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BG | Articles | Volume 16, issue 15
Biogeosciences, 16, 3033–3046, 2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3033-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3033-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Biogeosciences, 16, 3033–3046, 2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3033-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3033-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Ideas and perspectives 14 Aug 2019
Ideas and perspectives | 14 Aug 2019
Ideas and perspectives: is shale gas a major driver of recent increase in global atmospheric methane?
Robert W. Howarth
Related subject area
Biogeochemistry: Greenhouse Gases
Technical note: Facilitating the use of low-cost methane (CH4) sensors in flux chambers – calibration, data processing, and an open-source make-it-yourself logger
N2O changes from the Last Glacial Maximum to the preindustrial – Part 2: terrestrial N2O emissions and carbon–nitrogen cycle interactions
Carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from different surface types in a created urban wetland
A decade of methane measurements at the Boknis Eck Time Series Station in Eckernförde Bay (southwestern Baltic Sea)
Dissolved CH4 coupled to photosynthetic picoeukaryotes in oxic waters and to cumulative chlorophyll a in anoxic waters of reservoirs
Carbon dioxide dynamics in an agricultural headwater stream driven by hydrology and primary production
Decadal variation in CO2 fluxes and its budget in a wheat and maize rotation cropland over the North China Plain
Soil greenhouse gas emissions under different land-use types in savanna ecosystems of Kenya
Warming enhances carbon dioxide and methane fluxes from Red Sea seagrass (Halophila stipulacea) sediments
Carbon–nitrogen interactions in European forests and semi-natural vegetation – Part 1: Fluxes and budgets of carbon, nitrogen and greenhouse gases from ecosystem monitoring and modelling
Carbon–nitrogen interactions in European forests and semi-natural vegetation – Part 2: Untangling climatic, edaphic, management and nitrogen deposition effects on carbon sequestration potentials
Maize root and shoot litter quality controls short-term CO2 and N2O emissions and bacterial community structure of arable soil
The carbon footprint of a Malaysian tropical reservoir: measured versus modelled estimates highlight the underestimated key role of downstream processes
Effect of legume intercropping on N2O emissions and CH4 uptake during maize production in the Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia
Regulation of N2O emissions from acid organic soil drained for agriculture
Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) in rivers and estuaries of northwestern Borneo
Regulation of carbon dioxide and methane in small agricultural reservoirs: optimizing potential for greenhouse gas uptake
Methane production by three widespread marine phytoplankton species: release rates, precursor compounds, and potential relevance for the environment
CO2 and CH4 budgets and global warming potential modifications in Sphagnum-dominated peat mesocosms invaded by Molinia caerulea
A multi-year observation of nitrous oxide at the Boknis Eck Time Series Station in the Eckernförde Bay (southwestern Baltic Sea)
Air–sea fluxes of greenhouse gases and oxygen in the northern Benguela Current region during upwelling events
N2O changes from the Last Glacial Maximum to the preindustrial – Part 1: Quantitative reconstruction of terrestrial and marine emissions using N2O stable isotopes in ice cores
Variations in dissolved greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) in the Congo River network overwhelmingly driven by fluvial-wetland connectivity
Greenhouse gas and energy fluxes in a boreal peatland forest after clear-cutting
Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and emission in the newly constructed Belo Monte hydropower complex in the Xingu River, Amazonia
Technical note: Interferences of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on methane concentration measurements
Applicability and consequences of the integration of alternative models for CO2 transfer velocity into a process-based lake model
Attribution of N2O sources in a grassland soil with laser spectroscopy based isotopocule analysis
The ratio of methanogens to methanotrophs and water-level dynamics drive methane transfer velocity in a temperate kettle-hole peat bog
Technical Note: Isotopic corrections for the radiocarbon composition of CO2 in the soil gas environment must account for diffusion and diffusive mixing
Quantifying the impact of emission outbursts and non-stationary flow on eddy-covariance CH4 flux measurements using wavelet techniques
Reviews and syntheses: Review of causes and sources of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching from organic arable crop rotations
Wildfire overrides hydrological controls on boreal peatland methane emissions
Scaling and balancing carbon dioxide fluxes in a heterogeneous tundra ecosystem of the Lena River Delta
Physically controlled CO2 effluxes from a reservoir surface in the upper Mekong River Basin: a case study in the Gongguoqiao Reservoir
Grazing-related nitrous oxide emissions: from patch scale to field scale
Estimation of emissions from biomass burning in China (2003–2017) based on MODIS fire radiative energy data
Partitioning net ecosystem exchange of CO2 on the pedon scale in the Lena River Delta, Siberia
Plant responses to volcanically elevated CO2 in two Costa Rican forests
Effect of plateau pika disturbance and patchiness on ecosystem carbon emissions in alpine meadow in the northeastern part of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Source partitioning of H2O and CO2 fluxes based on high-frequency eddy covariance data: a comparison between study sites
Variations in the summer oceanic pCO2 and carbon sink in Prydz Bay using the self-organizing map analysis approach
Automatic high-frequency measurements of full soil greenhouse gas fluxes in a tropical forest
Carbon balance of a restored and cutover raised bog: implications for restoration and comparison to global trends
Gas transfer velocities of CO2 in subtropical monsoonal climate streams and small rivers
Impact of peatlands on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the Rajang River and Estuary, Malaysia
Controls on zooplankton methane production in the central Baltic Sea
Bipolar carbon and hydrogen isotope constraints on the Holocene methane budget
Effect of elevated pCO2 on trace gas production during an ocean acidification mesocosm experiment
Limited impact of El Niño–Southern Oscillation on variability and growth rate of atmospheric methane
David Bastviken, Jonatan Nygren, Jonathan Schenk, Roser Parellada Massana, and Nguyen Thanh Duc
Biogeosciences, 17, 3659–3667, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3659-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3659-2020, 2020
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This study presents a low-cost way to measure methane emissions applicable in nature and society. This facilitates widespread and affordable methane measurements, which are greatly needed for verifying that greenhouse gas mitigation is effective and for improved quantification of fluxes and how they are regulated. The paper also describes an open-source do-it-yourself methane–carbon dioxide–humidity–temperature logger, to increase the distributed capacity to measure greenhouse gases.
