Study Shows Arctic Peat Equal To Tropical Forests As Source Of GHG Nitrous Oxide - New Scientist

[hatrack]

It seems the Arctic is belching out nitrous oxide – commonly known as laughing gas. Unfortunately, the punchline is that it is a powerful greenhouse gas. Previously, emissions of N2O were thought to enter the atmosphere mainly from tropical forests and intensively managed farmland, with only a negligible amount from northerly environments.

Maija Repo and colleagues from the University of Kuopio, Finland, measured emissions from peat circles in northern Russia. These sit on peatland plateaux, which are widespread throughout the Arctic, covering 20% of the total land surface. The bare surfaces of peat circles develop because cycles of freezing and thawing churn up the peat, preventing plant growth.

During the snow-free season, they found the peat circles emitted 1.2 grams/m2 of N2O, which is just as much as tropical forests release in a year. The team reckons that a lack of plants decreases competition for the mineral nitrogen. This allows nitrate to accumulate in the soil which is then metabolised by bacteria to produce N2O.

Although this means N2O remains a small contributor to the greenhouse effect, compared with methane and carbon dioxide, the gas persists unaltered in the atmosphere for over 110 years, compared with around 10 years for methane – which is also periodically released by the tundra.

EDIT

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16602-burp-of-arctic-laughing-gas-is-no-joke.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=climate-change

[OKIsItJustMe]

1. AFP—Climate change: 'Feedback' triggers could amplify peril

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jSNt_lHYXJe_qFDI4kbvz1LlMI6w

Climate change: 'Feedback' triggers could amplify peril

PARIS (AFP) — New studies have warned of triggers in the natural environment, including a greenhouse-gas timebomb in Siberia and Canada, that could viciously amplify global warming.

Thawing subarctic tundra could unleash billions of tonnes of gases that have been safely stored in frosty soil, while oceans and forests are becoming less able to suck carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere, according to papers presented this weekend.

Together, these phenomena mean that more heat-trapping gases will enter the atmosphere, which in turn will stoke global warming, thrusting the machinery of climate change into higher gear.

Researchers in Finland and Russia discovered that nitrous oxide is leaking into the air from so-called "peat circle" ecosystems found throughout the tundra, a vast expanse of territory in higher latitudes.

…

[tabatha]

2. There are companies that make nitrous oxide for use in a number of applications.

They should --- instead of manufacturing it --- extract it from these locations, bottle and store.

[OKIsItJustMe]

3. Except, it would probably be much more expensive

It's always the bottom line. Sure, they could capture it, but how? (You know, like maybe huge plastic tents, and inverted funnels and…)

So much easier/cheaper to make your own.

[tabatha]

4. Not really.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrous_oxide

It is a tricky procedure, with the danger of nitric oxide contamination.

I was involved in the setup of a nitrous oxide plant by a company that extracted oxygen and nitrogen from the air.
But, extracted nitrous oxide would have to be purified.

[OKIsItJustMe]

5. Got it, but

What method would you use to capture and purify the N₂O that's slowly seeping out of the permafrost?

[tabatha]

6. Interesting question.

Have no idea. I am sure there would be some low energy methods developed.