Wolfgang Seiler

Estimates of gross and net fluxes of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere from biomass burning

In order to estimate the production of charcoal and the atmospheric emissions of trace gases volatilized by burning we have estimated the global amounts of biomass which are affected by fires. We have roughly calculated annual gross burning rates ranging between about 5 Pg and 9 Pg (1 Pg = 1015 g) of dry matter (2–4 Pg C). In comparison, about 9–17 Pg of above-ground dry matter (4–8 Pg C) is exposed to fires, indicating a worldwide average burning efficiency of about 50%. The production of dead below-ground dry matter varies between 6–9 Pg per year. We have tentatively indicated the possibility of a large production of elemental carbon (0.5–1.7 Pg C/yr) due to the incomplete combustion of biomass to charcoal. This provides a sink for atmospheric CO2, which would have been particularly important during the past centuries. From meager statistical information and often ill-documented statements in the literature, it is extremely difficult to calculate the net carbon release rates to the atmosphere from the biomass changes which take place, especially in the tropics. All together, we calculate an overall effect lof the biosphere on the atmospheric carbon dioxide budget which may range between the possibilities of a net uptake or a net release of about 2 Pg C/yr. The release of CO2 to the atmosphere by deforestation projects may well be balanced by reforestation and by the production of charcoal. Better information is needed, however, to make these estimates more reliable.

Processes involved in formation and emission of methane in rice paddies

The seasonal change of the rates of production and emission of methane were determined under in-situ conditions in an Italian rice paddy in 1985 and 1986. The contribution to total emission of CH4 of plant-mediated transport, ebullition, and diffusion through the flooding water was quantified by cutting the plants and by trapping emerging gas bubbles with funnels. Both production and emission of CH4 increased during the season and reached a maximum in August. However, the numbers of methanogenic bacteria did not change. As the rice plants grew and the contribution of plant-mediated CH4 emission increased, the percentage of the produced CH4 which was reoxidized and thus, was not emitted, also increased. At its maximum, about 300 ml CH4 were produced per m2 per hour. However, only about 6% were emitted and this was by about 96% via plant-mediated transport. Radiotracer experiments showed that CH, was produced from H2/CO2. (30–50%) and from acetate. The pool concentration of acetate was in the range of 6–10 mM. The turnover time of acetate was 12–16 h. Part of the acetate pool appeared to be not available for production of CH4 or CO2

Biomass Burning as a Source of Atmospheric Gases CO, H2, N2O, NO, CH3Cl and COS

The potential importance of deforestation and biomass burning for the atmospheric CO2 cycle has received much attention and caused some controversy. Biomass burning can contribute extensively to the budgets of several gases which are important in atmospheric chemistry. In several cases the emission is comparable to the technological source. Most burning takes place in the tropics in the dry season and is caused by man’s activities. The potential importance of deforestation and biomass burning for the atmospheric CO2 cycle has received much attention and caused some controversy. In this article we will show the probable importance of biomass burning as a trace gas source, which is caused by man’s activities in the tropics. We used the results of our global biomass burning analysis to derive some rough estimates of the sources of the important atmospheric trace gases CO, H2, CH4, N2O, NOx (NO and NO2), COS and CH3Cl from the worldwide burning of biomass.

Tropospheric chemical composition measurements in Brazil during the dry season

Field measurement programs in Brazil during the dry seasons in August and September 1979 and 1980 have demonstrated the large importance of the continental tropics in global air chemistry. Many important trace gases are produced in large amounts over the continents. During the dry season, much biomass burning takes place, especially in the cerrado regions, leading to a substantial emission of air pollutants, such as CO, NOx, N2O, CH4 and other hydrocarbons. Ozone concentrations are enhanced due to photochemical reactions. The large biogenic organic emissions from tropical forests play an important role in the photochemistry of the atmosphere and explain why CO is present in such high concentrations in the boundary layer of the tropical forest. Carbon monoxide production may represent more than 3% of the net primary productivity of the tropical forests. Ozone concentrations in the boundary layer of the tropical forests indicate strong removal processes. Due to atmospheric supply of NOx by lightning, there is probably a large production of O3 in the free troposphere over the Amazon tropical forests. This is transported to the marine-free troposphere and to the forest boundary layer.

