Seasonal Variability of Carbon Dioxide and Methane Fluxes in a Subarctic Palsa Mire in North-Central Siberia ^†

Abstract

The main goal of the study was to obtain new experimental data on the seasonal variability of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes in a subarctic palsa mire in north-central Siberia, as well as to assess the sensitivity of the CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes to environmental changes. The results of field measurements in 2017 and 2018 showed that the palsa mire served as a sink of CO₂ from the atmosphere for the period between mid-June to the end of August for both years. Maximum daily CO₂ uptake rates in 2017 were observed at the beginning of July (up to 4.5 gC m⁻² d⁻¹), mainly due to high incoming solar radiation, optimal air temperature and sufficient soil moisture conditions. Seasonal variability of CH₄ fluxes was relatively high and governed mainly by weather conditions. During both growing seasons the palsa mire served mostly as a CH₄ source for the atmosphere. The periods with prevailed CH₄ emission alternated with periods of CH₄ uptake and the fluxes varied between −8.3 to 13.6 mgC m⁻² per day in 2017 and between −4.5 to 21.8 mgC m⁻² per day in 2018.

1. Introduction

The modern climate changes manifest in increases in global temperature, change of precipitation pattern and increase in the frequency, and severity of extreme weather events are associated with the growth of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere, mainly due to anthropogenic activity [1]. Achieving the overall goal of carbon neutrality and balance between GHG emission and uptake in the middle of 21st century requires comprehensive information about anthropogenic and natural GHG emission and uptake in different biomes of the world [2]. The area of northern Eurasia is represented by extremely diverse plant communities and soil types situated within various natural zones, including tundra, forest–tundra, forest, wetland and grasslands and their contributions into the global and regional atmospheric GHG budgets are still very poorly investigated [3,4]. Information about GHG fluxes in this area can be also very important because the largest part of northern Eurasia is underlined by continuous permafrost [5]. The thawing of permafrost due to global warming may result in sharp increases in GHG emission into the atmosphere that can have a significant impact on the climate [6]. The relevant information on GHG fluxes in those ecosystems could obviously serve as a basis for a reliable prediction of future climate change and mitigation measures.

The main goal of the study was to obtain new experimental data on seasonal variability of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes in a subarctic palsa mire, as well as to assess the sensitivity of these CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes to changing environmental conditions. Palsa mires are complex wetland ecosystems with permanently frozen peat components [7]. They are often situated in high latitude environments of Fennoscandia, Russia, Canada and Alaska and may have a significant influence on local and regional atmospheric processes.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Site

The palsa mire is situated in the northern taiga and forest–tundra ecotone in Turukhansky district of Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia (Figure 1). The peatland occupies 21.7 ha in the catchment of the small Little Grawijka Creek, approximately 10 km north of town of Igarka [8,9]. It is located at elevation of 20–38 m a.s.l. on the 1st floodplain terrace in the right bank of the Yenisei River Valley. The area is underlined by continuous permafrost. The climate of the area is subarctic (Dfc) according to the Koeppen classification scheme with long, very cold winters, and short, cool summers. The mean annual temperature is −7.0 °C, and annual precipitation amount is about 560 mm.

Vegetation of the peatland is a mosaic of perennial frost mounds and peat plateau with a height of 1–1.5 m and flat, mostly unfrozen hollows, 150–200 m wide and extensive mineral ridge (100–300 m wide, up to 1.5 m in a height) covered by Larix-Picea-Betula woodlands. Lichens and feather mosses, in combination with Betula nana L., Ledum palustre L., Rubus chamaemorus L. and bare peat as well, occupy the mounds, while various species of Carex, feather mosses and herbs are common within the hollows.

2.2. Eddy Covariance and Meteorological Measurements

The CO₂ and CH₄ turbulent fluxes at the experimental site were continuously measured using the eddy covariance method [10]. The flux tower has a height of 6 m and it is situated at the central part of selected palsa mire.

The eddy covariance system was mounted on the top of the tower and included enclosed CO₂/H₂O gas analyzer (LI-7200A, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE, USA), open-path CH₄ analyzer (LI-7700, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE, USA), and 3D ultrasonic anemometer USA-1 (Metek, Elmshorn, Germany). Meteorological equipment includes devices for continuous measurements of net radiation (CNR4, Kipp & Zonen, Delft, The Nederlands), photosynthetically active radiation (LI-190SA, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE, USA), air temperature and humidity (HMP155, Vaisala, Finland), precipitation (TR-525M, Texas Electronics, Dallas, TX, USA) and soil temperature and humidity (Stevens Hydra Probe II, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE, USA). The eddy covariance data were collected using analyzer interface unit (LI-7550, LI-COR, Lincoln, NE, USA) with frequency of 10 Hz.

