Abstract
The net effect of forest soils on the overall atmospheric concentration of methane and carbon dioxide is complex and relies upon many different factors. The flux of these gases from the soils may vary significantly depending upon temperature, water content, soil compaction, soil composition, root structure within the soil, decaying forest components within the soil, and other factors. We have developed and tested a portable, battery powered quadrupole mass spectrometer that allows for in-situ, real time measurement of the concentration of gases in soils. This instrument allows for rapid, simultaneous quantification of methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor and other gases in the near surface region of the soils. Here, we have measured the concentrations of methane and carbon dioxide in the soils of the Coconino National Forest, comparing gas levels in regions of the forest that have been mechanically thinned vs. nearby regions that have been undisturbed.
Highlights
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with an effect on greenhouse warming approximately 30 times greater than that of carbon dioxide per unit of gas
We have developed and tested a portable, battery powered quadrupole mass spectrometer that allows for in-situ, real time measurement of the concentration of gases in various soils
This instrument allows for rapid, simultaneous quantification of methane, carbon dioxide, water vapor and other gases in the near surface region of the soils
Summary
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with an effect on greenhouse warming approximately 30 times greater than that of carbon dioxide per unit of gas. Occurring sources contribute a large fraction of the methane measured in the atmosphere. The largest source of naturally occurring methane is the worldwide wetlands [2]. Soils in various ecosystems may, under certain conditions, act as either methane sinks or as sources of atmospheric methane. In forest soils, aerobic conditions that are found in highly aerated zones may house methane consuming microorganisms that lead to an overall methane sink effect [4]. Net oxygen depletion may lead to enhanced production of methane by soil bacteria [5]. Other studies have shown that soils are capable of becoming net sources of methane under certain conditions [6,7,8]. The overall balance of water in forest soils may be a factor in the methane cycle observed in these systems [9]
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