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Las termitas: una fuente potencialmente grande de metano atmosférico, dióxido de carbono e hidrógeno molecular
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|November 5, 1982
Resumen
Las termitas liberan cantidades significativas de gases de efecto invernadero como el metano y el dióxido de carbono. Estas emisiones, particularmente de las regiones tropicales, contribuyen a los niveles de gases atmosféricos.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Ciencias ambientales Ciencias ambientales.
- Química de la atmósfera La química de la atmósfera
- Ecología Ecología Ecología.
Sus antecedentes:
- Se sabe que las termitas producen gases a través de sus procesos digestivos.
- Comprender los gases emitidos por las termitas es crucial para el modelado atmosférico.
- Las estimaciones anteriores se basaban en gran medida en datos de laboratorio.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para cuantificar las emisiones globales de metano, dióxido de carbono e hidrógeno molecular de las termitas.
- Para validar los hallazgos de laboratorio con mediciones de campo.
- Identificar las regiones con el mayor potencial de emisiones de gases de las termitas.
Principales métodos:
- Mediciones de laboratorio de la producción de gas por las termitas.
- Mediciones de campo de las emisiones de metano de los nidos de termitas en Guatemala.
- Extrapolación de datos de laboratorio para estimar las emisiones anuales globales.
Principales resultados:
- Las estimaciones de laboratorio sugieren emisiones anuales de 1,5 x 10^14 g de metano y 5 x 10^16 g de dióxido de carbono.
- Se puede producir anualmente hasta 2 x 10^14 g de hidrógeno molecular.
- Los datos de campo de Guatemala corroboraron las tasas de emisión de metano de laboratorio.
Conclusiones:
- Las termitas son una notable fuente de metano atmosférico, dióxido de carbono e hidrógeno.
- Las áreas tropicales perturbadas por el hombre son probablemente puntos calientes para las emisiones de gases de las termitas.
- Se necesita más investigación para refinar las estimaciones de emisiones globales y su impacto.
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