Author: websterkgd

My article “Subterranean karst environments as a global sink for atmospheric methane” is officially available from Earth and Planetary Science Letters. The data presented in the article show that methanotrophic microorganisms in caves are actively consuming the greenhouse gas methane. In addition to oxidized atmospheric methane in cave air, we also observed methane entering the caves from two different methanogenic pathways, acetate fermentation and hydrogenotrophy. Out work shows that karst environments are behaving as a global methane sink.

Recommended citation.

Webster KD, Drobniak A, Etiope G, Mastalerz M, Sauer PE, Schimmelmann A. (2017). Subterranean karst environments as a global sink for atmospheric methane. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 485, 9-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2017.12.025

My article “Subterranean karst environments as a global sink for atmospheric methane” has been accepted for publication at Earth and Planetary Science Letters. I will give out more information as it becomes available.

There is nothing quite like having a new instrument. I’m looking forward to making some measurements of cave air with this one. My excitement overwhelms the poor lighting.

This “octopus” will control our mass flow controllers through analog voltage signals operated by a Campbell Scientific data logger.

Here are some photos from the beginning of the month. Rick Wehr had called the flow diagram of the environmental methane sampling system that we will deploy in Brazil “The map to find Luke Skywalker”. If the diagram is the map, then following the diagram may be considered “Finding Luke Skywalker”. Left, pre-assembly of the calibration system manifold. Right, the completed manifold without the two-way solenoid valves. The system now has some working code as well.