dc.contributor.author | Claricoates, Jane | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2017-09-18T13:35:03Z | |
dc.date.available | 2017-09-18T13:35:03Z | |
dc.date.issued | 1990-09 | |
dc.date.submitted | 2017-09-18T13:39:04.888Z | |
dc.identifier.citation | Claricoates, J. 1990. GAS PRODUCTION DURING PEAT DECAY. Queen Mary University of London | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://qmro.qmul.ac.uk/xmlui/handle/123456789/25734 | |
dc.description | PhD | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | Decay and accumulation of blanket peat in the Northern Pennine
region of England are considered, both in quantitative and qualitative
terms. Productivity on the surface of these peat bogs is not
unusually high, suggesting that a low decay rate may be responsible
for the accumulation of the peat. Considerable study has formerly
been made of the aerobic decay processes, at the expense of the
parallel anaerobic processes, which have largely hitherto been
considered negligible. Yet a current mathematical model of peat
accumulation suggests that it is likely to be the anaerobic decay rate
which determines the total depth of peat which may accumulate.
Further, such models intimate that a very small absolute change in the
anaerobic decay rate will have an unexpectedly large effect on the
potential steady state depth of peat.
The present study concentrates on obtaining measurements of
anaerobic decay rates, and on identifying the possible limiting
environmental factors of the decay. The design of a sampler to
collect gas samples in situ from blanket peat is described. The
components of particular interest in the samples are CH4 and C02. Gas
concentrations down eight peat profiles at two sites are monitored
over two seasons. Simultaneous surface flux measurements above pool,
lawn and hummock microhabitats are also made. Water level,
temperature, pH, redox potential, depth of the sulphide zone and total
sulphide concentration are recorded on each field visit.
The results from the gas sample analyses are discussed in
relation to the environmental factors and in relation to our present
understanding of peat decay rates and their consequences on peat
accumulation. The anaerobic decay rate is calculated, and is
confirmed to be several orders of magnitude less than that in the
overlying aerobic peat. It is shown that the methane is not fossil,
but is continually being produced at all depths. Rates of gas
production are calculated.
Annual methane and carbon dioxide losses from entire peat bogs
are calculated to contribute a significant amount to carbon cycling,
on a site-specific and global scale. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | Queen Mary University of London | |
dc.subject | Media and Arts Technology | en_US |
dc.subject | Electronic Engineering and Computer Science | en_US |
dc.subject | Audience experience | en_US |
dc.subject | wearable systems | en_US |
dc.subject | film entertainment | en_US |
dc.title | GAS PRODUCTION DURING PEAT DECAY | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.rights.holder | The copyright of this thesis rests with the author and no quotation from it or information derived from it may be published without the prior written consent of the author | |