The effect of peat structure on the spatial distribution of biogenic gases within bogs
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The effect of peat structure on the spatial distribution of biogenic gases within bogs. / Comas, Xavier; Kettridge, Nicholas; Binley, Andrew; Slater, Lee; Parsekian, Andrew; Baird, Andy J.; Strack, Maria; Waddington, James M.
In: Hydrological Processes, Vol. 28, No. 22, 07.10.2014, p. 5483-5494.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of peat structure on the spatial distribution of biogenic gases within bogs
AU - Comas, Xavier
AU - Kettridge, Nicholas
AU - Binley, Andrew
AU - Slater, Lee
AU - Parsekian, Andrew
AU - Baird, Andy J.
AU - Strack, Maria
AU - Waddington, James M.
PY - 2014/10/7
Y1 - 2014/10/7
N2 - Northern peatlands are a large source of atmospheric methane (CH4) and both a source and a sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The rate and temporal variability in gas exchanges with peat soils is directly related to the spatial distribution of these free-phase gases within the peat column. In this paper, we present results from surface and borehole ground-penetrating radar surveys - constrained with direct soil and gas sampling - that compare the spatial distribution of gas accumulations in two raised bogs: one in Wales (UK), the other in Maine (USA). Although the two peatlands have similar average thickness, physical properties of the peat matrix differ, particularly in terms of peat type and degree of humification. We hypothesize that these variations in physical properties are responsible for the differences in gas distribution between the two peatlands characterized by (1) gas content up to 10.8% associated with woody peat and presence of wood layers in Caribou Bog (Maine) and (2) a more homogenous distribution with gas content up to 5.7% at the surface (i.e. <0.5m deep) in Cors Fochno (Wales). Our results highlight the variability in biogenic gas accumulation and distribution across peatlands and suggest that the nature of the peat matrix has a key role in defining how biogenic gas accumulates within and is released to the atmosphere from peat soils.
AB - Northern peatlands are a large source of atmospheric methane (CH4) and both a source and a sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The rate and temporal variability in gas exchanges with peat soils is directly related to the spatial distribution of these free-phase gases within the peat column. In this paper, we present results from surface and borehole ground-penetrating radar surveys - constrained with direct soil and gas sampling - that compare the spatial distribution of gas accumulations in two raised bogs: one in Wales (UK), the other in Maine (USA). Although the two peatlands have similar average thickness, physical properties of the peat matrix differ, particularly in terms of peat type and degree of humification. We hypothesize that these variations in physical properties are responsible for the differences in gas distribution between the two peatlands characterized by (1) gas content up to 10.8% associated with woody peat and presence of wood layers in Caribou Bog (Maine) and (2) a more homogenous distribution with gas content up to 5.7% at the surface (i.e. <0.5m deep) in Cors Fochno (Wales). Our results highlight the variability in biogenic gas accumulation and distribution across peatlands and suggest that the nature of the peat matrix has a key role in defining how biogenic gas accumulates within and is released to the atmosphere from peat soils.
KW - Carbon cycle
KW - Geophysics
KW - Peatlands
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84884225785&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/hyp.10056
DO - 10.1002/hyp.10056
M3 - Article
VL - 28
SP - 5483
EP - 5494
JO - Hydrological Processes
JF - Hydrological Processes
SN - 0885-6087
IS - 22
ER -