scholarly journals Greenhouse gas emissions from rewetted bog peat extraction sites and a <i>Sphagnum</i> cultivation site in Northwest Germany

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 4493-4530 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Beyer ◽  
H. Höper

Abstract. During the last three decades, an increasing area of drained peatlands was rewetted. This was done with the objective to convert these sites from sources back to sinks or, at least, to much smaller sources of greenhouse gases (GHG). However, available data is still scarce, especially on the long-term climatic effects of rewetting of temperate bogs. Moreover, first field trials are established for Sphagnum cultivating (paludiculture) on wet bog sites and an assessment of the climate impact of such measures has not been studied yet. We conducted a field study on the exchange of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide at three rewetted sites with a gradient from dry to wet conditions and at a Sphagnum cultivation site in NW Germany over more than two years. Gas fluxes were measured using transparent and opaque closed chambers. The ecosystem respiration (CO2) and the net ecosystem exchange (CO2) were modelled in high time resolution using automatically monitored climate data. Measured and modelled values fit very well together (R2 between 0.88 and 0.98). Annually cumulated gas flux rates, net ecosystem carbon balances (NECB) and global warming potential (GWP) balances were determined. The annual net ecosystem exchange (CO2) varied strongly at the rewetted sites (from –201.7 ± 126.8 to 29.7 ± 112.7 g CO2-C m–2 a–1) due to different weather conditions, water level and vegetation. The Sphagnum cultivation site was a sink of CO2 (–118.8 ± 48.1 and −78.6 ± 39.8 g CO2-C m–2 a–1). The yearly CH4 balances ranged between 16.2 ± 2.2 and 24.2 ± 5.0 g CH4-C m–2 a–1 at two inundated sites, while one rewetted site with a comparatively low water level and the Sphagnum farming site show CH4 fluxes close to zero. The net N2O fluxes were low and not significantly different between the four sites. The annual NECB at the rewetted sites was between –183.8 ± 126.9 and 51.6 ± 112.8 g CO2-C m–2 a–1 and at the Sphagnum cultivating site –114.1 ± 48.1 and –75.3 ± 39.8 g CO2-C m–2 a–1. The yearly GWP100 balances ranged from –280.5 ± 465.2 to 644.5 ± 413.6 g CO2-eq. m–2 a–1 at the rewetted sites. In contrast, the Sphagnum farming site had a cooling impact on the climate in both years (–356.8 ± 176.5 and –234.9 ± 145.9 g CO2-C m–2 a–1). If the exported carbon through the harvest of the Sphagnum biomass and the additional CO2 emission from the decay of the organic material is considered, the NECB and GWP100 balances are near neutral. Peat mining sites are likely to become net carbon sinks and a peat accumulating ("growing") peatland within 30 years after rewetting, but the GWP100 balance may still be positive. A recommended measure for rewetting is to achieve a water level of a few centimetres below ground surface. Sphagnum farming is a climate friendly alternative to conventional commercial use of bogs. A year round constant water level of a few centimetres below ground level should be maintained.

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2101-2117 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Beyer ◽  
H. Höper

