Atmospheric methane removal by boreal plants

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.

• Författare: Elin Sundqvist; Patrick Crill; Meelis Mölder; Patrik Vestin; Anders Lindroth
• Avdelning/ar: Institutionen för naturgeografi och ekosystemvetenskap; BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate
• Publiceringsår: 2012
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 21806-21812
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Geophysical Research Letters
• Volym: 39
• Issue: 21
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2012gl053592
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
• Ämne: Physical Geography
• Nyckelord: trace gases; biosphere/atmosphere interactions; biogeophysics; temperature; biogeochemical cycles; processes; and modeling; spruce; pine; radiation; in situ measurements
• Aktiv: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 1944-8007