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Global methane emission estimates from ultraviolet irradiation of terrestrial plant foliage
Author(s) -
Bloom A. Anthony,
LeeTaylor Julia,
Madronich Sasha,
Messenger David J.,
Palmer Paul I.,
Reay David S.,
McLeod Andy R.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2010.03259.x
Subject(s) - methane , terrestrial plant , irradiation , ultraviolet , ultraviolet irradiation , environmental science , environmental chemistry , astrobiology , ultraviolet radiation , methane emissions , atmospheric sciences , biology , chemistry , ecology , radiochemistry , physics , optics , nuclear physics
Summary• Several studies have reported in situ methane (CH 4 ) emissions from vegetation foliage, but there remains considerable debate about its significance as a global source. Here, we report a study that evaluates the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation‐driven CH 4 emissions from foliar pectin as a global CH 4 source. • We combine a relationship for spectrally weighted CH 4 production from pectin with a global UV irradiation climatology model, satellite‐derived leaf area index (LAI) and air temperature data to estimate the potential global CH 4 emissions from vegetation foliage. • Our results suggest that global foliar CH 4 emissions from UV‐irradiated pectin could account for 0.2–1.0 Tg yr −1 , of which 60% is from tropical latitudes, corresponding to < 0.2% of total CH 4 sources. • Our estimate is one to two orders of magnitude lower than previous estimates of global foliar CH 4 emissions. Recent studies have reported that pectin is not the only molecular source of UV‐driven CH 4 emissions and that other environmental stresses may also generate CH 4 . Consequently, further evaluation of such mechanisms of CH 4 generation is needed to confirm the contribution of foliage to the global CH 4 budget.