yunjiang Zuo, Ying Sun, Liyuan He, Xiaofeng Xu, and Lihua Zhang
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3347, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3347, 2024
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This research examines the effect of sulfate on methane oxidation in soil, finding that sulfate may facilitate methane oxidation. Considering methane's role as a greenhouse gas and rising sulfate deposition, the study aims to predict changes in methane oxidation due to acid deposition. Future experiments will explore microbial mechanisms, as sulfate reduces methane emissions while enhancing its consumption, providing insights for mitigation strategies.
Zhao-Jun Yong, Wei-Jen Lin, Chiao-Wen Lin, and Hsing-Juh Lin
Biogeosciences, 21, 5247–5260, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5247-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5247-2024, 2024
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We measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes from mangrove stems and soils of Avicennia marina and Kandelia obovata during tidal cycles. Both stem types served as CO2 and CH4 sources, emitting less CH4 than soils, with no difference in CO2 flux. While A. marina stems showed increased CO2 fluxes from low to high tides, they acted as a CH4 sink before flooding and as a source after ebbing. However, K. obovata stems showed no flux pattern. This study highlights the need to consider tidal influence and species.
Ihab Alfadhel, Ignacio Peralta-Maraver, Isabel Reche, Enrique P. Sánchez-Cañete, Sergio Aranda-Barranco, Eva Rodríguez-Velasco, Andrew S. Kowalski, and Penélope Serrano-Ortiz
Biogeosciences, 21, 5117–5129, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5117-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-5117-2024, 2024
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Inland saline lakes are crucial in the global carbon cycle, but increased droughts may alter their carbon exchange capacity. We measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes in a Mediterranean saline lake using the eddy covariance method under dry and wet conditions. We found the lake acts as a carbon sink during wet periods but not during droughts. These results highlight the importance of saline lakes in carbon sequestration and their vulnerability to climate-change-induced droughts.
Nathaniel B. Weston, Cynthia Troy, Patrick J. Kearns, Jennifer L. Bowen, William Porubsky, Christelle Hyacinthe, Christof Meile, Philippe Van Cappellen, and Samantha B. Joye
Biogeosciences, 21, 4837–4851, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4837-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4837-2024, 2024
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Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse and ozone-depleting gas produced largely from microbial nitrogen cycling processes, and human activities have resulted in increases in atmospheric N2O. We investigate the role of physical and chemical disturbances to soils and sediments in N2O production. We demonstrate that physicochemical perturbation increases N2O production, microbial community adapts over time, and initial perturbation appears to confer resilience to subsequent disturbance.
Sigrid Trier Kjær, Sebastian Westermann, Nora Nedkvitne, and Peter Dörsch
Biogeosciences, 21, 4723–4737, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4723-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4723-2024, 2024
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Permafrost peatlands are thawing due to climate change, releasing large quantities of carbon that degrades upon thawing and is released as CO2, CH4 or dissolved organic carbon (DOC). We incubated thawed Norwegian permafrost peat plateaus and thermokarst pond sediment found next to permafrost for up to 350 d to measure carbon loss. CO2 production was initially the highest, whereas CH4 production increased over time. The largest carbon loss was measured at the top of the peat plateau core as DOC.
Olivier Bouriaud, Ernst-Detlef Schulze, Konstantin Gregor, Issam Bourkhris, Peter Högberg, Roland Irslinger, Phillip Papastefanou, Julia Pongratz, Anja Rammig, Riccardo Valentini, and Christian Körner
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3092, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3092, 2024
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The impact of harvesting on forests' carbon sink capacities is debated. One view is that their sink strength is resilient to harvesting, the other that it disrupts these capacities. Our work shows that leaf area index (LAI) has been overlooked in this discussion. We found that temperate forests' carbon uptake is largely insensitive to variations in LAI beyond about 4 m² m-², but that forests operate at higher levels.
