Estimation of Methane Fluxes in the Ecosystem of the Palsa Mire in the Far North Taiga Subzone in the European Northeast of Russia (According to the Results of Two Measurement Methods)

Methane emission from a palsa mire in the European Northeast of Russia is estimated based on the results of measurements by the method of static chambers and of eddy covariance during the growing season. Hollows make the main contribution to the ecosystem flux: the rate of methane emission per season from these relief elements averages 5.7 mg/(m(2) h) and is controlled by soil temperature and water table level. The methane emission from the ridges and the peat mound is noticeably lower: 0.85 and 0.28 mg/(m(2) h), respectively. The methane flux to the atmosphere from the peat mound depends on the thickness, temperature, and humidity of the active peat layer. The cumulative ecosystem flux of methane into the atmosphere in May-September, obtained by the method of chambers and of eddy covariance, corresponds to 9.5 and 11.4 g/m(2).