Abstract. During the last decades an increasing area of drained peatlands has been rewetted. Especially in Germany, rewetting is the principal treatment on cutover sites when peat extraction is finished. The objectives are bog restoration and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The first sites were rewetted in the 1980s. Thus, there is a good opportunity to study long-term effects of rewetting on greenhouse gas exchange, which has not been done so far on temperate cutover peatlands. Moreover, Sphagnum cultivating may become a new way to use cutover peatlands and agriculturally used peatlands as it permits the economical use of bogs under wet conditions. The climate impact of such measures has not been studied yet. We conducted a field study on the exchange of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide at three rewetted sites with a gradient from dry to wet conditions and at a Sphagnum cultivation site in NW Germany over the course of more than 2 years. Gas fluxes were measured using transparent and opaque closed chambers. The ecosystem respiration (CO2) and the net ecosystem exchange (CO2) were modelled at a high temporal resolution. Measured and modelled values fit very well together. Annually cumulated gas flux rates, net ecosystem carbon balances (NECB) and global warming potential (GWP) balances were determined. The annual net ecosystem exchange (CO2) varied strongly at the rewetted sites (from −201.7 ± 126.8 to 29.7± 112.7g CO2-C m−2 a−1) due to differing weather conditions, water levels and vegetation. The Sphagnum cultivation site was a sink of CO2 (−118.8 ± 48.1 and −78.6 ± 39.8 g CO2-C m−2 a−1). The annual CH4 balances ranged between 16.2 ± 2.2 and 24.2 ± 5.0g CH4-C m−2 a−1 at two inundated sites, while one rewetted site with a comparatively low water level and the Sphagnum farming site show CH4 fluxes close to 0. The net N2O fluxes were low and not significantly different between the four sites. The annual NECB was between −185.5 ± 126.9 and 49.9 ± 112.8 g CO2-C m−2 a−1 at the rewetted sites and −115.8 ± 48.1 and −77 ± 39.8 g CO2-C m−2 a−1 at the Sphagnum cultivating site. The annual GWP100 balances ranged from −280.5 ± 465.2 to 644.5 ± 413.6 g CO2-eq. m−2 a−1 at the rewetted sites. In contrast, the Sphagnum farming site had a cooling impact on the climate in both years (−356.8 ± 176.5 and −234.9 ± 145.9 g CO2-C m−2 a−1). If the carbon exported through the harvest of the Sphagnum biomass and the additional CO2 emission from the decay of the organic material is considered, the NECB and GWP100 balances are near neutral. Peat mining sites are likely to become net carbon sinks and a peat accumulating ("growing") peatland within 30 years of rewetting, but the GWP100 balance may still be positive. A recommended measure for rewetting is to achieve a water level of a few centimetres below ground. Sphagnum farming is a climate-friendly alternative to conventional commercial use of bogs. A year-round constant water level of a few centimetres below ground level should be maintained.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Maddison ◽  
Gert Veber ◽  
Ain Kull

&lt;p&gt;Northern peatlands are important terrestrial carbon (C) stores, but their ability to sequestrate C is at delicate balance affected by management and also by climate change. The climate change causes less snow pack and warmer winters with faster water table drop in spring and drier summers in most boreal areas. Due to those changes natural peatlands may become C source instead of sink.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This study presents ecosystem respiration (ER) over five-year period and the annual estimates of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; in Umbusi and Laukasoo in Estonia along disturbance gradient from drained to natural ombrotrophic bog. Both study sites locate next to the active cutaway peatlands. There were four CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; flux measurements plots with three measurements points at different distance from the drainage ditch (10, 50, 100 and 200 m in Umbusi; 3, 40, 50, 125 m in Laukasoo) to form a water table depth and soil moisture gradient on both study sites. ER was measured using opaque static chamber throughout of the year in period 2012-2016. A vented and thermostated transparent plastic chamber with removable opaque cover was used for CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; exchange measurements. NEE measurements occurred biweekly from April to December in 2015, totally were done 648 measurements. NEE was derived from modelling of ER and gross primary production with temperature, photosynthetically active radiation, water level and days of year (as phenological phase) as driving variables.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Annual mean NEE at four different distance from the ditch toward undisturbed area in Umbusi and Laukasoo were 0.37, 0.28, 0.15, 0.08 and 0.44, 0.34, 0.04, 0.21 kg C m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt; y&lt;sup&gt;-1&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively. Although mean NEE was positive for all plots on both sites, there were also negative annual NEE values in some points in undisturbed plots (100 and 200 m from the ditch in Umbusi and 50 and 125 m in Laukasoo).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Average water level at four different distance from the ditch toward undisturbed area in Umbusi and Laukasoo during growing period (from the beginning of May to the end of October) in 2015 were -94, -45, -22, -22 and -124, -33, -21, -22 cm, respectively. Monthly mean air temperature and sum of precipitation were not different from the long-term measurements in studied growing period in 2015 while winter was significantly warmer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Modelled ER remained high for cold period because of higher air temperature in 2015. Due to higher respiration rate from non-frozen peat layer in cold season, more CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; was released back to atmosphere and annually less C was accumulated. Monthly mean air temperature for cold period was 3.5 &amp;#186;C warmer than the long-term average.&lt;/p&gt;


2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gábor Bácsmegi ◽  
Pál Sümegi ◽  
Tünde Törőcsik

