Carbon Dioxide and Methane Emmissions at Arctic Tundra Sites in
North Siberia
M. Sommerkorn 1 , A. Gundelwein2, E.·M. Pfeiffer 2 and M. Bolter l
(J) Institut fur Po/arok%gie, Universitiit Kiel, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, D 24148 Kiel, Germanv
(2) Institutfur Bodenkunde, Universitiit Hamburg, Allendeplatz 2, D 20146 Hamburf{, German\'
Received II March 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 13 January 1998
Abstract - Carbon emmissions (C0 2 and CH 4 ) at an arctic polygonal tundra on Taymyr
Peninsula, North Siberia (75°N, 98°E), were measured during summer 1996. The average
emissions of carbon dioxide were about 50 times higher (150 mg CO2 *m -2*h -I) than
those of methane (3 mg CH4 *m-hh- I ). Emission rates of carbon dioxide and methane
show dependency on water table and soil temperature. Whereas carbon dioxide emmissions
appear to be primarily dependent on soil temperature, the water table position plays the
major role with respect to methane emissions. Compared to the wet central polygon
depression, the methane emissions from the dryer polygon margin practically ceased, while
carbon dioxide emissions were slightly higher at the latter site. Thus, gaseous carbon loss
from permafrost affected soils to the atmosphere was detennined by the position of sites in
the microrelief.
Introduction
Carbon dioxide emmissions from soils originate mainly from aerobic microbial metabolism as
well as root respiration of vascular plants, whereas methane is the product of anaerobic
microbial metabolism. Tundra wetlands can be an important source for both the greenhouse
gases carbon dioxide and methane. Northern wetlands - north of 60-70° northern latitude - are
especially important as sources for these gases in context with the predicted climate warming
(Matthews and Fung, 1987; Aselman and Crutzen, 1989). Between 250-455 petagrams organic
carbon (lPg = 10 15 g) are present in the permafrost and seasonally thawed soil layers (Miller et
aI., 1983; Post et aI., 1985, Gorham, 1991). About 165 Mio ha peatland area are situated on
the territory of the former Soviet Union (FSU), about 30 Mio ha (18 %) in Northern Siberia
(Botch et aI., 1995). This underlines the importance of carbon flux measurements at wet tundra
sites in the Siberian arctic.
Methods
Trace gas measurements (C-emission)
Measurements were carried through in the centre of the polygon area of Krasnaya valley
(compare Samarkin et aI., 1997; Sommerkorn, 1997). Measuring sites for all investigations
(trace gases, microclimate, soil) were closely neighboured.
Carbon dioxide was measured by means of a multichannel Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA),
operating in open system (Walz Company, Germany). This technique allows continuous
measurements of CO,-emmissions at several sites. Flux data presented here are 15 min.
average values of 10 sec. interval readings.
Methane was measured by the closed chamber technique and direct CH4 determination by a
multigasmonitor (Brtiel and Kjaer Company, Danmark), working with photoacoustic infrared
spectroscopy. The measurements were calibrated against a gaschromatograph (Carlo Erba GC
In: Kassens. H .. H.A. Bauch, l. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999, 343-352.
North Siberia
M. Sommerkorn 1 , A. Gundelwein2, E.·M. Pfeiffer 2 and M. Bolter l
(J) Institut fur Po/arok%gie, Universitiit Kiel, Wischhofstrasse 1-3, D 24148 Kiel, Germanv
(2) Institutfur Bodenkunde, Universitiit Hamburg, Allendeplatz 2, D 20146 Hamburf{, German\'
Received II March 1997 and accepted in revised fonn 13 January 1998
Abstract - Carbon emmissions (C0 2 and CH 4 ) at an arctic polygonal tundra on Taymyr
Peninsula, North Siberia (75°N, 98°E), were measured during summer 1996. The average
emissions of carbon dioxide were about 50 times higher (150 mg CO2 *m -2*h -I) than
those of methane (3 mg CH4 *m-hh- I ). Emission rates of carbon dioxide and methane
show dependency on water table and soil temperature. Whereas carbon dioxide emmissions
appear to be primarily dependent on soil temperature, the water table position plays the
major role with respect to methane emissions. Compared to the wet central polygon
depression, the methane emissions from the dryer polygon margin practically ceased, while
carbon dioxide emissions were slightly higher at the latter site. Thus, gaseous carbon loss
from permafrost affected soils to the atmosphere was detennined by the position of sites in
the microrelief.
Introduction
Carbon dioxide emmissions from soils originate mainly from aerobic microbial metabolism as
well as root respiration of vascular plants, whereas methane is the product of anaerobic
microbial metabolism. Tundra wetlands can be an important source for both the greenhouse
gases carbon dioxide and methane. Northern wetlands - north of 60-70° northern latitude - are
especially important as sources for these gases in context with the predicted climate warming
(Matthews and Fung, 1987; Aselman and Crutzen, 1989). Between 250-455 petagrams organic
carbon (lPg = 10 15 g) are present in the permafrost and seasonally thawed soil layers (Miller et
aI., 1983; Post et aI., 1985, Gorham, 1991). About 165 Mio ha peatland area are situated on
the territory of the former Soviet Union (FSU), about 30 Mio ha (18 %) in Northern Siberia
(Botch et aI., 1995). This underlines the importance of carbon flux measurements at wet tundra
sites in the Siberian arctic.
Methods
Trace gas measurements (C-emission)
Measurements were carried through in the centre of the polygon area of Krasnaya valley
(compare Samarkin et aI., 1997; Sommerkorn, 1997). Measuring sites for all investigations
(trace gases, microclimate, soil) were closely neighboured.
Carbon dioxide was measured by means of a multichannel Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA),
operating in open system (Walz Company, Germany). This technique allows continuous
measurements of CO,-emmissions at several sites. Flux data presented here are 15 min.
average values of 10 sec. interval readings.
Methane was measured by the closed chamber technique and direct CH4 determination by a
multigasmonitor (Brtiel and Kjaer Company, Danmark), working with photoacoustic infrared
spectroscopy. The measurements were calibrated against a gaschromatograph (Carlo Erba GC
In: Kassens. H .. H.A. Bauch, l. Dmitrenko, H. Eicken, H.-W. Hubberten, M. Melles, J. Thiede and L. Timokhov (eds.)
Land-Ocean Systems in the Siberian Arctic: Dynamics and History. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 1999, 343-352.