The role of the diffusion permeability of soils in the regulation of methane emission on gas-bearing areas

Specificity of soil functioning and formation on gas-bearing areas

“…The coefficient of methane diffusion is maximal in sandy Albic Umbric Podzols on old-alluvial parent materials, decreases in Cutanic Umbric Albeluvisols (Dystric, Siltic) on water-glacial parent materials and automorphic soils in industrial zone, and also downward for catena with an increase with humidity in semi-hydromorphic and especially in hydromorohic soils (Mozharova and Ushakov 2004). Low permeability of Histic Gleyic Albeluvisols (Dystric, Siltic) and Sapric Histosols (Endogleyic) in moist conditions forms true diffusion barriers complicating the penetration of technogenic-allochthonous methane into their profile that reduces the probability of its bacterial oxidation.…”

“…The biomass and specific structure of soil microorganisms was determined on fatty acids by way of the chromate-mass-spectrometry method. The coefficient of methane diffusion in soils has been calculated on a graphic model depending on the attitude of aeration porosity and the general porosity (Mozharova and Ushakov 2004). Physical and chemical properties of soils were defined by the standard techniques: granulometric composition-by the pyrophosphate method (Shein et al 2001); a specific surface of soils-by Kuthelic method; density, the general porosity, porosity of aeration-by a chisel method; humidity-by a weight method (Vadunina and Korchagina 1986).…”

“…Data of methane emission from gas-bearing areas are unique (Galchenko 2001;Mozharova and Belyaeva 2005;Mozharova and Ushakov 2004), while the consumption of migratory methane by soils is practically not investigated. Studying of this question has been begun in the 1930s of the twentieth century when hydrocarbon gases migrated from gas-oil deposits were found near the surface.…”