Is methane released from the forest canopy?

Mikkelsen, T. N.; Bruhn, D.; Ambus, P.; Larsen, K. S.; Ibrom, A. and Pilegaard, K. (2011). Is methane released from the forest canopy? iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, 4(5) pp. 200–204.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor0591-004

Abstract

Laboratory experiments show that rates of CH₄ emission from plant material depend exponentially on temperature and linearly on UV irradiance. The UV irradiance shall be spectrally weighted and shorter wavelengths results in higher CH₄ emissions. Global upscaling models for estimating aerobic CH₄, based on lab results, have be conducted with varying results, but until now field measurements based on profile and eddy covariance measurements have failed to show CH₄ emissions from forest canopies. To detect CH₄ production or consumption in the canopy of a beech stand we connected a CH₄ analyzer to a canopy air profile system that samples air below and above the canopy from seven different heights. A profile system with many vertical sample points can detect gas concentration gradients with a high sensitivity only under conditions with no or little air movements. Under these conditions we found indications of periodic CH₄ emissions in the canopy, but more data need to be analyzed before the magnitude of the canopy source of CH₄ can be established.

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