A recently published paper in Biogeosciences presents the first eddy covariance measurements of ecosystem-scale carbon monoxide (CO) exchange in an Arctic peatland at Stordalen, northern Sweden, covering the period from August 2022 to September 2024. Carbon monoxide is an important trace gas in atmospheric chemistry, but its terrestrial sources and sinks remain poorly quantified.
Using eddy covariance observations, we found that the peatland acted as a small net source of CO, with a pronounced diurnal cycle characterized by daytime emissions and nighttime uptake. The main drivers of CO exchange were radiation, which enhanced emissions, and surface wetness: wetter areas emitted CO, while drier surfaces tended to consume it. These patterns are likely linked to differences in soil oxygen availability.
Although overall observed CO emissions were relatively small, our results indicate that current global models may underestimate CO emissions from northern wetlands, emphasizing the need for improved representation of Arctic peatland processes in atmospheric budgets.
The full paper is available here: