Coastal acidification alters sediment nitrous oxide and methane fluxes
Date
2022-05-17
Authors
Fulweiler, Robinson
Version
Published version
OA Version
Citation
R. Fulweiler, C. Mazur. 2022. "Coastal acidification alters sediment nitrous oxide and methane fluxes" Limnology and Oceanography Letters. https://doi.org/10.1002/lol2.10334
Abstract
The impact of coastal acidification on sediment nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄) fluxes is largely unknown. We exposed temperate estuarine sediments to moderate (pH 7.3) and extreme (pH 6.3) acidification. Sediments were collected from two sites—one exposed to high and the other to low nitrogen loading. We demonstrate that low pH has a strong effect on greenhouse gas fluxes. The response, in terms of both magnitude and direction, was site specific. Sediments from the high nitrogen loading site exhibited increased N₂O fluxes and decreased CH₄ fluxes under moderate and extreme acidification. In contrast, sediments from the low nitrogen loading site exhibited decreased N₂O fluxes under moderate and extreme acidification while CH₄ fluxes both decreased (moderate) and increased (extreme). This study highlights the dynamic response of sediment N₂O and CH₄ fluxes to low pH and emphasizes the need for deeper understanding of of coastal acidification impacts on sediment biogeochemistry.
Description
License
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons AttributionLicense, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in anymedium, provided the original work is properly cited.