Patrik Vestin
Research engineer
Atmospheric methane removal by boreal plants
Author
Summary, in English
Several studies have proposed aerobic methane (CH4) emissions by plants. If confirmed, these findings would further increase the imbalance in the global CH4 budget which today underestimates CH4 sinks. Oxidation by OH-radicals in the troposphere is the major identified sink followed by smaller contribution from stratospheric loss and oxidation by methano- and methylotrophic bacteria in soils. This study directly investigated CH4 exchange by plants in their natural environment. At a forest site in central Sweden, in situ branch chamber measurements were used to study plant ambient CH4 exchange by spruce (Picea abies), birch (Betula pubescens), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and pine (Pinus sylvestris). The results show a net uptake of CH4 by all the studied plants, which might be of importance for the methane budget.
Department/s
- Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
Publishing year
2012
Language
English
Pages
21806-21812
Publication/Series
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
39
Issue
21
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Topic
- Physical Geography
Keywords
- trace gases
- biosphere/atmosphere interactions
- biogeophysics
- temperature
- biogeochemical cycles
- processes
- and modeling
- spruce
- pine
- radiation
- in situ measurements
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1944-8007