Title: The Effect of Methane Oxidation from Wetlands on the Isotopic Composition of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere.
Abstract
Measurements of the stable isotope ratio of carbon dioxide (CO2) can provide insight into multiple ecosystem and ecophysiological processes, including estimating the relative magnitude of CO2 fluxes between the surface and the atmosphere. However, an underexplored source of highly depleted CO2 comes from the oxidation of methane in wetlands, which can theoretically significantly deplete atmospheric CO2 measured in the proximity of the wetlands. In this presentation I will show the theoretical and experimental evidence for the decrease in the stable carbon isotope ratio of atmospheric CO2 as a consequence of methane oxidation in a freshwater wetland. This knowledge could aid in the quantification of methane oxidation and its temperature dependence, and we suggest that the contribution of CO2 derived from methane oxidation should be included in the calculation of regional CO2 budgets located near wetlands.