AbstractRelationships between the communities and environment surrounding these communities can be disclosed by the application of different archeological, geological and environmental historical methods. This includes the deployment of numerous tools in scientific investigation including the application of chronological, sedimentological, geochemical and paleoecological analytical methods on sequences accumulated in historical catchment basins of peat-bog. The Nádas-tó at Nagybárkány is a small peatbog in the northern part of Hungary, on the Sub-Carpathian region. The formation of the lake can be traced back to the Late Glacial period. The sediments deposited in the lakebed provide a record of climatic and hydrologic changes. A higher water level could be demonstrated from the Late Glacial to the Mid-Holocene, when the reed-beds covered a small area only. This was followed by a hiatus spanning ca. 4400 years, caused by the deepening and cleaning of the lakebed during the Late Iron / Imperial Age, between 2100 - 1900 cal BP years. After this change the water level decreased and the water quality was more eutrophic. A reed-bed evolved around the lake. Paludification started with a bulrush floating mat phase at the close of the Middle Age, ca. 1500 cal AD years. The endowments and settlement pattern persisted from the Neolithic onwards until the terminal Modern Age, when measures aimed to ordain the area substantially altered the natural landscape. Although some anthropogenic disturbances can be reconstructed in the development of the peatland, some climatic effects and authogenic processes might be separated by paleoecological analyses.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wu ◽  
C. Blodau ◽  
T. R. Moore ◽  
J. Bubier ◽  
S. Juutinen ◽  
...  

Abstract. Nitrogen (N) pollution of peatlands alters their carbon (C) balances, yet long-term effects and controls are poorly understood. We applied the model PEATBOG to explore impacts of long-term nitrogen (N) fertilization on C cycling in an ombrotrophic bog. Simulations of summer gross ecosystem production (GEP), ecosystem respiration (ER) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) were evaluated against 8 years of observations and extrapolated for 80 years to identify potential effects of N fertilization and factors influencing model behaviour. The model successfully simulated moss decline and raised GEP, ER and NEE on fertilized plots. GEP was systematically overestimated in the model compared to the field data due to factors that can be related to differences in vegetation distribution (e.g. shrubs vs. graminoid vegetation) and to high tolerance of vascular plants to N deposition in the model. Model performance regarding the 8-year response of GEP and NEE to N input was improved by introducing an N content threshold shifting the response of photosynthetic capacity (GEPmax) to N content in shrubs and graminoids from positive to negative at high N contents. Such changes also eliminated the competitive advantages of vascular species and led to resilience of mosses in the long-term. Regardless of the large changes of C fluxes over the short-term, the simulated GEP, ER and NEE after 80 years depended on whether a graminoid- or shrub-dominated system evolved. When the peatland remained shrub–Sphagnum-dominated, it shifted to a C source after only 10 years of fertilization at 6.4 g N m−2 yr−1, whereas this was not the case when it became graminoid-dominated. The modelling results thus highlight the importance of ecosystem adaptation and reaction of plant functional types to N deposition, when predicting the future C balance of N-polluted cool temperate bogs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. W. Hilton ◽  
K. J. Davis ◽  
K. Keller

Abstract. Global terrestrial atmosphere–ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes are well constrained by the concentration and isotopic composition of atmospheric carbon dioxide. In contrast, considerable uncertainty persists surrounding regional contributions to the net global flux as well as the impacts of atmospheric and biological processes that drive the net flux. These uncertainties severely limit our ability to make confident predictions of future terrestrial biological carbon fluxes. Here we use a simple light-use efficiency land surface model (the Vegetation Photosynthesis Respiration Model, VPRM) driven by remotely sensed temperature, moisture, and phenology to diagnose North American gross ecosystem exchange (GEE), ecosystem respiration, and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) for the period 2001 to 2006. We optimize VPRM parameters to eddy covariance (EC) NEE observations from 65 North American FluxNet sites. We use a separate set of 27 cross-validation FluxNet sites to evaluate a range of spatial and temporal resolutions for parameter estimation. With these results we demonstrate that different spatial and temporal groupings of EC sites for parameter estimation achieve similar sum of squared residuals values through radically different spatial patterns of NEE. We also derive a regression model to estimate observed VPRM errors as a function of VPRM NEE, temperature, and precipitation. Because this estimate is based on model-observation residuals it is comprehensive of all the error sources present in modeled fluxes. We find that 1 km interannual variability in VPRM NEE is of similar magnitude to estimated 1 km VPRM NEE errors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luomeng Chao ◽  
Zhiqiang Wan ◽  
Yulong Yan ◽  
Rui Gu ◽  
Yali Chen ◽  
...  

