Large scale variations in CH4 emissions from wetlands explained by temperature and substrate availability

• Globally, wetlands are at estimates ranging 115-237 Tg C4/yr1 the largest single source of the greenhouse gas CH4 to the atmosphere. Important feedback mechanisms on climate change arising from changing exchanges of C02 between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere have recently been identified2. A related question is how will possible changes in the CH4 emissions from wetlands affect the further development of the greenhouse effect? Here we show using comparable methods in a wide range of wetlands ranging from Greenland to Siberia that regardless the dependency on soil moisture, plant productivity and other factors, temperature is the strongest control and predictor of CH4 emissions across both temporal and large spatial scales. Furthermore, we show that CH4 flux variations not explained by temperature can beattributed to differences in microbial substrate availability (expressed as the organic acid concentration in peat water). Combined, soil temperature and organic acid concentrations explains 99% of the variation in CH4 fluxes between the different sites. The temperature sensitivity of the CH4 emissions shown suggests a strong feedback mechanism on climatechange that should valid incorporation in developments of global circulation models.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

Keyword

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS

TVÄRVETENSKAPLIGA FORSKNINGSOMRÅDEN

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)