Fortunat Joos, Renato Spahni, Benjamin D. Stocker, Sebastian Lienert, Jurek Müller, Hubertus Fischer, Jochen Schmitt, I. Colin Prentice, Bette Otto-Bliesner, and Zhengyu Liu
Biogeosciences, 17, 3511–3543, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3511-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3511-2020, 2020
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Results of the first globally resolved simulations of terrestrial carbon and nitrogen (N) cycling and N2O emissions over the past 21 000 years are compared with reconstructed N2O emissions. Modelled and reconstructed emissions increased strongly during past abrupt warming events. This evidence appears consistent with a dynamic response of biological N fixation to increasing N demand by ecosystems, thereby reducing N limitation of plant productivity and supporting a land sink for atmospheric CO2.
Xuefei Li, Outi Wahlroos, Sami Haapanala, Jukka Pumpanen, Harri Vasander, Anne Ojala, Timo Vesala, and Ivan Mammarella
Biogeosciences, 17, 3409–3425, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3409-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3409-2020, 2020
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We measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes and quantified the global warming potential of different surface areas in a recently created urban wetland in Southern Finland. The ecosystem has a small net climate warming effect which was mainly contributed by the open-water areas. Our results suggest that limiting open-water areas and setting a design preference for areas of emergent vegetation in the establishment of urban wetlands can be a beneficial practice when considering solely the climate impact.
Xiao Ma, Mingshuang Sun, Sinikka T. Lennartz, and Hermann W. Bange
Biogeosciences, 17, 3427–3438, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3427-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3427-2020, 2020
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Monthly measurements of dissolved methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas, were conducted at Boknis Eck (BE), a time-series station in the southwestern Baltic Sea, from June 2006. In general CH4 concentrations increased with depth. High concentrations in the upper layer were linked to saline water inflow. Eckernförde Bay emitted CH4 to the atmosphere throughout the monitoring period. No significant trend was detected in CH4 concentrations or emissions during 2006–2017.
Elizabeth León-Palmero, Alba Contreras-Ruiz, Ana Sierra, Rafael Morales-Baquero, and Isabel Reche
Biogeosciences, 17, 3223–3245, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3223-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-3223-2020, 2020
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CH4 emissions from reservoirs are responsible for the majority of the climatic forcing of these ecosystems. The origin of the recurrent CH4 supersaturation in oxic waters is still controversial. We found that the dissolved CH4 concentration varied by up to 4 orders of magnitude in the water column of 12 reservoirs and was consistently supersaturated. Our findings suggest that photosynthetic picoeukaryotes can play a significant role in determining CH4 concentration in oxic waters.
Marcus B. Wallin, Joachim Audet, Mike Peacock, Erik Sahlée, and Mattias Winterdahl
Biogeosciences, 17, 2487–2498, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2487-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2487-2020, 2020
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Here we show that small streams draining agricultural areas are potential hotspots for emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere. We further conclude that the variability in stream CO2 concentration over time is very high, caused by variations in both water discharge and primary production. Given the observed high levels of CO2 and its temporally variable nature, agricultural streams clearly need more attention in order to understand and incorporate these dynamics in large-scale extrapolations.
Quan Zhang, Huimin Lei, Dawen Yang, Lihua Xiong, Pan Liu, and Beijing Fang
Biogeosciences, 17, 2245–2262, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2245-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2245-2020, 2020
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Research into climate change has been popular over the past few decades. Greenhouse gas emissions are found to be responsible for climate change. Among all the ecosystems, cropland is the main food source for mankind, therefore its carbon cycle and contribution to the global carbon balance interest us. Our evaluation of the typical wheat–maize rotation cropland over the North China Plain shows it is a net CO2 emission to the atmosphere and that emissions will continue to rise in the future.