Effects of vegetation on the emission of methane from submerged paddy soil

SummaryMethane emission rates from rice-vegetated paddy fields followed a seasonal pattern different to that of weed-covered or unvegetated fields. Presence of rice plants stimulated the emission of CH4 both in the laboratory and in the field. In unvegetated paddy fields CH4 was emitted almost exclusively by ebullition. By contrast, in rice-vegetated fields more than 90% of the CH4 emission was due to plant-mediated transport. Rice plants stimulated methanogenesis in the submerged soil, but also enhanced the CH4 oxidation rates within the rhizosphere so that only 23% of the produced CH4 was emitted. Gas bubbles in vegetated paddy soils contained lower CH4 mixing ratios than in unvegetated fiels. Weed plants were also efficient in mediating gas exchnage between submerged soil and atmosphere, but did not stimulate methanogenesis. Weed plants caused a relatively high redox potential in the submerged soil so that 95% of the produced CH4 was oxidized and did not reach the atmosphere. The emission of CH4 was stimulated, however, when the cultures were incubated under gas atmospheres containing acetylene or consisting of O2-free nitrogen.

Methane emission from rice paddies

Methane release rates from rice paddies have been measured in Andalusia, Spain, during almost a complete vegetation period in 1982 using the static box system. The release rates ranged between 2 and 14 mg/m2/h and exhibited a strong seasonal variation with low values during the tillering stage and shortly before harvest, while maximum values were observed at the end of the flowering stage. The CH4 release rate, averaged over the complete vegetation period, accounted for 4 mg/m2/h which results in a worldwide CH4 emission from rice paddies of 35–59×1012 g/yr if we assume that the observed CH4 release rates are representative of global conditions. The CH4 release rates showed diurnal variations with higher values late in the afternoon which were most likely caused by temperature variations within the upper layers of the paddy soils. Approximately 95% of the CH4 emitted into the atmosphere by rice paddies was due to transport through the rice plants. Transport by bubbles or diffusion through the paddy water was of minor importance. Incubation experiments showed that CH4 was neither produced nor consumed in the paddy water. The relase of CH4 from rice paddies caused a diurnal variation of CH4 in ambient air within the rice-growing area with maximum values of up to 2.3 ppmv during the early morning, compared to average daytime values of 1.75 ppmv.

Distribution, speciation, and budget of atmospheric mercury

Total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations over the Atlantic Ocean and over Central Europe were measured repeatedly in the years 1978–1981. The latitudinal TGM distribution showed a pronounced and reproducible interhemispherical difference with higher TGM concentrations in the Northern Hemisphere. TGM was found to be vertically well mixed within the troposphere. The TGM concentration seems to increase with time at a rate of 10±8%/yr in the Northern and 8±3%/yr in the Southern Hemisphere. Measurements of mercury speciation showed that elemental mercury is the main TGM component contributing more than 92% and 83% of TGM in marine and continental air, respectively. The tropospheric mercury burden was calculated to be 6×109g. The interhemispheric distribution and temporal and spatial variability of TGM imply a tropospheric residence time of TGM of about 1 yr. Sink strengths calculated independently from the measured mercury concentration on particles and in rainwater are consistent with the above figures.

Field measurements of NO and NO2 emissions from fertilized and unfertilized soils

