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A numerical evaluation of chamber methodologies used in measuring the δ 13 C of soil respiration
Author(s) -
Nickerson Nick,
Risk Dave
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
rapid communications in mass spectrometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.528
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1097-0231
pISSN - 0951-4198
DOI - 10.1002/rcm.4189
Subject(s) - chemistry , field (mathematics) , measure (data warehouse) , mechanics , statistical physics , physics , computer science , data mining , mathematics , pure mathematics
Measurement of the δ 13 C value of soil‐respired CO 2 ( δ r ) has become a commonplace method through which ecosystem function and C dynamics can be better understood. Despite its proven utility there is currently no consensus on the most robust method with which to measure δ r . Static and dynamic chamber systems are both commonly used for this purpose; however, the literature on these methods provides evidence suggesting that measurements of δ r made with these chamber systems are neither repeatable (self‐consistent) nor comparable across methodologies. Here we use a three‐dimensional (3‐D) numerical soil‐atmosphere‐chamber model to test these chamber systems in a ‘surrogate reality’. Our simulations show that each chamber methodology is inherently biased and that no chamber methodology can accurately predict the true δ r signature under field conditions. If researchers intend to use δ r to study in situ ecosystem processes, the issues with these chamber systems need to be corrected either by using diffusive theory or by designing a new, unbiased δ r measurement system. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.