Sheila Wachiye, Lutz Merbold, Timo Vesala, Janne Rinne, Matti Räsänen, Sonja Leitner, and Petri Pellikka
Biogeosciences, 17, 2149–2167, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2149-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-2149-2020, 2020
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Limited data on emissions in Africa translate into uncertainty during GHG budgeting. We studied annual CO2, N2O, and CH4 emissions in four land-use types in Kenyan savanna using static chambers and gas chromatography. CO2 emissions varied between seasons and land-use types. Soil moisture and vegetation explained the seasonal variation, while soil temperature was insignificant. N2O and CH4 emissions did not vary at all sites. Our results are useful in climate change mitigation interventions.
Celina Burkholz, Neus Garcias-Bonet, and Carlos M. Duarte
Biogeosciences, 17, 1717–1730, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1717-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1717-2020, 2020
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Seagrass meadows store carbon in their biomass and sediments, but they have also been shown to be sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). We experimentally investigated the effect of warming and prolonged darkness on CO2 and CH4 fluxes in Red Sea seagrass (Halophila stipulacea) communities. Our results indicated that sublethal warming may lead to increased emissions of greenhouse gases from seagrass meadows which may contribute to further enhance global warming.
Chris R. Flechard, Andreas Ibrom, Ute M. Skiba, Wim de Vries, Marcel van Oijen, David R. Cameron, Nancy B. Dise, Janne F. J. Korhonen, Nina Buchmann, Arnaud Legout, David Simpson, Maria J. Sanz, Marc Aubinet, Denis Loustau, Leonardo Montagnani, Johan Neirynck, Ivan A. Janssens, Mari Pihlatie, Ralf Kiese, Jan Siemens, André-Jean Francez, Jürgen Augustin, Andrej Varlagin, Janusz Olejnik, Radosław Juszczak, Mika Aurela, Daniel Berveiller, Bogdan H. Chojnicki, Ulrich Dämmgen, Nicolas Delpierre, Vesna Djuricic, Julia Drewer, Eric Dufrêne, Werner Eugster, Yannick Fauvel, David Fowler, Arnoud Frumau, André Granier, Patrick Gross, Yannick Hamon, Carole Helfter, Arjan Hensen, László Horváth, Barbara Kitzler, Bart Kruijt, Werner L. Kutsch, Raquel Lobo-do-Vale, Annalea Lohila, Bernard Longdoz, Michal V. Marek, Giorgio Matteucci, Marta Mitosinkova, Virginie Moreaux, Albrecht Neftel, Jean-Marc Ourcival, Kim Pilegaard, Gabriel Pita, Francisco Sanz, Jan K. Schjoerring, Maria-Teresa Sebastià, Y. Sim Tang, Hilde Uggerud, Marek Urbaniak, Netty van Dijk, Timo Vesala, Sonja Vidic, Caroline Vincke, Tamás Weidinger, Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Eiko Nemitz, and Mark A. Sutton
Biogeosciences, 17, 1583–1620, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1583-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1583-2020, 2020
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Experimental evidence from a network of 40 monitoring sites in Europe suggests that atmospheric nitrogen deposition to forests and other semi-natural vegetation impacts the carbon sequestration rates in ecosystems, as well as the net greenhouse gas balance including other greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide and methane. Excess nitrogen deposition in polluted areas also leads to other environmental impacts such as nitrogen leaching to groundwater and other pollutant gaseous emissions.
Chris R. Flechard, Marcel van Oijen, David R. Cameron, Wim de Vries, Andreas Ibrom, Nina Buchmann, Nancy B. Dise, Ivan A. Janssens, Johan Neirynck, Leonardo Montagnani, Andrej Varlagin, Denis Loustau, Arnaud Legout, Klaudia Ziemblińska, Marc Aubinet, Mika Aurela, Bogdan H. Chojnicki, Julia Drewer, Werner Eugster, André-Jean Francez, Radosław Juszczak, Barbara Kitzler, Werner L. Kutsch, Annalea Lohila, Bernard Longdoz, Giorgio Matteucci, Virginie Moreaux, Albrecht Neftel, Janusz Olejnik, Maria J. Sanz, Jan Siemens, Timo Vesala, Caroline Vincke, Eiko Nemitz, Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Ute M. Skiba, and Mark A. Sutton
Biogeosciences, 17, 1621–1654, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1621-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1621-2020, 2020
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Nitrogen deposition from the atmosphere to unfertilized terrestrial vegetation such as forests can increase carbon dioxide uptake and favour carbon sequestration by ecosystems. However the data from observational networks are difficult to interpret in terms of a carbon-to-nitrogen response, because there are a number of other confounding factors, such as climate, soil physical properties and fertility, and forest age. We propose a model-based method to untangle the different influences.
