Research on “blue carbon”—the carbon stored in coastal ecosystems such as mangrove forests, salt marshes, or seagrasses was studying at the University of Delaware. The researchers found something no one predicted to observe in a salt marsh. They saw a huge amount of methane in the soil.
Angelia Seyfferth and Rodrigo Vargas lead different projects in the salt marsh. This pair of researchers are from the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in UD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. During observing the salt marsh they found a highly effective source of energy “Methane”. Methane is an important greenhouse gas.
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Coastal ecosystems can stock up huge amounts of carbon as compared to their small representation globally. These coastal ecosystems contain salt marshes, seagrasses, and mangroves. This matches up to the relatively huge amount of carbon hoard in forests. It covers a huge surface of the world. You can hoard further carbon in an acre of a blue carbon environment.
Such huge concentrations of methane had not expected in these salt marshes. Because it was considered that high sulfate concentrations in these low- or no-oxygen containing sediments would stop the microorganisms that generate methane. All this is because of competition between soil microbes. The soil microorganisms are particularly varied, though this investigation has exposed that microorganisms can produce methane in different ways. Salt marshes can be hotspots of methane generation. These coastal areas must be studied in light of that new information.
Methane, a powerful greenhouse gas
Seyfferth said that these fields can be important causes of methane, a very powerful greenhouse gas. When we think of how the land might change, through administration, sea-level rise, or climate impact. This will help in the understanding of these systems. And now will assist us a better guess and get ready for the future.
Research publications
Seyfferth’s study, published in the journal Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. Looking at carbon cycling patterns in different locations of a tidal marsh at diverse times in the tidal cycle.
Vargas’ study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research-Biogeosciences. Looking at the biochemical factors in play in the same area, examining cyclic differences, tidal power, and different factors.
