Methane emissions and below ground methane pore water concentrations were determined in an alpine fen at 1,915 m a.s.l. in central Switzerland. The fen represented an acidic (pH 4.5-4.9), nutrient-poor to mesotrophic habitat dominated by Carex limosa, Carex rostrata, Trichophorum caespitosum and Sphagnum species. From late fall to late spring the fen was snow-covered. Throughout winter the temperatures never dropped below 0°C at 5 cm below the vegetation surface. Methane emissions in June, July, August and September were in the range of 125 (±26)-313 (±71) mg CH 4 m -2 day -1 with a tendency to decrease along the summer season. Mean methane pore water concentrations at a depth of 20-40 cm below the vegetation surface were 526 (±32) lM in June and in the range of 144 (±10)-233 (±7) lM in July, August and September. At a depth of 0-20 cm the mean methane pore water concentrations dropped back to \20 lM with an almost linear decrease between 0 and 15 cm. Oxygen pore water concentrations were close to air saturation in the first few centimeters and dropped back below detection limit at a depth of 20 cm. In July and August the pore water concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were in the range of 7.2-10.1 mg C l -1 at all depths. The pore water concentrations of acetate, formate and oxalate were in the range of 2.0-8.2 lM at all depths. Methanotrophic and methanogenic communities were quantified using pmoA and mcrA, respectively, as marker genes. The abundances of both communities showed a distinct peak at a depth of 10-15 cm below the vegetation surface.

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Abstract. In eleven reservoirs located at different altitudes in Switzerland depth profiles of greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, and N2O) concentrations were measured several times during spring and summer. Trace gas emissions were calculated using surface concentrations, wind speeds and transfer velocities. Additionally we assessed methane loss at the turbine and the methane input by inflowing water. All reservoirs were net emitters of CO2 with an average of 1030±780 mg m−2 d−1 and of methane with an average of 0.20±0.15 mg m−2 d−1. One reservoir (Lake Wohlen) emitted methane at a much higher rate (160±110 mg m−2 d−1), most of which (>98%) was due to ebullition. Only lowland reservoirs were sources for N2O (72±22 μg m−2 d−1), while the subalpine and alpine reservoirs seem to be in equilibrium with atmospheric concentrations. Methane loss at the turbine was as large as the diffusive flux from the surface for two subalpine reservoirs and around five times smaller for a lowland reservoir. The available data suggests greenhouse gas emissions from reservoirs in the Alps are minor contributors to the global greenhouse gas emissions.

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