Pauline Sophie Rummel, Birgit Pfeiffer, Johanna Pausch, Reinhard Well, Dominik Schneider, and Klaus Dittert
Biogeosciences, 17, 1181–1198, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1181-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-1181-2020, 2020
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Chemical composition of plant litter controls C availability for biological N transformation processes in soil. In this study, we showed that easily degradable maize shoots stimulated microbial respiration and mineralization leading to high N2O formation in litter-associated hot spots. A higher share of slowly degradable C compounds and lower concentrations of water-soluble N restricted N2O emissions from maize roots. Bacterial community structure reflected degradability of maize litter.
Cynthia Soued and Yves T. Prairie
Biogeosciences, 17, 515–527, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-515-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-515-2020, 2020
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Freshwater reservoirs emit greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to organic matter decay after landscape flooding. In order to better understand this phenomenon, we performed a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment of a tropical reservoir. Contrary to predictions, 89 % of measured emissions occurred downstream of the dam. Comparing predicted vs. measured emissions revealed weaknesses in our current modeling framework and insights to improve our ability to quantify and reduce reservoir GHG emissions.
Shimelis Gizachew Raji and Peter Dörsch
Biogeosciences, 17, 345–359, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-345-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-345-2020, 2020
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Intercropping maize with forage legumes can benefit Ethiopian smallholder farmers by providing cheap nitrogen and valuable livestock feed. We measured N2O emissions and maize yields and found that high legume biomasses may enhance N2O emissions per unit of harvested maize but that, after mulching, legume N can partly replace expensive mineral N. Thus, legume intercropping can be a valid strategy in the framework of climate-smart agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
Arezoo Taghizadeh-Toosi, Lars Elsgaard, Tim J. Clough, Rodrigo Labouriau, Vibeke Ernstsen, and Søren O. Petersen
Biogeosciences, 16, 4555–4575, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4555-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4555-2019, 2019
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Organic soils drained for crop production or grazing land have high potential for nitrous oxide emissions. The present study investigated the regulation of N2O emissions in a raised bog area drained for agriculture. It seems that archaeal ammonia oxidation and either chemodenitrification or nitrifier denitrification were considered to be plausible pathways of N2O production in spring, whereas in the autumn heterotrophic denitrification may have been more important at arable sites.
Hermann W. Bange, Chun Hock Sim, Daniel Bastian, Jennifer Kallert, Annette Kock, Aazani Mujahid, and Moritz Müller
Biogeosciences, 16, 4321–4335, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4321-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4321-2019, 2019
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Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) are atmospheric trace gases which play important roles in the climate and atmospheric chemistry of the Earth. However, little is known about their emissions from rivers and estuaries. To this end, concentrations of N2O and CH4 were measured during a seasonal study in six rivers and estuaries in northwestern Borneo. The concentrations of both gases were mainly driven by rainfall. The rivers and estuaries were an overall net source of atmospheric N2O and CH4.
Jackie R. Webb, Peter R. Leavitt, Gavin L. Simpson, Helen M. Baulch, Heather A. Haig, Kyle R. Hodder, and Kerri Finlay
Biogeosciences, 16, 4211–4227, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4211-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4211-2019, 2019
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Small farm reservoirs are key features within agricultural landscapes, yet these waterbodies can contribute substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. This study assessed some of the environmental factors that may impact the production of these GHGs. We found promise that farm reservoirs can act as net greenhouse gas sinks and identified some of the key water quality, landscape, and design features that may support GHG mitigation.
Thomas Klintzsch, Gerald Langer, Gernot Nehrke, Anna Wieland, Katharina Lenhart, and Frank Keppler
Biogeosciences, 16, 4129–4144, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4129-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4129-2019, 2019
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Marine algae might contribute to the observed methane oversaturation in oxic waters, but so far direct evidence for methane production by marine algae is limited. We investigated three widespread haptophytes for methane formation. Our results provide unambiguous evidence that all investigated marine algae produce methane per se and at substantial rates. We conclude that each of the three algae studied here could substantially account for the methane production observed in field studies.
Fabien Leroy, Sébastien Gogo, Christophe Guimbaud, Léonard Bernard-Jannin, Xiaole Yin, Guillaume Belot, Wang Shuguang, and Fatima Laggoun-Défarge
Biogeosciences, 16, 4085–4095, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4085-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4085-2019, 2019
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This study demonstrates the implications of Molinia caerulea colonization in Sphagnum peatland on the C fluxes by enhancing the CO2 uptake by photosynthesis (but which led to higher CO2 and CH4 emissions) and also on the parameters controlling it (by increasing the temperature sensitivity of the CH4 emissions). Furthermore, roots and litter of Molinia caerulea could provide additional substrates for C emissions and should be taken into account in further works.
