Temporal and spatial variations of atmospheric methane concentration and δ13 C-CH4 near the surface on the Millor Pennsula, East Antarctica

Liu Yashu, Zhu Renbin, Li Xianglan, Xu Hua, Sun Liguang

PDF(444 KB)
Advances in Polar Science ›› 2009, Vol. 20 ›› Issue (1) : 22-31.

Temporal and spatial variations of atmospheric methane concentration and δ13 C-CH4 near the surface on the Millor Pennsula, East Antarctica

  • Liu Yashu1, Zhu Renbin1, Li Xianglan2, Xu Hua2, Sun Liguang1
Author information +
History +

Abstract

During the 22nd Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE - 22, 2005/06), the atmospheric gas samples near the surface were taken on the Millor Peninsula and adjacent areas, east Antarctica, using Tedlar gas bags. The methane (CH4) concentration and δ13 C-CH4 in those samples were analyzed in the laboratory. The average value of atmospheric CH4 concentration on this peninsula was (1.87 ± 0.12) × 10-6, slightly higher than the global average CH4 concentration. The summer time variation of CH4 concentrations showed a large fluctuation, corresponding to the variation of air temperatures. The average δ13 C-CH4 was (- 38.26 ± 0.52)‰. CH4 concentrations and δ13 C-CH4 at different sites varied from 1.74 × 10-6 to 2.56 × 10-6 and from - 39.31‰ to - 31.25‰, respectively. The factors affecting CH4 concentrations and δ13 C-CH4 values have also been discussed in this study.

Key words

Antarctica / Millor Peninsula / atmosphere / methane / carbon isotope

Cite this article

Download Citations
Liu Yashu, Zhu Renbin, Li Xianglan, Xu Hua, Sun Liguang. Temporal and spatial variations of atmospheric methane concentration and δ13 C-CH4 near the surface on the Millor Pennsula, East Antarctica. Advances in Polar Science. 2009, 20(1): 22-31

