A Global database of methane concentrations and atmospheric fluxes for streams and rivers
Abstract
This dataset, referred to as MethDB, is a collation of publicly available values of methane (CH4) concentrations and atmospheric fluxes for world streams and rivers, along with supporting information on location, geographic, physical, and chemical conditions of the study sites. The data set is composed of four linked tables, corresponding to the data sources (Papers_MethDB), the study sites (Sites_MethDB), concentrations (Concentrations_MethDB), and influx/efflux rates (Fluxes_MethDB). Information was extracted from journal articles, government reports, book chapters, and similar sources that were acquired before 15 September 2015. Concentrations and fluxes were converted to a standard unit (micromoles per liter for concentration and millimoles per square meter per day for flux) and both the author-reported and converted data are included in the database. MethDB was assembled as part of a larger synthesis effort on stream and river CH4 dynamics, and assembled data were used to identify large-scale patterns and potential drivers of fluvial CH4 and to generate an updated global-scale estimate of CH4 emissions from world rivers.
Contact
Core Areas
Dataset ID
321
Date Range
-
DOI
10.6073/pasta/21f5bd6642e9689baf90262f3c85ac4a
Metadata Provider
Methods
CH4 data from streams and rivers are widely scattered, as values are often included as end-member in studies focused on other processes or types of ecosystems. Thus, while we sought to be as complete as possible in compiling existing data, some sources have undoubtedly been overlooked. Sources included journal articles, book chapters, dissertations, USGS open file reports, meeting proceedings, and unpublished results provided by individual investigators. Data incorporated into MethDB were strictly limited to surface waters of rivers and streams; values for groundwater, porewater, saturated soils, lakes, reservoirs, wetlands, estuaries, and floodplains were not included. Some papers were excluded because essential supporting information was missing (e.g., units), or extracting data from complex graphs was considered to be unwise. Data sources are listed in the Notes and Comments section below.
NTL Themes
Version Number
5375866