Xiao Ma, Sinikka T. Lennartz, and Hermann W. Bange
Biogeosciences, 16, 4097–4111, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4097-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4097-2019, 2019
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Monthly measurements of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas and ozone depletion agent, were conducted at Boknis Eck (BE), a time series station in the southwestern Baltic Sea, since July 2005. Low N2O concentrations were observed in autumn and high in winter and early spring. Dissolved nutrients and oxygen played important roles in N2O distribution. Although we did not observe a significant N2O trend during 2005–2017, a decrease in N2O concentration and emission seems likely in future.
Eric J. Morgan, Jost V. Lavric, Damian L. Arévalo-Martínez, Hermann W. Bange, Tobias Steinhoff, Thomas Seifert, and Martin Heimann
Biogeosciences, 16, 4065–4084, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4065-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-4065-2019, 2019
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Taking a 2-year atmospheric record of atmospheric oxygen and the greenhouse gases N2O, CO2, and CH4, made at a coastal site in the Namib Desert, we estimated the fluxes of these gases from upwelling events in the northern Benguela Current region. We compared these results with flux measurements made on a research vessel in the study area at the same time and found that the two approaches agreed well. The study region was a source of N2O, CO2, and CH4 to the atmosphere during upwelling events.
Hubertus Fischer, Jochen Schmitt, Michael Bock, Barbara Seth, Fortunat Joos, Renato Spahni, Sebastian Lienert, Gianna Battaglia, Benjamin D. Stocker, Adrian Schilt, and Edward J. Brook
Biogeosciences, 16, 3997–4021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3997-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3997-2019, 2019
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N2O concentrations were subject to strong variations accompanying glacial–interglacial but also rapid climate changes over the last 21 kyr. The sources of these N2O changes can be identified by measuring the isotopic composition of N2O in ice cores and using the distinct isotopic composition of terrestrial and marine N2O. We show that both marine and terrestrial sources increased from the last glacial to the Holocene but that only terrestrial emissions responded quickly to rapid climate changes.
Alberto V. Borges, François Darchambeau, Thibault Lambert, Cédric Morana, George H. Allen, Ernest Tambwe, Alfred Toengaho Sembaito, Taylor Mambo, José Nlandu Wabakhangazi, Jean-Pierre Descy, Cristian R. Teodoru, and Steven Bouillon
Biogeosciences, 16, 3801–3834, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3801-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3801-2019, 2019
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Tropical rivers might be strong sources of CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere, although there is an enormous data gap. The origin of CO2 in lowland tropical rivers is not well characterized and can be from terra firme or from wetlands (flooded forests and aquatic macrophytes). We obtained a large field dataset of CO2, CH4 and N2O in the Congo, the second-largest river in the world, which allows us to quantity the emission of these greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and investigate their origin.
Mika Korkiakoski, Juha-Pekka Tuovinen, Timo Penttilä, Sakari Sarkkola, Paavo Ojanen, Kari Minkkinen, Juuso Rainne, Tuomas Laurila, and Annalea Lohila
Biogeosciences, 16, 3703–3723, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3703-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3703-2019, 2019
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We measured greenhouse gas and energy fluxes for 2 years after clear-cutting in a peatland forest. We found high carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide emissions. However, in the second year after clear-cutting, the carbon dioxide emissions had already decreased by 33 % from the first year. Also, clear-cutting turned the site from a methane sink into a methane source. We conclude that clear-cutting peatland forests exerts a strong climatic warming effect through accelerated emission of greenhouse gas.
Kleiton R. de Araújo, Henrique O. Sawakuchi, Dailson J. Bertassoli Jr., André O. Sawakuchi, Karina D. da Silva, Thiago B. Vieira, Nicholas D. Ward, and Tatiana S. Pereira
Biogeosciences, 16, 3527–3542, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3527-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3527-2019, 2019
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Run-of-the-river (ROR) reservoirs have reduced flooded areas that maintain natural river characteristics; however, little is known about their influence on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission. In this regard, we evaluated the spatiotemporal CO2 fluxes (FCO2) and partial CO2 pressure (pCO2) of the Belo Monte hydropower complex. Our results emphasize that ROR dams contribute to CO2) emissions. Only FCO2 varies through reservoirs; in addition, both FCO2 and pCO2 are spatially heterogeneous.
Lukas Kohl, Markku Koskinen, Kaisa Rissanen, Iikka Haikarainen, Tatu Polvinen, Heidi Hellén, and Mari Pihlatie
Biogeosciences, 16, 3319–3332, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3319-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3319-2019, 2019
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Plants emit small amounts of methane and large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Measurements of plant methane emissions therefore require analysers that can provide accurate measurements of CH4 concentrations in the presence of changing amounts of VOCs. We therefore quantified to which degree various VOCs bias methane concentration measurements on different analysers. Our results show that some analysers are more sensitive to the presence of VOCs than others.