References

1 Sun LG, Zhu RB, Xie ZQ et al. (2001): Measurement of CH concentration on Fildes peninsula, Ant-arctica. Progress in Nature Science, 11(9): 995-998. 4 2 Wang YS, Wang MX, Zheng XH et al. (1994): Concentration and its variations of atmospheric meth-ane in Bejing. Chinese Science Bulletin, 39(14): 1306-1308. 3 Etheridge DM, Pearman GI, Fraser PJ (1992): Changes in tropospheric methane between 1841 and 1978 from a high accumulation-rate Antarctic ice core. Tellus, 44B: 282-294. 4 Steele LP, Dlugokencky EJ, Lang PM et al. (1992): Slowing down of the global accumulation of atmospheric methane during 1980s. Nature, 358: 313-316. DOI:10.1038/358313a0 5 http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov./ccg/figures/ch4trend.golbal.gif.]]> 6 Mosier AR, Duxbury JM, Freney JR et al. (1998): Mitigating agricultural emissions of methane. Climatic Change, 49: 39-80. 7 Chen BH, Li YQ, He GB et al. (2006): Greenhouse gas and its affection weather. Journal of Chengdu University of Information Technology, 21(1) : 123-127. 8 Wuebbles DJ, Hayhoe K (2002): Atmospheric methane and global change. Earth Science Reviews, 57: 177-210. DOI:10.1016/S0012-8252(01)00062-9 9 Wang CR, Huang GH, Liang ZB et al. (2002): Advances in the research on sources and sinks of CHand CH oxidation (up take) in soil. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 13(12): 1707-1712. 4 4 10 Zhu RB, Sun LG, Xing GX et al. (2001): The relations of CO、CH、NO concentrations and fluxes of tundra near the surface on Antarctica. Journal of University of Science and Technology of China, 31(5): 611-617. 2 4 2 11 Jun M, Koichiro N, Takao I et al. (1998): Carbon isotopic analysis of atmospheric methane in urban and suburban areas: fossil and non2fossil methane from local sources. A tmospheric Environment, 32: 2947-2955. DOI:10.1016/S1352-2310(98)00014-4 12 Lowe DC, Brenninkmeijer CAM, Tyler SC et al. (1991): Determination of the isotopic composition of atmospheric methane and its application in the Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research, 96: 15455-15467. DOI:10.1029/91JD01119 13 Zhu M, Tian HH, Tang XY. (1998): Application in the atmospheric methane research by isotope technique. Environment and Exp loitation, 13(2): 1-6. 14 Zhu RB, Kong DM, Sun LG et al. (2006): The first measurement of atmospheric PH3 on Antarctica.Chinese Science Bulletin, 51(18): 2212-2215. 15 Liu XD, Sun LG, Xie ZQ et al. (2004): Geochemical evidence for the influence of historical sea bird activities on Mochou lake sediments in the Zhongshan Station area, east Antarctica. Chinese Journal of Polar Science, 16(4): 295-309. 16 Zhu RB, Liu YS, Sun LG et al. (2007): Methane emissions from two tundra wetlands in eastern Antarctica. Atmospheric Environment, 41(22): 4711-4722. DOI:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.03.030 17 Zhu R B, Glindemann D, Kong D M et al. (2007): Phosphine in the marine atmosphere along a hemispheric course from China to Antarctica. Atmospheric Environment, 41(7): 1567-1573. DOI:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2006.10.035 18 Zhu RB, Kong DM, Sun LG et al. (2006): Tropospheric phosphine and its sources in coastal Antarctica. Environmental Science & Technology, 40: 7656-7661. 19 Cao YC, Sun GQ, Han Y et al. (2008): Determination of nitrogen, carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios in NO, CH, and CO at natural abundance levels by mass spectrometer. ActaPedologica Sinica, 45(2) : 249-257. 2 4 2 20 Sun LG, Xie ZQ, Zhao JL (2000): A 3, 000-year record of penguin populations. Nature, 407: 858. DOI:10.1038/35038163 21 Zdanowski MK, Wegleński, P (2001): Ecophysiology of soil bacteria in the vicinity of Henryk Arctowski Station, King George Island, Antarctica. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 33: 819-829. 22 Sun LG, Zhu RB, Xie ZQ et al. (2002): Emissions of nitrous oxide and methane from Antarctic Tundra: role of penguin dropping deposition. Atmospheric Environment, 36: 4977-4982. DOI:10.1016/S1352-2310(02)00340-0 23 Zhu RB, Liu YS, Xu H et al. (2008): Methane emissions from three sea animal colonies in the maritime Antarctica. Atmospheric Environment, 42: 1197-1205. DOI:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2007.10.035 24 Schimel JP, Clein JS (1996): Microbial response to freeze-thaw cycles in tundra and taiga soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 28(8): 1061-1066. DOI:10.1016/0038-0717(96)00083-1 25 Prieme A, Christensen S (2001): Natural perturbations, drying-wetting and freezing-thawing cycles, and the emission of nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and methane from farmed organic soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 33(15): 2083-2091. DOI:10.1016/S0038-0717(01)00140-7 26 Groffman PM, Driscoll CT, Fahey TJ et al. (2001) : Effects of mild winter freezing on soil nitrogen and carbon dynamics in a northern hardwood forest. Biogeochemistry, 56(2): 191-213. DOI:10.1023/A:1013024603959 27 Stevens CM, Rust FE (1982): The carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric methane. Journal of Geophysical Reasearch, 87: 4879-4882. DOI:10.1029/JC087iC07p04879 28 Lowe DC, Brenninkmeijer CAM, Brailsford GW et al. (1994): Concentration and C records of atmospheric methane in New Zealand and Antarctica: Evidence for changes in methane sources. Journal of Geophysical Research, 99(D8): 16913-16925. 13

Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation ( No. 40676005 and No. 40730107 ), the Open Foundation for Key Laboratory of Polar Science ( No. KP2008004)
PDF(444 KB)

757

Accesses

0

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/