Methane oxidation in Polish forest soils of contrasting atmospheric pollution

Methane consumption was measured in forest soils of Poland in areas of high regional air pollution (SO2 loads) and compared to the activity in areas of low air pollution loads. The areas include the regions with the highest input of SO2 found in Europe and cover a range of average acid deposition up to a factor of 10. No distinct pattern of methane oxidation activities was identified that could be related to present or previous SO2 loads. Methane consumption activity ranged between 16 and 110 μg CH4 m−2 h−1 similar to the activity encountered in previous studies of forested areas.