Petri Kiuru, Anne Ojala, Ivan Mammarella, Jouni Heiskanen, Kukka-Maaria Erkkilä, Heli Miettinen, Timo Vesala, and Timo Huttula
Biogeosciences, 16, 3297–3317, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3297-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3297-2019, 2019
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Many boreal lakes emit the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. We incorporated four different gas exchange models into a physico-biochemical lake model and studied their ability to simulate lake air–water CO2 fluxes. The inclusion of refined gas exchange models in lake models that simulate carbon cycling is important to assess lake carbon budgets. However, higher estimates for inorganic carbon sources in boreal lakes are needed to balance the CO2 losses to the atmosphere.
Erkan Ibraim, Benjamin Wolf, Eliza Harris, Rainer Gasche, Jing Wei, Longfei Yu, Ralf Kiese, Sarah Eggleston, Klaus Butterbach-Bahl, Matthias Zeeman, Béla Tuzson, Lukas Emmenegger, Johan Six, Stephan Henne, and Joachim Mohn
Biogeosciences, 16, 3247–3266, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3247-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3247-2019, 2019
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Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas and the major stratospheric ozone-depleting substance; therefore, mitigation of anthropogenic N2O emissions is needed. To trace N2O-emitting source processes, in this study, we observed N2O isotopocules above an intensively managed grassland research site with a recently developed laser spectroscopy method. Our results indicate that the domain of denitrification or nitrifier denitrification was the major N2O source.
Camilo Rey-Sanchez, Gil Bohrer, Julie Slater, Yueh-Fen Li, Roger Grau-Andrés, Yushan Hao, Virginia I. Rich, and G. Matt Davies
Biogeosciences, 16, 3207–3231, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3207-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3207-2019, 2019
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It is estimated that natural wetlands emit approximately 30 % of all the methane released to the atmosphere; yet these estimates are highly uncertain due to the complexity of biological, chemical, and physical processes controlling methane emissions. In this study, we explore how some of these key processes drive methane emissions in a temperate peat bog. We show that the composition of microbial methane cyclers in the upper portion of the peat drives the velocity of methane release to the air.
Jocelyn E. Egan, David R. Bowling, and David A. Risk
Biogeosciences, 16, 3197–3205, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3197-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3197-2019, 2019
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Traditionally a mass-dependent correction is made when measuring the radiocarbon composition in organic samples. This correction has not been evaluated for the soil gas environment where gas transport processes are important. Here, we show using theory that this traditional correction is not appropriate for estimating the radiocarbon composition of soil biological production. We also propose a new solution that accounts for soil gas transport processes.
Mathias Göckede, Fanny Kittler, and Carsten Schaller
Biogeosciences, 16, 3113–3131, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3113-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-3113-2019, 2019
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Methane is one of the most important greenhouse gases. Methane emissions from land sources to the atmosphere often occur in the form of short but intense outbursts, which are difficult to measure. We developed a new software tool based on wavelets which reliably quantifies such methane outbursts. Using these results as a reference, our study shows that regular data processing using the eddy-covariance technique provides solid long-term methane budgets, but short-term uncertainties can be high.
Sissel Hansen, Randi Berland Frøseth, Maria Stenberg, Jarosław Stalenga, Jørgen E. Olesen, Maike Krauss, Paweł Radzikowski, Jordi Doltra, Shahid Nadeem, Torfinn Torp, Valentini Pappa, and Christine A. Watson
Biogeosciences, 16, 2795–2819, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2795-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2795-2019, 2019
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We discuss nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate leaching in organic arable farming, and potential mitigation strategies. The losses are low under growing crops, but crop residues may induce larger losses. The correlation between yearly total N-input and N2O emissions is weak. Cover crops, except sole legumes, have the potential to reduce nitrate leaching but may enhance N2O emissions. Optimised synchrony of mineralisation with crop N uptake will enhance crop productivity and reduce losses.
Scott J. Davidson, Christine Van Beest, Richard Petrone, and Maria Strack
Biogeosciences, 16, 2651–2660, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2651-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2651-2019, 2019
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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.
Norman Rößger, Christian Wille, David Holl, Mathias Göckede, and Lars Kutzbach
Biogeosciences, 16, 2591–2615, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2591-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2591-2019, 2019
Lin Lin, Xixi Lu, Shaoda Liu, Shie-Yui Liong, and Kaidao Fu
Biogeosciences, 16, 2205–2219, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2205-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-2205-2019, 2019
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Damming did not significantly increase carbon dioxide emissions from the reservoir surface, as shown in a case study in a reservoir constrained within the narrow upper Mekong River valley. This finding might provide some evidence to the green credits for hydropower in China. One-year monitoring of carbon dioxide emissions from the water surface found that the higher emissions were concentrated at the riverine inlets in winter and more related to the mixing process of inflow and reservoir water.
