TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF BIOGENIC GASES IN PEAT SOILS FROM THE EVERGLADES TO SIMULATED CHANGES IN ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE

Peat soils in the Everglades are large sources of biogenic gases such as methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). The main objective of this experiment is to test how simulated changes in atmospheric pressure in a controlled laboratory may affect the release of biogenic gases as related to the ebullition process. In this experiment multiple simulations will be done by increasing and decreasing the pressure in a peat monolith at the laboratory scale. An array of ground penetrating radar, gas traps, time lapse cameras and surface deformation sensors will be deployed to test how changes in pressure may induce rapid biogenic gas releases (i.e. ebullition). Temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure will be concurrently monitored. Determining the response of changes in pressure may induce in biogenic gas releases may give better insight into how atmospheric pressure can affect natural ebullition releases from the Everglades, particularly under a climate change scenario.