Aspects of carbon exchange were investigated in typical steppe east of Xilinhot city in Inner Mongolia. Four treatments with four replicates were imposed in a randomised block design: Control (C), warming (T), increased precipitation (P) and combined warming and increased precipitation (TP). Increased precipitation significantly increased both ecosystem respiration (ER) and soil respiration (SR) rates. Warming significantly reduced the ER rate but not the SR rate. The combination of increased precipitation and warming produced an intermediate response. The sensitivity of ER and SR to soil temperature and air temperature was assessed by calculating Q10 values: the increase in respiration for a 10°C increase in temperature. Q10 was lowest under T and TP, and highest under P. Both ER and SR all had significantly positive correlation with soil moisture. Increased precipitation increased net ecosystem exchange and gross ecosystem productivity, whereas warming reduced them. The combination of warming and increased precipitation had an intermediate effect. Both net ecosystem exchange and gross ecosystem productivity were positively related to soil moisture and negatively related to soil and air temperature. These findings suggest that predicted climate change in this region, involving both increased precipitation and warmer temperatures, will increase the net ecosystem exchange in the Stipa steppe meaning that the ecosystem will fix more carbon.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Hei-Laan Yeung ◽  
Carole Helfter ◽  
Neil Mullinger ◽  
Mhairi Coyle ◽  
Eiko Nemitz

&lt;p&gt;Peatlands North of 45&amp;#730; represent one of the largest terrestrial carbon (C) stores. They play an important role in the global C-cycle, and their ability to sequester carbon is controlled by multiple, often competing, factors including precipitation, temperature and phenology. Land-atmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide (CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;) is dynamic, and exhibits marked seasonal and inter-annual variations which can effect the overall carbon sink strength in both the short- and long-term.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Due to increased incidences of climate anomalies in recent years, long-term datasets are essential to disambiguate natural variability in Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) from shorter-term fluctuations. This is particularly important at high latitudes (&gt;45&amp;#730;N) where the majority of global peatlands are found. With increasing pressure from stressors such as climate and land-use change, it has been predicted that with a ca. 3&lt;sup&gt;o&lt;/sup&gt;C global temperature rise by 2100, UK peatlands could become a net source of C.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;NEE of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; has been measured using the eddy-covariance (EC) method at Auchencorth Moss (55&amp;#176;47&amp;#8217;32 N, 3&amp;#176;14&amp;#8217;35 W, 267 m a.s.l.), a temperate, lowland, ombrotrophic peatland in central Scotland, continuously since 2002. Alongside EC data, we present a range of meteorological parameters measured at site including soil temperature, total solar and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), rainfall, and, since April 2007, half-hourly water table depth readings. The length of record and range of measurements make this dataset an important resource as one of the longest term records of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; fluxes from a temperate peatland.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Although seasonal cycles of gross primary productivity (GPP) were highly variable between years, the site was a consistent CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; sink for the period 2002-2012. However, net annual losses of CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; have been recorded on several occasions since 2013. Whilst NEE tends to be positively correlated with the length of growing season, anomalies in winter weather also explain some of the variability in CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; sink strength the following summer.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Additionally, water table depth (WTD) plays a crucial role, affecting both GPP and ecosystem respiration (R&lt;sub&gt;eco&lt;/sub&gt;). Relatively dry summers in recent years have contributed to shifting the balance between R&lt;sub&gt;eco&lt;/sub&gt; and GPP: prolonged periods of low WTD were typically accompanied by an increase in R&lt;sub&gt;eco&lt;/sub&gt;, and a decrease in GPP, hence weakening the overall CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt; sink strength. Extreme events such as drought periods and cold winter temperatures can have significant and complex effects on NEE, particularly when such meteorological anomalies co-occur. For example, a positive annual NEE occurred in 2003 when Europe experienced heatwave and summer drought. More recently, an unusually long spell of snow lasting until the end of March delayed the onset of the 2018 growing season by up to 1.5 months compared to previous years. This was followed by a prolonged dry spell in summer 2018, which weakened GPP, increased R&lt;sub&gt;eco&lt;/sub&gt; and led to a net annual loss of 47.4 ton CO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-C km&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;. It is clear that the role of Northern peatlands within the carbon cycle is being modified, driven by changes in climate at both local and global scales.&lt;/p&gt;


2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Papale ◽  
M. Reichstein ◽  
M. Aubinet ◽  
E. Canfora ◽  
C. Bernhofer ◽  
...  

