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Methane consumption by montane soils: implications for positive and negative feedback with climatic change

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Abstract

We report here three years of field observations of methane uptake, averaging 1.2 mg CH4 m−2 d−1 in montane meadow soils. Surface soil moisture influenced diffusion of substrate while in deeper soil, where methane oxidation was maximum, moisture influenced both diffusion and microbial activity. Microbial oxidation of methane was maximum at an intermediate level of soil moisture, at this site at about 25% moisture by weight (50% water holding capacity). Laboratory incubations also showed inhibition below 20% moisture. These results provide in situ characterization of moisture limitation of methanotroph activity and evidence that soil drying may diminish the methane sink strength. The microbial limitation to methane consumption at low soil moisture provides a mechanism for positive feedback between methane flux and climate warming, as suggested by ice core data (Blunier et al. 1993; Chappellaz et al. 1990; Stauffer et al. 1985).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92717, USA

    Margaret S. Torn

  2. Energy and Resources Group, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA

    John Harte

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  1. Margaret S. Torn
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  2. John Harte
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Torn, M.S., Harte, J. Methane consumption by montane soils: implications for positive and negative feedback with climatic change. Biogeochemistry 32, 53–67 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001532

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00001532

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