Silvie Lainela, Erik Jacobs, Stella-Theresa Luik, Gregor Rehder, and Urmas Lips
Biogeosciences, 21, 4495–4519, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4495-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4495-2024, 2024
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We evaluate the variability of carbon dioxide and methane in the surface layer of the north-eastern basins of the Baltic Sea in 2018. We show that the shallower coastal areas have considerably higher spatial variability and seasonal amplitude of surface layer pCO2 and cCH4 than measured in the offshore areas of the Baltic Sea. Despite this high variability, caused mostly by coastal physical processes, the average annual air–sea CO2 fluxes differed only marginally between the sub-basins.
Martti Honkanen, Mika Aurela, Juha Hatakka, Lumi Haraguchi, Sami Kielosto, Timo Mäkelä, Jukka Seppälä, Simo-Matti Siiriä, Ken Stenbäck, Juha-Pekka Tuovinen, Pasi Ylöstalo, and Lauri Laakso
Biogeosciences, 21, 4341–4359, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4341-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4341-2024, 2024
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The exchange of CO2 between the sea and the atmosphere was studied in the Archipelago Sea, Baltic Sea, in 2017–2021, using an eddy covariance technique. The sea acted as a net source of CO2 with an average yearly emission of 27.1 gC m-2 yr-1, indicating that the marine ecosystem respired carbon that originated elsewhere. The yearly CO2 emission varied between 18.2–39.2 gC m-2 yr-1, mostly due to the yearly variation of ecosystem carbon uptake.
Ralf C. H. Aben, Daniël van de Craats, Jim Boonman, Stijn H. Peeters, Bart Vriend, Coline C. F. Boonman, Ype van der Velde, Gilles Erkens, and Merit van den Berg
Biogeosciences, 21, 4099–4118, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4099-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4099-2024, 2024
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Drained peatlands cause high CO2 emissions. We assessed the effectiveness of subsurface water infiltration systems (WISs) in reducing CO2 emissions related to increases in water table depth (WTD) on 12 sites for up to 4 years. Results show WISs markedly reduced emissions by 2.1 t CO2-C ha-1 yr-1. The relationship between the amount of carbon above the WTD and CO2 emission was stronger than the relationship between WTD and emission. Long-term monitoring is crucial for accurate emission estimates.
Ingeborg Bussmann, Eric P. Achterberg, Holger Brix, Nicolas Brüggemann, Götz Flöser, Claudia Schütze, and Philipp Fischer
Biogeosciences, 21, 3819–3838, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3819-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3819-2024, 2024
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Methane (CH4) is an important greenhouse gas and contributes to climate warming. However, the input of CH4 from coastal areas to the atmosphere is not well defined. Dissolved and atmospheric CH4 was determined at high spatial resolution in or above the North Sea. The atmospheric CH4 concentration was mainly influenced by wind direction. With our detailed study on the spatial distribution of CH4 fluxes we were able to provide a detailed and more realistic estimation of coastal CH4 fluxes.
Niu Zhu, Jinniu Wang, Dongliang Luo, Xufeng Wang, Cheng Shen, and Ning Wu
Biogeosciences, 21, 3509–3522, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3509-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3509-2024, 2024
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Our study delves into the vital role of subalpine forests in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau as carbon sinks in the context of climate change. Utilizing advanced eddy covariance systems, we uncover their significant carbon sequestration potential, observing distinct seasonal patterns influenced by temperature, humidity, and radiation. Notably, these forests exhibit robust carbon absorption, with potential implications for global carbon balance.
Colette L. Kelly, Nicole M. Travis, Pascale Anabelle Baya, Claudia Frey, Xin Sun, Bess B. Ward, and Karen L. Casciotti
Biogeosciences, 21, 3215–3238, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3215-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3215-2024, 2024
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Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, accumulates in regions of the ocean that are low in dissolved oxygen. We used a novel combination of chemical tracers to determine how nitrous oxide is produced in one of these regions, the eastern tropical North Pacific Ocean. Our experiments showed that the two most important sources of nitrous oxide under low-oxygen conditions are denitrification, an anaerobic process, and a novel “hybrid” process performed by ammonia-oxidizing archaea.
