An optode sensor array for long term in situ Oxygen measurements in soil and sediment

TY - JOUR

T1 - An optode sensor array for long term in situ Oxygen measurements in soil and sediment

AU - Rickelt, Lars F

AU - Jensen, Louise Askær

AU - Walpersdorf, Eva Christine

AU - Elberling, Bo

AU - Glud, Ronnie Nøhr

AU - Kühl, Michael

N1 - CENPERM[2013] Errata: DOI 10.2134/jeq2012.0334er Journal of Environmental Quality vol. 43, no.5

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - Long-term measurements of molecular oxygen (O2) dynamics in wetlands are highly relevant for understanding the effects of water level changes on net greenhouse gas budgets in these ecosystems. However, such measurements have been limited due to a lack of suitable measuring equipment. We constructed an O2 optode sensor array for long-term in situ measurements in soil and sediment. The new device consists of a 1.3-m-long, cylindrical, spear-shaped rod equipped with 10 sensor spots along the shaft. Each spot contains a thermocouple fixed with a robust fiberoptic O2 optode made by immobilizing a layer of Pt(II) meso-tetra(pentafluorophenyl) porphine in polystyrene at the end of a 2-mm polymethyl methacrylate plastic fiber. Temperature and O2 optode readings are collected continuously by a data logger and a multichannel fiberoptic O2 meter. The construction and measuring characteristics of the sensor array system are presented along with a novel approach for temperature compensation of O2 optodes. During in situ application over several months in a peat bog, we used the new device to document pronounced variations in O2 distribution after marked shifts in water level. The measurements showed anoxic conditions below the water level but also diel variations in O2 concentrations in the upper layer presumably due to rhizospheric oxidation by the main vegetation Phalaris arundinacea. The new field instrument thus enables new and more detailed insights to the in situ O2 dynamics in wetlands.

AB - Long-term measurements of molecular oxygen (O2) dynamics in wetlands are highly relevant for understanding the effects of water level changes on net greenhouse gas budgets in these ecosystems. However, such measurements have been limited due to a lack of suitable measuring equipment. We constructed an O2 optode sensor array for long-term in situ measurements in soil and sediment. The new device consists of a 1.3-m-long, cylindrical, spear-shaped rod equipped with 10 sensor spots along the shaft. Each spot contains a thermocouple fixed with a robust fiberoptic O2 optode made by immobilizing a layer of Pt(II) meso-tetra(pentafluorophenyl) porphine in polystyrene at the end of a 2-mm polymethyl methacrylate plastic fiber. Temperature and O2 optode readings are collected continuously by a data logger and a multichannel fiberoptic O2 meter. The construction and measuring characteristics of the sensor array system are presented along with a novel approach for temperature compensation of O2 optodes. During in situ application over several months in a peat bog, we used the new device to document pronounced variations in O2 distribution after marked shifts in water level. The measurements showed anoxic conditions below the water level but also diel variations in O2 concentrations in the upper layer presumably due to rhizospheric oxidation by the main vegetation Phalaris arundinacea. The new field instrument thus enables new and more detailed insights to the in situ O2 dynamics in wetlands.

U2 - 10.2134/jeq2012.0334

DO - 10.2134/jeq2012.0334

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24216378

SN - 0047-2425

VL - 42

SP - 1267

EP - 1273

JO - Journal of Environmental Quality

JF - Journal of Environmental Quality

IS - 4

ER -