Flux of methane release and carbon dioxide sequestration at Winterhouse Canyon, Gros Morne, Newfoundland, Canada; a site of continental serpentinization

• Published in: Canadian journal of earth sciences Vol. 54; no. 3; pp. 257 - 262
• Main Authors: Morrissey, Liam S, Morrill, Penny L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa National Research Council of Canada 01.03.2017; NRC Research Press; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: aliphatic hydrocarbons; alkanes; Atmosphere; Atmospheres; Canada; Canyons; Carbon capture and storage; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide fixation; Carbon sequestration; Climate change; degassing; Eastern Canada; Flux; gases; global change; Global warming; greenhouse effect; greenhouse gases; Gros Morne National Park; ground water; hydrocarbons; Hydrogeology; igneous and metamorphic rocks; metasomatism; Methane; Newfoundland; Newfoundland and Labrador; nitrous oxide; Nitrous oxides; organic compounds; Petrology; Pools; Rock; Rocks; Sampling; serpentinization; springs; Winterhouse Canyon; Newfoundland & Labrador Canada; Canada; Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland
• ISSN: 0008-4077; 1480-3313
• DOI: 10.1139/cjes-2016-0123

We measured CO2, CH4, and N2O gas fluxes from a pool of ultra-basic water discharging from serpentinized rock in Winterhouse Canyon, Gros Morne, Newfoundland. The flux of CH4 released and CO2 sequestered were calculated to be 4.6 × 10-7 and 1.9 × 10-5 mol/(m2·min), respectively, whereas N2O concentrations showed little change. The net radiative forcing owing to the changing concentrations of CO2 and CH4 during the sampling period was -0.21, suggesting that the ultra-basic pool in Winterhouse Canyon has a net cooling effect on the atmosphere. Similarly, the net global warming potential over a time horizon of 100 years was -7, also suggesting a small cooling of the atmosphere. Overall this study was the first to consider the impact of CO2 sequestration and CH4 emissions from an ultra-basic pool above serpentinized rock and demonstrated the need for more research on the net global impacts of serpentinization.