Karl Voglmeier, Johan Six, Markus Jocher, and Christof Ammann
Biogeosciences, 16, 1685–1703, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1685-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1685-2019, 2019
Lifei Yin, Pin Du, Minsi Zhang, Mingxu Liu, Tingting Xu, and Yu Song
Biogeosciences, 16, 1629–1640, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1629-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1629-2019, 2019
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Biomass burning is an important source of trace gases and aerosols in China, with a significant contribution from small-sized crop residue fires. Compared with conventional methods for emission estimation, the approach based on fire radiative energy (FRE) provides a more reasonable estimate for small-fire emissions. By using FRE data derived from satellites, we developed a long-term biomass burning emission inventory for China with a higher resolution (daily, 1 km) than previous studies.
Tim Eckhardt, Christian Knoblauch, Lars Kutzbach, David Holl, Gillian Simpson, Evgeny Abakumov, and Eva-Maria Pfeiffer
Biogeosciences, 16, 1543–1562, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1543-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1543-2019, 2019
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We quantified the contribution of individual components governing the net ecosystem exchange of CO2 and how these fluxes respond to environmental changes in a drained and water-saturated site in the polygonal tundra of northeast Siberia. This work finds both sites as a sink for atmospheric CO2 during the growing season, but sink strengths varied between the sites. Furthermore, it was shown that soil hydrological conditions were one of the key drivers for differing CO2 fluxes between the sites.
Robert R. Bogue, Florian M. Schwandner, Joshua B. Fisher, Ryan Pavlick, Troy S. Magney, Caroline A. Famiglietti, Kerry Cawse-Nicholson, Vineet Yadav, Justin P. Linick, Gretchen B. North, and Eliecer Duarte
Biogeosciences, 16, 1343–1360, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1343-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1343-2019, 2019
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This study examined rainforest responses to elevated CO2 coming from volcanoes in Costa Rica. Comparing tree species, we found that leaf function responded when exposed to increasing CO2 levels. The chemical signature of volcanic CO2 is different than background CO2. Trees exposed to volcanic CO2 also had chemical signatures which showed the influence of volcanic CO2: trees not only
breathe inand are made of volcanic CO2 but also retain that exposure history for decades.
Yu Qin, Shuhua Yi, Yongjian Ding, Wei Zhang, Yan Qin, Jianjun Chen, and Zhiwei Wang
Biogeosciences, 16, 1097–1109, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1097-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1097-2019, 2019
Anne Klosterhalfen, Alexander Graf, Nicolas Brüggemann, Clemens Drüe, Odilia Esser, María P. González-Dugo, Günther Heinemann, Cor M. J. Jacobs, Matthias Mauder, Arnold F. Moene, Patrizia Ney, Thomas Pütz, Corinna Rebmann, Mario Ramos Rodríguez, Todd M. Scanlon, Marius Schmidt, Rainer Steinbrecher, Christoph K. Thomas, Veronika Valler, Matthias J. Zeeman, and Harry Vereecken
Biogeosciences, 16, 1111–1132, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1111-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1111-2019, 2019
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To obtain magnitudes of flux components of H2O and CO2 (e.g., transpiration, soil respiration), we applied source partitioning approaches after Scanlon and Kustas (2010) and after Thomas et al. (2008) to high-frequency eddy covariance measurements of 12 study sites covering various ecosystems (croplands, grasslands, and forests) in different climatic regions. We analyzed the interrelations among turbulence, site characteristics, and the performance of both partitioning methods.
Suqing Xu, Keyhong Park, Yanmin Wang, Liqi Chen, Di Qi, and Bingrui Li
Biogeosciences, 16, 797–810, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-797-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-797-2019, 2019
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In this study we applied the self-organizing map (SOM) method to estimate the oceanic pCO2 in Prydz Bay derived from its main controlling factors. The RMSE of the SOM-derived pCO2 was 22.14 µatm compared to SOCAT datasets. Our results showed that the monthly averaged uptake of atmospheric CO2 for February 2015 was 23.57±6.36 TgC. Strong potential anthropogenic CO2 uptake in the
shelf regionwill enhance ocean acidification (OA) in the deep water of Prydz Bay and subsequently affect deep OA.
Elodie Alice Courtois, Clément Stahl, Benoit Burban, Joke Van den Berge, Daniel Berveiller, Laëtitia Bréchet, Jennifer Larned Soong, Nicola Arriga, Josep Peñuelas, and Ivan August Janssens
Biogeosciences, 16, 785–796, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-785-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-785-2019, 2019
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Measuring greenhouse gases (GHGs) from a natural ecosystem remains a contemporary challenge. We tested the use of appropriate technology for the estimation of soil fluxes of the three main GHGs in a tropical rainforest for 4 months. We showed that our design allowed the continuous high-frequency measurement of the three gases in a tropical biome and provide recommendations for its implementation. This study is a major step in the estimation of the global GHG budget of tropical forests.
