American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals
AGU Home AGU Publications

Read Full Article    Cited by

JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 105, NO. D7, PAGES 8857–8864, 2000

Litter decomposition as a potential natural source of methyl bromide

J. M. Lee-Taylor

National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado


E. A. Holland

National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado


Abstract

We assessed the potential significance of global litter decay as a new source of atmospheric methyl bromide. We combined information on the global distribution and quantity of litter decay, litter bromine content, and the halogen-methylating ability of wood-rotting fungi to produce a spatially explicit estimate of CH3Br emission from litter decay. The uncertainties are large and the potential methyl bromide source varies greatly in response to assumptions made, including those regarding the efficiency of bromine utilization and release. Our best estimate of the potential flux from woody litter, 0.5 – 5.2 kT yr−1, is unable to account for the entire “missing source.” Additional possible fluxes from regions of inadequate data and from nonwoody litter may raise this total. This proposed decomposition source is of potential interest to budget calculations and should be experimentally characterized and quantified.

Received 8 June 1999; accepted 2 November 1999.


Read Full Article    Cited by

Citation: Lee-Taylor, J. M., and E. A. Holland (2000), Litter decomposition as a potential natural source of methyl bromide, J. Geophys. Res., 105(D7), 8857–8864.