Cycles of Temperature and Carbon Dioxide Evolution From Litter and Soil

EcologyPublished 1 September 1969

M. Witkamp

DOI10.2307/1933713

Source URL

Citations108

SJR quartileQ1

SJR score2.04

SNIP1.53

TL;DR

Periodic measurement of CO2 evolution from various biotopes reveals a daily cycle in soil respiration with a predawn minimum and an afternoon maximum that parallels the daily temperature cycle.

Abstract

Periodic measurement of CO 2 evolution from various biotopes reveals a daily cycle in soil respiration with a predawn minimum and an afternoon maximum that parallels the daily temperature cycle. A second maximum occasionally occurs between midnight and dawn when soil temperatures exceed temperature of the surface air. This predawn flush may result from thermal convection of CO 2 —rich subsurface air to the surface. The time of measurement must be considered for comparisons of rates of CO 2 evolution from different sites, and measurements should be made over a 24—hr period for estimates of daily CO 2 evolution.

Keywords

EngineeringEnvironmental Science

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