Enghave - Impact of wetland re-establishment on greenhouse gas balances

Enghave field station at re-established wetland showing the solar panels and wind generator to supply power and automatic trace gas chambers

As a consequence of the VMP II action plan, which has the goal to reduce leaching of nitrogen from agricultural areas to surface waters, farmers can achieve subsidies to transfer drained croplands into undrained, new wetlands. Such initiatives may change not only the nitrogen flow through, but also affect the soil-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases. In the spring of 2004 a VMP II wetland (14 ha area) was established bordering Enghave Å (Enghave creek, ca. 10 km NE to Roskilde). The area is permanently grass-covered and is grazed by cattle during July to November. Since December 2004 an experimental field station was established at the Enghave site in order to monitor the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of the three dominant biogenic greenhouse gases, namely carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4).

Objectives: assess the effect of re-establishment of a wetland ecosystem on former agricultural area for greenhouse gas emissions Scientific approach: Emissions of greenhouse gasses and CO2 from the ecosystem is measured by micrometeorological techniques as well as manual and autmated static chambers

Participants and role:
This is a RISØ initiated activity

Student projects: A series of student projects are offered in connection to the project