Cycling of methane (CH4) in Tomales Bay, a 28-km(2) temperate estuary
in northern California with relatively low inputs of organic carbon, w
as studied over a 1-yr period. Water column CH4 concentrations showed
spatial and temporal variability (range = 8-100 nM), and were supersat
urated with respect to the atmosphere by a factor of 2-37. Rates of ne
t water column CH4 production-oxidation were determined by in situ exp
eriments, and were not found to be significantly different from zero.
Fluxes across the sediment-water interface, determined by direct measu
rement using benthic chambers, varied from -0.1 mu mol m(-2) d(-1) to
+16 mu mol m(-2) d(-1) (positive fluxes into water). Methane concentra
tions in the two perennial creeks feeding the bay varied annually (140
-950 nM); these creeks were a significant CH4 source to the bay during
winter. in addition, mass-balance calculations indicate a significant
additional winter CH4 source, which is hypothesized to result from st
orm-related runoff from dairy farms adjacent to the bay. Systemwide CH
4 budgets of the 16-km(2) inner hay indicate benthic production (110 m
ol d(-1)) and atmospheric (110 mol d(-1)) dominated during summer, whi
le atmospheric evasion (160 mol d(-1)) and runoff from dairy farms (90
mol d(-1))dominated during winter.