Large-Scale Estimates of CH4 Flux in Arctic Ecosystems: Field Testing of a Fast Response CH4 Analyzer for Remote Locations

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Arctic ecosystems are sources of CH4 to the atmosphere, however, fluxes are extremely variable over small spatial scales. Therefore, large-scale measurements which integrate patch-scale variability are needed to determine the magnitude of CH4 efflux. Recent advances in laser technology have resulted in the development of sensitive, rapid response CH4 sensors for landscape-scale flux measurements. However, many of these instruments require elaborate support systems and large amounts of power during operation, which inhibit their use in remote field studies. A fast response open path CH4 sensor was recently developed that does not require a large amount of extraneous supplies for operation. Although this sensor appears to be practical for use in remote flux studies, it is unknown whether it is sensitive enough to resolve the small CH4 fluxes characteristic of arctic ecosystems, or robustenough to withstand the harsh arctic environment. Therefore, the sensor will be tested on a portable eddy correlation tower in a variety of arctic ecosystems for two weeks during the 1994 field season. If the field test is successful, the sensor may then be implemented for future tower and/or aircraft-based eddy correlation flux studies in remote arctic ecosystems. This award is made under the SGER (Small Grants for Exploratory Research) initiative. The project is part of the Arctic System Science,Land/Atmosphere/Ice Interactions Flux project.