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SFS Annual Meeting

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BURPING WETLANDS: QUANTIFYING GREENHOUSE GAS EBULLITION RATES ACROSS A RANGE OF SEDIMENT ORGANIC MATTER CONTENT, WATER TEMPERATURE, AND LAND USE

Aquatic ecosystems are a source of greenhouse gases (GHG) to the atmosphere. One pathway of this GHG release is ebullition, or bubbling, from aquatic sediments. The contribution of ebullition is often underestimated in global GHG budgets, as it is rarely included in emission measurements. The ebullition pathway can account for up to 67% of methane emissions from water bodies. We aim to determine the factors that influence ebullition of methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide, including sediment organic matter content, water temperature, and land use. We included study sites that are in urban, cropland, pasture, and forested areas. We found that the relationship between gas volumes and water temperature was positive, and was negative between sediment organic matter and gas volumes. With increasing climate-induced water temperatures, we predict that ebullition rates will increase. Understanding the factors influencing GHG emissions from aquatic ecosystems will give us a broader understanding of the significance of their contribution to global GHG budgets in a changing climate.

Jannice Newson (Primary Presenter/Author), University of Missouri, jannicenewson@gmail.com;