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Methane Production and Transport within the Marsh Biome of Biosphere 2In recent decades, the concentration of methane in the earth's atmosphere increased 1-2% annually. It's rate of increases, combined with methane's effectiveness as a greenhouse gas, has led to an intensive research effort to determine the sources and sinks of the gas in the environment. Biosphere 2 offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the effort because it lacks a major photochemical sink present in the Earth's atmosphere. Researchers can therefore concentrate on biological processes involved in methane cycles. Wetlands are a large source of atmospheric methane, due to anoxic conditions in the sediments and the abundance of organic materials. In order to determine if these conditions in Biosphere 2 also promote methane production, this study looked for the fluxes of methane and methods of transport of the gas from from the water and sediments to the atmosphere in the Marsh Biome. Fluxes of methane from the sediments and waters were measured using static chambers, peepers, and leaf bags. Fluxes and vertical profiles of methane in the sediments show that substantial amounts of methane are being produced in the marsh and are being transported into the Biosphere 2 environment.
Document ID
19990021123
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Molnar, Jennifer
(Harvard Univ. Cambridge, MA United States)
Goodridge, Kelven
(Morehouse Coll. Atlanta, GA United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1997
Publication Information
Publication: Summer Research Internships at Biosphere 2 Center
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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