Winter sampling at Pallas sites

During winter months with snow covering the ground we have been conducting our monthly greenhouse gas measurements at the sites in Matorova mire and Välisuo mire. The used snow gradient method allows analysis of fluxes from peat soil, which is actually not frozen due to the insulating snow cover. The microbes in peat soils are thus active and take part in cycling of the greenhouse gases.

Wintertime sampling is not conducted by foot, but we use skis. Also with the deep snow cover the portable GHG analyzers cannot be used. Therefore, this is a bit more laborious but the results will give a winter time baseline on the GHG emissions before restoration. Winter sampling in these sites is important as the sites are snow covered over half of the year.