FLUXES OF CO2, CH4 AND N2O FROM A WELSH PEATLAND FOLLOWING SIMULATION OF WATER-TABLE DRAW-DOWN - POTENTIAL FEEDBACK TO CLIMATIC-CHANGE

A potential effect of climatic change was simulated by manipulating the water table height within intact peat monoliths. The treatment decreased methane flux (maximum -80%) and increased both carbon dioxide flux (maximum 146%) and nitrous oxide flux (maximum 936%). Returning the water table height to its original level caused both nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide flux to rapidly return to control levels. However, methane flux remained at its experimentally induced low levels.