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A System for Measuring Methane Fluxes from Inland and Coastal Wetland Environments¹

ABSTRACT

A technique for field measurements of methane fluxes at a water-atmosphere interface as a function of air velocity has been developed and tested. The method uses a partitioned chamber placed over the water surface where the air velocity along the surface can be controlled. CH₄ fluxes as low as 2 x 10^–3 (± 0.05) g m^–2 day^–1 were measured in this way, and additional CH₄-flux data were determined as functions of air velocity from 0.9 (± 0.1) m sec^–1 to 4.4 (± 0.37) m sec^–1. Emission rates of gas across an air-water interface is controlled by shear stress of winds in the overlying gas. Our objective was to develop a relatively simple field system which had the capability of quantitatively controlling air velocity over the water surface within the chamber sampling area. This technique has the important advantage of including a continuous monitoring system so that data can be observed on site. Measurements obtained in a coastal wetland creek demonstrate that the CH₄ flux passing through a water-atmosphere interface can be quantified as a function of air velocity over the water surface.

Key Words: CH₄ flux • CH₄,-emissions-wind-shear effects • chamber flux measurements • air-water CH₄ flux

¹ Contribution of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Proj. no. AN/AQ-08.

² Research Scientists, NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia 23665.

Received for publication March 19, 1981.