Field measurements of NO and NO2 emissions from soils have been performed in Finthen near Mainz (F.R.G.) and in Utrera near Seville (Spain). The applied method employed a flow box coupled with a chemiluminescent NOx detector allowing the determination of minimum flux rates of 2 μg N m-2 h-1 for NO and 3 μg m-2 h-1 for NO2.The NO and NO2 flux rates were found to be strongly dependent on soil surface temperatures and showed strong daily variations with maximum values during the early afternoon and minimum values during the early morning. Between the daily variation patterns of NO and NO2, there was a time lag of about 2 h which seem to be due to the different physico-chemical properties of NO and NO2. The apparent activation energy of NO emission calculated from the Arrhenius equation ranged between 44 and 103 kJ per mole. The NO and NO2 emission rates were positively correlated with soil moisture in the upper soil layer.The measurements carried out in August in Finthen clearly indicate the establishment of NO and NO2 equilibrium mixing ratios which appeared to be on the order of 20 ppbv for NO and 10 ppbv for NO2. The soil acted as a net sink for ambient air NO and NO2 mixing ratios higher than the equilibrium values and a net source for NO and NO2 mixing ratios lower than the equilibrium values. This behaviour as well as the observation of equilibrium mixing ratios clearly indicate that NO and NO2 are formed and destroyed concurrently in the soil.Average flux rates measured on bare unfertilized soils were about 10 μg N m-2 h-1 for NO2 and 8 μg N m-2 h-1 for NO. The NO and NO2 flux rates were significantly reduced on plant covered soil plots. In some cases, the flux rates of both gases became negative indicating that the vegetation may act as a sink for atmospheric NO and NO2.Application of mineral fertilizers increased the NO and NO2 emission rates. Highest emission rates were observed for urea followed by NH4Cl, NH4NO3 and NaNO3. The fertilizer loss rates ranged from 0.1% for NaNO3 to 5.4% for urea. Vegetation cover substantially reduced the fertilizer loss rate.The total NOx emission from soil is estimated to be 11 Tg N yr-1. This figure is an upper limit and includes the emission of 7 Tg N yr-1 from natural unfertilized soils, 2 Tg N yr-1 from fertilized soils as well as 2 Tg N yr-1 from animal excreta. Despite its speculative character, this estimation indicates that NOx emission by soil is important for tropospheric chemistry especially in remote areas where the NOx production by other sources is comparatively small.

Field studies of methane emission from termite nests into the atmosphere and measurements of methane uptake by tropical soils

The flux of CH4 and CO2 from termite nests into the atmosphere has been measured in a broad-leafed-type savannah in South Africa. Measurements were carried out on nests of species of six genera, i.e., Hodotermes, Macrotermes, Odontotermes, Trinervitermes, Cubitermes, and Amitermes. The flux rates of CH4 relative to the flux rate of CO2 in terms of carbon obtained for the individual species showed ratios of 2.9×10-3, 7.0×10-4, 6.7×10-5, 8.7×10-3, 2.0×10-3 and 4.2×10-3, respectively. Using data published on the assimulation efficiencies of termites, the flux of carbon as CH4 accounts for 6.0×10-5 to 2.6×10-3 of the carbon ingested which results in a global CH4 emission by termites of 2 to 5×1012 g/yr. Methane is decomposed in the soil with average decomposition rates of 52 μg/m2/h. The annual CH4 consumption in the tropics and subtropics is estimated to be 21×1012 g which exceeds the CH4 emission rate by termites.

Influence of soil temperature on methane emission from rice paddy fields

Methane emission rates from an Italian rice paddy field showed diel and seasonal variations. The seasonal variations were not closely related to soil temperatures. However, the dieL changes of CH4 fluxes were significantly correlated with the diel changes of the temperature in a particular soil depth. The soil depths with the best correlations between CH4 flux and temperature were shallow (1–5cm) in May and June, deep (10–15cm) in June and July, and again shallow (1–5 cm) in August. Apparent activation energies (Ea) calculated from these correlations using the Arrhenius model were relatively low (50–150 kJ mol−1) in May and June, but increased to higher values (80–450 kJ mol−1) in August. In the laboratory, CH4 emission from two rice cultures incubated at temperatures between 20 and 38°C showed Eα. values of 41 and 53 kJ mol−1) Methane production in anoxic paddy soil suspensions incubated between 7 and 43°C showed Eα values between 53 and 132 kJ mol−1 with an average value of 85 kJ mol−1) and in pure cultures of hydrogenotrophic methanogenic bacteria Ea values between 77 and 173 (average 126) kJ mol−1. It is suggested that diel changes of soil properties other than temperature affect CH4 emission rates, e.g. diel changes in root exudation or in efficiency of CH4 oxidation in the rhizosphere.