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Modelling CH4 emissions from arctic wetlands: effects of hydrological parameterization
1Vrije Universiteit, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Department of Hydrology and Geo-Environmental Sciences, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2Lund University, Department of Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Sölvegatan 12, 22362 Lund, Sweden
3Stockholm University, Department of Geology and Geochemistry, Svante Arrhenius väg 8 C, Frescati, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
4Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Division, Institute of Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, 41, Lenin Prospekt., Yakutsk, Sakha Republic, 677980 Russia
Abstract. This study compares the CH4 fluxes from two arctic wetland sites of different annual temperatures during 2004 to 2006. The PEATLAND-VU model was used to simulate the emissions. The CH4 module of PEATLAND-VU is based on the Walter-Heimann model. The first site is located in northeast Siberia, Indigirka lowlands, Kytalyk reserve (70° N, 147° E) in a continuous permafrost region with mean annual temperatures of –14.3°C. The other site is Stordalen mire in the eastern part of Lake Torneträsk (68° N, 19° E), ten kilometres east of Abisko, northern Sweden. It is located in a discontinuous permafrost region. Stordalen has a sub arctic climate with a mean annual temperature of –0.7°C.
Model input consisted of observed temperature, precipitation and snow cover data.
In all cases, modelled CH4 emissions show a direct correlation between variations in water table and soil temperature variations. The differences in CH4 emissions between the two sites are caused by different climate, hydrology, soil physical properties, vegetation type and NPP.
For Kytalyk the simulated CH4 fluxes show similar trends during the growing season, having average values for 2004 to 2006 between 1.29–2.09 mg CH4 m−2 h−1. At Stordalen the simulated fluxes show a slightly lower average value for the same years (3.52 mg CH4 m−2 h−1) than the observed 4.7 mg CH4 m−2 h−1. The effect of the longer growing season at Stordalen is simulated correctly.
Our study shows that modelling of arctic CH4 fluxes is improved by adding a relatively simple hydrological model that simulates the water table position from generic weather data. We conclude that CH4 fluxes at these sites are less sensitive to temperature variation than to water table variations. Furthermore, parameter uncertainty at site level in wetland CH4 process models is an important factor in large scale modelling of CH4 fluxes.
Discussion Paper (PDF, 1468 KB) Interactive Discussion (Closed, 4 Comments) Final Revised Paper (BG)
Citation: Petrescu, A. M. R., van Huissteden, J. C., Jackowicz-Korczynski, M., Yurova, A., Christensen, T. R., Crill, P. M., and Maximov, T. C.: Modelling CH4 emissions from arctic wetlands: effects of hydrological parameterization, Biogeosciences Discuss., 4, 3195-3227, 2007. Bibtex EndNote Reference Manager