Michael M. Swenson, Shane Regan, Dirk T. H. Bremmers, Jenna Lawless, Matthew Saunders, and Laurence W. Gill
Biogeosciences, 16, 713–731, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-713-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-713-2019, 2019
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Abbeyleix Bog in the Irish Midlands contains areas that were historically harvested for peat and then abandoned as well as areas that were never harvested. This study measured the carbon balance for both harvested locations and unharvested locations at Abbeyleix Bog. Measurements were conducted in the field over 2 years. This was carried out to understand how the historic harvesting and later abandonment of peat affect greenhouse gas emissions.
Siyue Li, Rong Mao, Yongmei Ma, and Vedula V. S. S. Sarma
Biogeosciences, 16, 681–693, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-681-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-681-2019, 2019
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We provide a first determination of k in human-impacted subtropical streams and small rivers. High and highly variable k values reflect different controls on water turbulence. New models of k are developed using water depth and flow velocity. We show that previous estimates of riverine CO2 evasion from subtropical streams and small rivers are conservative and highlight the importance of incorporating scale-appropriate k measurements into extensive pCO2 investigations for accurate C budgets.
Denise Müller-Dum, Thorsten Warneke, Tim Rixen, Moritz Müller, Antje Baum, Aliki Christodoulou, Joanne Oakes, Bradley D. Eyre, and Justus Notholt
Biogeosciences, 16, 17–32, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-17-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-17-2019, 2019
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Southeast Asian peat-draining rivers are potentially strong sources of carbon to the atmosphere due to the large amounts of organic carbon stored in those ecosystems. We present the first assessment of CO2 emissions from the Rajang River, the largest peat-draining river in Malaysia. The peatlands’ influence on the CO2 emissions from the Rajang River was smaller than expected, probably due to their proximity to the coast. Therefore, the Rajang was only a moderate source of CO2 to the atmosphere.
Beate Stawiarski, Stefan Otto, Volker Thiel, Ulf Gräwe, Natalie Loick-Wilde, Anna K. Wittenborn, Stefan Schloemer, Janine Wäge, Gregor Rehder, Matthias Labrenz, Norbert Wasmund, and Oliver Schmale
Biogeosciences, 16, 1–16, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-16-1-2019, 2019
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The understanding of surface water methane production in the world oceans is still poor. By combining field studies and incubation experiments, our investigations suggest that zooplankton contributes to subthermocline methane enrichments in the central Baltic Sea by methane production within the digestive tract of copepods and/or by methane production through release of methane precursor substances into the surrounding water, followed by microbial degradation to methane.
Jonas Beck, Michael Bock, Jochen Schmitt, Barbara Seth, Thomas Blunier, and Hubertus Fischer
Biogeosciences, 15, 7155–7175, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-7155-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-7155-2018, 2018
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Ice core concentration and stable isotope measurements of atmospheric CH4 give valuable insights into the CH4 cycle of the past. New carbon and hydrogen stable isotope CH4 data measured on ice from both Greenland and Antarctica over the Holocene allow us to draw conclusions on the methane emission processes. In particular, our results cast doubt on a hypothesis proposing early human land use to be responsible for the atmospheric methane concentration increase in the second half of the Holocene.
Sheng-Hui Zhang, Juan Yu, Qiong-Yao Ding, Gui-Peng Yang, Kun-Shan Gao, Hong-Hai Zhang, and Da-Wei Pan
Biogeosciences, 15, 6649–6658, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6649-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6649-2018, 2018
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Environmental effects of ocean acidification and trace gases have drawn much attention in recent years and existing studies reveal that the response of communities and trace gases to ocean acidification is still not predictable and requires further study. The present study examined the effect of elevated pCO2 on trace gas production and phytoplankton during an ocean acidification mesocosm experiment.
Hinrich Schaefer, Dan Smale, Sylvia E. Nichol, Tony M. Bromley, Gordon W. Brailsford, Ross J. Martin, Rowena Moss, Sylvia Englund Michel, and James W. C. White
Biogeosciences, 15, 6371–6386, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6371-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-15-6371-2018, 2018
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To quantify the impact of El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate events on the methane budget, we studied the correlation between CH4 time series and ENSO indices. We find that ENSO explains less than one-third of the variability in CH4 levels and their stable carbon isotopes, which constrain the source processes of emissions. ENSO forcing of the CH4 cycle is too small, episodic, and regional to force atmospheric trends, which are more likely caused by agricultural or industrial emissions.
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Short summary
Atmospheric methane has risen rapidly since 2008 and has become more depleted in 13C, in contrast to the trend towards more 13C enrichment in the late 20th century. Many have used this isotopic evidence to infer an increased biogenic source. Here I analyze the 13C trend with the consideration that methane from shale gas is somewhat depleted in 13C compared to other fossil fuels. I conclude that shale gas may be responsible for a third of the global increase from all sources.
Atmospheric methane has risen rapidly since 2008 and has become more depleted in 13C, in...
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