Articles | Volume 22, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-1711-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-22-1711-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
01 Apr 2025
Research article |
| 01 Apr 2025
| 01 Apr 2025
Exploring microscale heterogeneity as a driver of biogeochemical transformations and gas transport in peat
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
Petri Kiuru
School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
Marjo Palviainen
Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Maarit Raivonen
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Markku Koskinen
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Mari Pihlatie
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR)/Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
Annamari Laurén
School of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Peatlands are large carbon stocks. Emissions of carbon dioxide and methane from peatlands may increase due to changes in management and climate. We studied the variation in the gas diffusivity of peat with depth using pore network simulations and laboratory experiments. Gas diffusivity was found to be lower in deeper peat with smaller pores and lower pore connectivity. However, gas diffusivity was not extremely low in wet conditions, which may reflect the distinctive structure of peat.
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Manuscript not accepted for further review
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Petri Kiuru, Marjo Palviainen, Arianna Marchionne, Tiia Grönholm, Maarit Raivonen, Lukas Kohl, and Annamari Laurén
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Peatlands are large carbon stocks. Emissions of carbon dioxide and methane from peatlands may increase due to changes in management and climate. We studied the variation in the gas diffusivity of peat with depth using pore network simulations and laboratory experiments. Gas diffusivity was found to be lower in deeper peat with smaller pores and lower pore connectivity. However, gas diffusivity was not extremely low in wet conditions, which may reflect the distinctive structure of peat.
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Geosci. Commun., 4, 507–516, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-507-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-4-507-2021, 2021
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Lukas Kohl, Markku Koskinen, Tatu Polvinen, Salla Tenhovirta, Kaisa Rissanen, Marjo Patama, Alessandro Zanetti, and Mari Pihlatie
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We present ShoTGa-FluMS, a measurement system designed for continuous and automated measurements of trace gas and volatile organic compound (VOC) fluxes from plant shoots. ShoTGa-FluMS uses transparent shoot enclosures equipped with cooling elements, automatically replaces fixated CO2, and removes transpired water from the enclosure, thus solving multiple technical problems that have so far prevented automated plant shoot trace gas flux measurements.
Elisa Vainio, Olli Peltola, Ville Kasurinen, Antti-Jussi Kieloaho, Eeva-Stiina Tuittila, and Mari Pihlatie
Biogeosciences, 18, 2003–2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-2003-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-2003-2021, 2021
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We studied forest floor methane exchange over an area of 10 ha in a boreal pine forest. The results demonstrate high spatial variability in soil moisture and consequently in the methane flux. We detected wet patches emitting high amounts of methane in the early summer; however, these patches turned to methane uptake in the autumn. We concluded that the small-scale spatial variability of the boreal forest methane flux highlights the importance of soil chamber placement in similar studies.
Iñaki Urzainki, Ari Laurén, Marjo Palviainen, Kersti Haahti, Arif Budiman, Imam Basuki, Michael Netzer, and Hannu Hökkä
Biogeosciences, 17, 4769–4784, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4769-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-4769-2020, 2020
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Drained peatlands (peat areas where ditches have been excavated to enhance plant production) are one of the main sources of carbon dioxide emissions globally. Blocking these ditches by building dams is a common strategy to restore the self-sustaining peat ecosystem and mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. Where should these dams be located in order to maximize the benefits? Our work tackles this question by making use of the available data, hydrological modeling and numerical optimization methods.
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Short summary
We present an assay to illuminate heterogeneity in biogeochemical transformations within peat samples. For this, we injected isotope-labeled acetate into peat cores and monitored the release of label-derived gases, which we compared to microtomography images. The fraction of label converted to CO2 and the rapidness of this conversion were linked to injection depth and air-filled porosity.
We present an assay to illuminate heterogeneity in biogeochemical transformations within peat...
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