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Subterranean CO 2 ventilation and its role in the net ecosystem carbon balance of a karstic shrubland
Author(s) -
SanchezCañete E. P.,
SerranoOrtiz P.,
Kowalski A. S.,
Oyonarte C.,
Domingo F.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2011gl047077
Subject(s) - environmental science , ecosystem , shrubland , atmosphere (unit) , carbonate , ventilation (architecture) , atmospheric sciences , karst , carbon dioxide , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental chemistry , geology , ecology , chemistry , meteorology , biology , geography , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Recent studies of carbonate ecosystems suggest a possible contribution of subterranean ventilation to the net ecosystem carbon balance. However, both the overall importance of such CO 2 exchange processes and their drivers remain unknown. Here we analyze several dry‐season episodes of net CO 2 emissions to the atmosphere, along with soil and borehole CO 2 measurements. Results highlight important events where rapid decreases of underground CO 2 molar fractions correlate well with sizeable CO 2 release to the atmosphere. Such events, with high friction velocities, are attributed to ventilation processes, and should be accounted for by predictive models of surface CO 2 exchange.