Hella van Asperen, Thorsten Warneke, Alessandro Carioca de Araújo, Bruce Forsberg, Sávio José Filgueiras Ferreira, Thomas Röckmann, Carina van der Veen, Sipko Bulthuis, Leonardo Ramos de Oliveira, Thiago de Lima Xavier, Jailson da Mata, Marta de Oliveira Sá, Paulo Ricardo Teixeira, Julie Andrews de França e Silva, Susan Trumbore, and Justus Notholt
Biogeosciences, 21, 3183–3199, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3183-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-3183-2024, 2024
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Carbon monoxide (CO) is regarded as an important indirect greenhouse gas. Soils can emit and take up CO, but, until now, uncertainty remains as to which process dominates in tropical rainforests. We present the first soil CO flux measurements from a tropical rainforest. Based on our observations, we report that tropical rainforest soils are a net source of CO. In addition, we show that valley streams and inundated areas are likely additional hot spots of CO in the ecosystem.
Yélognissè Agbohessou, Claire Delon, Manuela Grippa, Eric Mougin, Daouda Ngom, Espoir Koudjo Gaglo, Ousmane Ndiaye, Paulo Salgado, and Olivier Roupsard
Biogeosciences, 21, 2811–2837, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2811-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2811-2024, 2024
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Emissions of greenhouse gases in the Sahel are not well represented because they are considered weak compared to the rest of the world. However, natural areas in the Sahel emit carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides, which need to be assessed because of extended surfaces. We propose an assessment of such emissions in Sahelian silvopastoral systems and of how they are influenced by environmental characteristics. These results are essential to inform climate change strategies in the region.
Merit van den Berg, Thomas M. Gremmen, Renske J. E. Vroom, Jacobus van Huissteden, Jim Boonman, Corine J. A. van Huissteden, Ype van der Velde, Alfons J. P. Smolders, and Bas P. van de Riet
Biogeosciences, 21, 2669–2690, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2669-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2669-2024, 2024
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Drained peatlands emit 3 % of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Paludiculture is a way to reduce CO2 emissions while at the same time generating an income for landowners. The side effect is the potentially high methane emissions. We found very high methane emissions for broadleaf cattail compared with narrowleaf cattail and water fern. The rewetting was, however, effective to stop CO2 emissions for all species. The highest potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions had narrowleaf cattail.
Thea H. Heimdal, Galen A. McKinley, Adrienne J. Sutton, Amanda R. Fay, and Lucas Gloege
Biogeosciences, 21, 2159–2176, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2159-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-2159-2024, 2024
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Measurements of ocean carbon are limited in time and space. Machine learning algorithms are therefore used to reconstruct ocean carbon where observations do not exist. Improving these reconstructions is important in order to accurately estimate how much carbon the ocean absorbs from the atmosphere. In this study, we find that a small addition of observations from the Southern Ocean, obtained by autonomous sampling platforms, could significantly improve the reconstructions.
Guilherme L. Torres Mendonça, Julia Pongratz, and Christian H. Reick
Biogeosciences, 21, 1923–1960, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1923-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-1923-2024, 2024
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We study the timescale dependence of airborne fraction and underlying feedbacks by a theory of the climate–carbon system. Using simulations we show the predictive power of this theory and find that (1) this fraction generally decreases for increasing timescales and (2) at all timescales the total feedback is negative and the model spread in a single feedback causes the spread in the airborne fraction. Our study indicates that those are properties of the system, independently of the scenario.
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Short summary
Boreal peatlands represent an important store of carbon and wildfire can have a significant impact on carbon exchange. We assessed the impact of fire on methane (CH4) emissions using both a field and laboratory study. We found that fire switched the typical understanding of peatland CH4 emissions, burned sites having significantly reduced emissions (likely due to reduction in organic matter for CH4 production) and no relationship with water table, unlike at the unburned site.
Boreal peatlands represent an important store of carbon and wildfire can have a significant...
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