ISSN:
1432-1793
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract A closed chamber technique was developed to determine the emission of microbially produced N2O from an estuarine sediment. A diurnal variation was observed; maximum emissions of 0.4 to 4.0 μmol N2O−N m-2 h-1 were recorded at night whereas the rates were low or even negative, -0.4 to 0.4 μmol N2O−N m-2 h-1, during the day. The bacterial denitrification located in the uppermost centimeter was apparently the major source of the emitted N2O. The diurnal emission pattern was thus inversely related to the O2 availability at the sediment surface; in the dark, the lack of O2 production by benthic photosynthesis allowed the denitrification to occur closer to the sediment-water interface and was likely to enhance the release of N2O to the water. The daily averages for the emission were about 40 μmol N2O−N m-2 d-1 for three investigation periods in autumn (November), winter (February) and spring (April), whereas no significant emission was recorded in the NO 3 - -depleted sediment in early summer (June). In this estuary, the N2O emissions from the sediment were significant contributions to the overall release of N2O to the atmosphere.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00394726
