Studies of methane fluxes reveal that desert soils can mitigate global climate change

Abstract

Moisture limitations have led researchers to believe that semiarid soils are not significant consumers or producers of trace gases, and these regions are often overlooked in greenhouse gas inventories. We are studying environmental influences on soil fluxes of methane (CH₄) in southeastern Arizona. We found negligible CH₄ consumption in the very dry pre-monsoon period, but the first moisture pulses stimulated soil CH₄ flux. Thereafter, significant CH₄ consumption was found through the summer and winter months. The soil CH₄ consumption averaged 471 ± 278 µg CH₄ m^-2 d^-1 throughout the year, confirming the presence of a large, previously unreported CH₄ sink, and strongly suggesting that soils of semiarid ecosystems cannot be discounted in potential mitigation of climate change.

Parent Publication

• Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II

Citation

McLain, Jean E. T.; Martens, Dean A. 2005. Studies of methane fluxes reveal that desert soils can mitigate global climate change. Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: