Ecosystem CO2 and CH4 exchange in a mixed tundra and a fen within a hydrologically diverse Arctic landscape: 1. Modeling versus measurements

• Published in: Journal of geophysical research. Biogeosciences 2015-07, Vol.120 (7), p.1366-1387
• Main Authors: Grant, R. F., Humphreys, E. R., Lafleur, P. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: active layer depth; Biogeochemistry; Carbon dioxide; Degassing; ecosys; Emissions; fen; Fens; Freezing; Hydrology; Methane; modeling; net ecosystem productivity; Permafrost; Shallow water; Soils; Taiga & tundra; Tundra; Vapor pressure; Water potential; Water table
• ISSN: 2169-8953; 2169-8961
• DOI: 10.1002/2014JG002888

CO2 and CH4 exchange are strongly affected by hydrology in landscapes underlain by permafrost. Hypotheses for these effects in the model ecosys were tested by comparing modeled CO2 and CH4 exchange with CO2 fluxes measured by eddy covariance from 2006 to 2009, and with CH4 fluxes measured with surface chambers in 2008, along a topographic gradient at Daring Lake, NWT. In an upland tundra, rises in net CO2 uptake in warmer years were constrained by declines in CO2 influxes when vapor pressure deficits (D) exceeded 1.5 kPa and by rises in CO2 effluxes with greater active layer depth. Consequently, net CO2 uptake rose little with warming. In a lowland fen, CO2 influxes declined less with D and CO2 effluxes rose less with warming, so that rises in net CO2 uptake were greater than those in the tundra. Greater declines in CO2 influxes with warming in the tundra were modeled from greater soil‐plant‐atmosphere water potential gradients that developed under higher D in drained upland soil, and smaller rises in CO2 effluxes with warming in the fen were modeled from O2 constraints to heterotrophic and belowground autotrophic respiration from a shallow water table in poorly drained lowland soil. CH4 exchange modeled during July and August indicated very small influxes in the tundra and larger effluxes characterized by afternoon emission events caused by degassing of warming soil in the fen. Emissions of CH4 modeled from degassing during soil freezing in October–November contributed about one third of the annual total. Key Points NEP of drier upland tundra does not rise much in warmer years NEP of lowland fen rises in warmer years CH4 is emitted by degassing with summer warming and autumn freezing