Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils
Investigations of sources and sinks of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> are needed to understand the global CH<sub>4</sub> cycle and climate-change mitigation options. Glaciated environments might play a critical role due to potential feedbacks with global glacial meltdown. In an e...
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doaj-6ab75331225b445abc6a25ddfc955dd22020-11-25T00:31:21ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892014-02-0111361362010.5194/bg-11-613-2014Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soilsP. A. Nauer0E. Chiri1J. Zeyer2M. H. Schroth3Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), ETH Zurich, Zürich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), ETH Zurich, Zürich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), ETH Zurich, Zürich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics (IBP), ETH Zurich, Zürich, SwitzerlandInvestigations of sources and sinks of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> are needed to understand the global CH<sub>4</sub> cycle and climate-change mitigation options. Glaciated environments might play a critical role due to potential feedbacks with global glacial meltdown. In an emerging glacier forefield, an ecological shift occurs from an anoxic, potentially methanogenic subglacial sediment to an oxic proglacial soil, in which soil-microbial consumption of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> is initiated. The development of this change in CH<sub>4</sub> turnover can be quantified by soil-gas profile analysis. <br></br> We found evidence for CH<sub>4</sub> entrapped in glacier forefield soils when comparing two methods for the collection of soil-gas samples: a modified steel rod (SR) designed for one-time sampling and rapid screening (samples collected ∼1 min after hammering the SR into the soil), and a novel multilevel sampler (MLS) for repetitive sampling through a previously installed access tube (samples collected weeks after access-tube installation). In glacier forefields on siliceous bedrock, sub-atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations were observed with both methods. Conversely, elevated soil-CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations were observed in calcareous glacier forefields, but only in samples collected with the SR, while MLS samples all showed sub-atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations. Time-series of SR soil-gas sampling (additional samples collected 2, 3, 5, and 7 min after hammering) confirmed the transient nature of the elevated soil-CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations, which were decreasing from ∼100 μL L<sup>−1</sup> towards background levels within minutes. This hints towards the existence of entrapped CH<sub>4</sub> in calcareous glacier forefield soil that can be released when sampling soil-gas with the SR. <br></br> Laboratory experiments with miniature soil cores collected from two glacier forefields confirmed CH<sub>4</sub> entrapment in these soils. Treatment by sonication and acidification resulted in a massive release of CH<sub>4</sub> from calcareous cores (on average 0.3–1.8 μg CH<sub>4</sub> (g d.w.)<sup>−1</sup>) (d.w. – dry weight); release from siliceous cores was 1–2 orders of magnitude lower (0.02–0.03 μg CH<sub>4</sub> (g d.w.)<sup>−1</sup>). Clearly, some form of CH<sub>4</sub> entrapment exists in calcareous glacier forefield soils, and to a much lesser extent in siliceous glacier forefield soils. Its nature and origin remain unclear and will be subject of future investigations.http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/613/2014/bg-11-613-2014.pdf |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
P. A. Nauer E. Chiri J. Zeyer M. H. Schroth |
spellingShingle |
P. A. Nauer E. Chiri J. Zeyer M. H. Schroth Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils Biogeosciences |
author_facet |
P. A. Nauer E. Chiri J. Zeyer M. H. Schroth |
author_sort |
P. A. Nauer |
title |
Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils |
title_short |
Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils |
title_full |
Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils |
title_fullStr |
Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils |
title_full_unstemmed |
Technical Note: Disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils |
title_sort |
technical note: disturbance of soil structure can lead to release of entrapped methane in glacier forefield soils |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
series |
Biogeosciences |
issn |
1726-4170 1726-4189 |
publishDate |
2014-02-01 |
description |
Investigations of sources and sinks of atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> are needed to
understand the global CH<sub>4</sub> cycle and climate-change mitigation options.
Glaciated environments might play a critical role due to potential feedbacks
with global glacial meltdown. In an emerging glacier forefield, an
ecological shift occurs from an anoxic, potentially methanogenic subglacial
sediment to an oxic proglacial soil, in which soil-microbial consumption of
atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> is initiated. The development of this change in
CH<sub>4</sub> turnover can be quantified by soil-gas profile analysis.
<br></br>
We found evidence for CH<sub>4</sub> entrapped in glacier forefield soils when
comparing two methods for the collection of soil-gas samples: a modified
steel rod (SR) designed for one-time sampling and rapid screening (samples
collected ∼1 min after hammering the SR into the soil), and a
novel multilevel sampler (MLS) for repetitive sampling through a previously
installed access tube (samples collected weeks after access-tube
installation). In glacier forefields on siliceous bedrock, sub-atmospheric
CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations were observed with both methods. Conversely,
elevated soil-CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations were observed in calcareous glacier
forefields, but only in samples collected with the SR, while MLS samples all
showed sub-atmospheric CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations. Time-series of SR soil-gas
sampling (additional samples collected 2, 3, 5, and 7 min after hammering)
confirmed the transient nature of the elevated soil-CH<sub>4</sub> concentrations,
which were decreasing from ∼100 μL L<sup>−1</sup> towards
background levels within minutes. This hints towards the existence of
entrapped CH<sub>4</sub> in calcareous glacier forefield soil that can be released
when sampling soil-gas with the SR.
<br></br>
Laboratory experiments with miniature soil cores collected from two glacier
forefields confirmed CH<sub>4</sub> entrapment in these soils. Treatment by
sonication and acidification resulted in a massive release of CH<sub>4</sub> from
calcareous cores (on average 0.3–1.8 μg CH<sub>4</sub> (g d.w.)<sup>−1</sup>) (d.w. – dry weight);
release from siliceous cores was 1–2 orders of magnitude lower (0.02–0.03 μg CH<sub>4</sub>
(g d.w.)<sup>−1</sup>). Clearly, some form of CH<sub>4</sub> entrapment
exists in calcareous glacier forefield soils, and to a much lesser extent in
siliceous glacier forefield soils. Its nature and origin remain unclear and
will be subject of future investigations. |
url |
http://www.biogeosciences.net/11/613/2014/bg-11-613-2014.pdf |
work_keys_str_mv |
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