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Greenland active-layer soils eat permafrost VOCs
Active-layer soils from Disko Island and Kangerlussuaq consume most tested VOCs, likely microbially, before they can escape to the air.
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Can Greenland active-layer soils consume VOCs?
Yes; they took up all 12 target VOCs at 10 cm, with some deeper exceptions for acetaldehyde.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
Which VOCs had the highest Disko 10 cm uptake?
Benzyl alcohol, isoprene, and linalool.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
Is uptake mainly physical dissolution?
Unlikely; coefficients vary by compound and wetting does not always raise uptake of soluble VOCs.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
What climate role could this sink play?
Filtering VOCs released from thawing permafrost, analogous to methane oxidation.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
Did water addition always increase uptake?
Often yes (e.g. methanol, acetone, isoprene), but some compounds declined at Kangerlussuaq.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
How large is the permafrost carbon pool cited?
Up to 1700 Pg, about twice atmospheric carbon.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
What fraction of Earth’s surface is permafrost?
About 11%.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
Did soil depth strongly control overall uptake?
Not significantly (P = 0.14); glacier proximity did (P < 0.001).
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
What typical active-layer thickness is cited?
Generally 40 to 320 cm.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
Why might lab uptake underestimate field capacity?
Soil-pore VOC concentrations can far exceed ambient air, and uptake is often first-order in concentration.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified
Were target VOCs the main emitted species?
No; none of the 12 uptake targets were among the top 10 emitted compounds.
Source: The active layer soils of Greenlandic permafrost areas can function as important sinks for volatile organic compounds · DOI · quote verified