Data post-processing was conducted according to existed recommendations for data analysis [10]. The CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes were calculated from the raw data at 30 min time intervals using the EddyPro data processing software (LI-COR Lincoln, NE, USA), which implemented all required statistical tests and corrections (de-spiking, rotating coordinates, correcting for time delays, de-trending, correcting for frequency response and density, etc.). After data post-processing all fluxes containing the spikes, associated with, e.g., rain and dew events, as well as the fluxes measured under weak turbulence and low wind, were removed from the data sets.

Intensive field measurement campaigns were conducted from the late winter (early May) to fall (early October) since 2016 (from snow to snow). For data analysis the periods from April to September 2017 and from July to October 2018 were selected. These periods were selected because of the minimal number of gaps in the measured data series.

3. Results and Discussion

The results of CO₂ flux measurements in 2017 and 2018 showed that the mean daily gross primary production (GPP) significantly exceeded ecosystem respiration (ER) for the period between mid-June to the end of August for both years, i.e., the palsa mire during the growing season served as a sink of CO₂ from the atmosphere. Maximum daily CO₂ uptake rates in 2017 were observed at the beginning of July (about 4.5 gC m⁻² d⁻¹), mainly due to high incoming solar radiation, optimal air temperature and sufficient soil moisture conditions after a 2-week rainy period (Figure 2). A high temperature and low precipitation have no significant effect on net CO₂ fluxes despite of the highest rates of ER in the period. From the end of July to the end of August, the difference between CO₂ uptake and CO₂ release is steadily reduced and it was close to zero at end of summer period. The net CO₂ fluxes were positive in September, showing the net efflux of CO₂ into the atmosphere. The temporal variability of CO₂ fluxes since mid-July of 2018 showed a trend quite similar to 2017, mainly due to similar meteorological conditions (Figure 3).

A close dependence of net CO₂ fluxes on incoming solar radiation and the air temperature is a key feature of CO₂ exchanges in subarctic palsa mire under sufficient moisture conditions. In particular, the similar seasonal variability and maximum CO₂ flux rates in July were detected in subarctic palsa mire in Sweden [7]. The possible effect of permafrost degradation is also a very important topic in GHG flux studies in permafrost areas. It can be expected that the small increase in CO₂ fluxes in the second part of July under high air temperatures can be associated with permafrost thawing. However, as it was shown by Olefeldt et al. [11] from measurements in northern Sweden, the net carbon accumulation of a high-latitude permafrost palsa mire can be similar to permafrost-free peatlands.

The temporal variability of CH₄ fluxes was relatively high varying between −8.3 to 13.6 mgC m⁻² per day in 2017 and between −4.5 to 21.8 mgC m⁻² per day in 2018 (Figure 2 and Figure 3). Such variability was mainly associated with weather conditions, peat aeration, vegetation growth and functioning, nutrient level, peat temperature, permafrost melting and microbial processes responsible for net release of CH₄. The maximum of CH₄ release in 2017 is obtained at the middle of May, at the beginning of June and at the beginning and in the second half of July. Whereas the maximum CH₄ release in May and June is well correlated with time of snow cover melting and soil thawing, other maximums are mainly associated with soil temperature oscillations. Similar close relationships between CH₄ release rate and soil temperature can be found in the July and August of 2018. The periods of methane uptake were detected in early and mid-June 2017, as well as in September 2018. They may be associated with long periods of warm and mostly rainless weather, under decreased soil moisture and ground water level and, as a result of the increased oxidation rate of methane, by soil bacteria. Comparison of the obtained results with previously published data indicates their good correlation with CH₄ flux measurements in other sub-arctic regions. In particular, similar results were obtained by Nykänen et al. [12] from soil chamber measurements in a subarctic palsa mire in Finland and by Flessa et al. [8] from measurements in the forest–tundra ecotone in northern Siberia.

Obtained results illustrate a wide range of the CO₂ and CH₄ flux variability that is highly dependent on various environmental conditions. Integrated studies of GHG fluxes in different sub-Arctic ecosystems using different experimental approaches are very necessary to quantify the regional GHG flux pattern in Siberia and throughout the entirety northern Eurasia.

4. Conclusions

The results of the CO₂ and CH₄ flux measurements in the subarctic palsa mire in north-central Siberia showed a significant flux variability, determined by both meteorological (temperature, solar radiation, precipitation) and biophysical factors. It was shown that the mean daily CO₂ uptake rates significantly exceeded CO₂ emissions for the period between mid-June to the end of August for 2017 and 2018 years, i.e., the palsa mire ecosystem in the growing season served as a sink of CO₂ from the atmosphere. The CH₄ fluxes were almost positive and mainly governed by weather conditions, soil temperature, snow cover and ground water level variations. The CH₄ uptake was detected in summer periods under low groundwater levels, due to prolonged warm and dry weather conditions. Obtained results are well agreed with the published data on temporal variability of CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes measured in palsa mire ecosystems in different sub-arctic regions of the world. Taking into account very limited information about the CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes in the northern taiga and forest–tundra ecotone of Russia, our results are very important for more accurate estimations of regional carbon balance and better understanding of the temporal and spatial variability of CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes under changing environmental conditions.