Emissions of biogenic sulfur gases (H2S, COS) from Phragmites australis coastal marsh in the Yellow River estuary of China

Emissions of biogenic sulfur gases (hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbonyl sulfide (COS)) from Phragmites australis coastal marsh in the Yellow River estuary of China were determined during April to December in 2014 using static chamber-gas chromatography technique with monthly sampling. The results showed that the fluxes of H2S and COS both had distinct seasonal and diurnal variations. The H2S fluxes ranged from 0.09 μg/(m2·h) to 7.65 μg/(m2·h), and the COS fluxes ranged from–1.10 μg/(m2·h) to 3.32 μg/(m2·h). The mean fluxes of H2S and COS from the P. australis coastal marsh were 2.28 μg/(m2·h), and 1.05 μg/(m2·h), respectively. The P. australis coastal marsh was the emission source of both H2S and COS over the whole year. Fluxes of H2S and COS were both higher in plant growing season than in the non-growing season. Temperature had a dramatic effect on the H2S emission flux, while the correlations between COS flux and the environmental factors were not found during sampling periods. More in-depth and comprehensive research on other related factors, such as vegetation, sediment substrates, and tidal action is needed to discover and further understand the key factors and the release mechanism of sulfur gases.