Abstract. Eddy covariance technique to measure CO2, water and energy fluxes between biosphere and atmosphere is widely spread and used in various regional networks. Currently more than 250 eddy covariance sites are active around the world measuring carbon exchange at high temporal resolution for different biomes and climatic conditions. In this paper a new standardized set of corrections is introduced and the uncertainties associated with these corrections are assessed for eight different forest sites in Europe with a total of 12 yearly datasets. The uncertainties introduced on the two components GPP (Gross Primary Production) and TER (Terrestrial Ecosystem Respiration) are also discussed and a quantitative analysis presented. Through a factorial analysis we find that generally, uncertainties by different corrections are additive without interactions and that the heuristic u*-correction introduces the largest uncertainty. The results show that a standardized data processing is needed for an effective comparison across biomes and for underpinning inter-annual variability. The methodology presented in this paper has also been integrated in the European database of the eddy covariance measurements.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priya Lal Chandra Paul ◽  
MA Rashid ◽  
Mousumi Paul

Experiments were conducted at BRRI farm Gazipur during Boro season 2010-12 to determine maximum depth of water level below ground surface in alternate wetting and drying (AWD) method. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four irrigation treatments. The treatments of AWD method were: T1 = continuous standing water, T2 = irrigation when water level reached 15 cm below ground level, T3 = irrigation when water level reached 20 cm below ground level and T4 = irrigation when water level reached 50 cm below ground level. The experiment involved BRRI dhan28 as a test crop. The treatment T2 gave the highest grain yield (5.9 and 6.2 ton/ha) in 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively. Maximum benefits per hectare were found Tk. 5476 and 4931 for using 807 and 880 mm water during 2010-11 and 2011-12 respectively and thus water productivity was 7.1 kg/ha-mm in T2 for both the seasons. Continuous standing (T1) water (1013 and 1100 mm) gave comparable grain yield 5.7 and 6.0 ton/ha in 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively. Minimum water productivity was found in treatment T1 (5.6 and 5.4 kg/ha-mm) for both the seasons. Application of irrigation when water was 15 cm below soil surface was found most profitable in AWD system and the grain yield was decreased when water level was below 15 cm depth. Therefore, the recommended AWD technology could increase rice yield and save irrigation water by 25-30 percent.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/brj.v17i1-2.20899Bangladesh Rice j. 2013, 17(1&2): 33-37


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (20) ◽  
pp. 5877-5888 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zona ◽  
D. A. Lipson ◽  
J. H. Richards ◽  
G. K. Phoenix ◽  
A. K. Liljedahl ◽  
...  

Abstract. The importance and consequences of extreme events on the global carbon budget are inadequately understood. This includes the differential impact of extreme events on various ecosystem components, lag effects, recovery times, and compensatory processes. In the summer of 2007 in Barrow, Arctic Alaska, there were unusually high air temperatures (the fifth warmest summer over a 65-year period) and record low precipitation (the lowest over a 65-year period). These abnormal conditions were associated with substantial desiccation of the Sphagnum layer and a reduced net Sphagnum CO2 sink but did not affect net ecosystem exchange (NEE) from this wet-sedge arctic tundra ecosystem. Microbial biomass, NH4+ availability, gross primary production (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (Reco) were generally greater during this extreme summer. The cumulative ecosystem CO2 sink in 2007 was similar to the previous summers, suggesting that vascular plants were able to compensate for Sphagnum CO2 uptake, despite the impact on other functions and structure such as desiccation of the Sphagnum layer. Surprisingly, the lowest ecosystem CO2 sink over a five summer record (2005–2009) was observed during the 2008 summer (~70% lower), directly following the unusually warm and dry summer, rather than during the extreme summer. This sink reduction cannot solely be attributed to the potential damage to mosses, which typically contribute ~40% of the entire ecosystem CO2 sink. Importantly, the return to a substantial cumulative CO2 sink occurred two summers after the extreme event, which suggests a substantial resilience of this tundra ecosystem to at least an isolated extreme event. Overall, these results show a complex response of the CO2 sink and its sub-components to atypically warm and dry conditions. The impact of multiple extreme events requires further investigation.


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