Temperature sensitivity of soil respiration processes in the presence of naphthalene - Time series geochemistry data from an incubation experiment

Decomposition of soil organic matter releases carbon stored in soils to the atmosphere. This soil carbon can be released in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the case of soil respiration as well as methane (CH4) in the case of methanogenesis. CO2 and CH4 are two key greenhouse gases contributing to global climate change, and their emissions from petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contaminated sites is a concern for site managers. Since soil organic matter decomposition is a biologically mediated set of processes, like other biologically mediated processes its rates are highly sensitive to temperature. To investigate the effect of temperature and oxygen availability on soil respiration and methanogenesis in the presence of a representation PHC, we performed naphthalene-spiked microcosm incubations under oxic or anoxic headspace at temperatures of 10, 20, and 30°C. Soil microcosms under oxic conditions were incubated for 6 days and sampled daily. Soil microcosms under anoxic conditions were incubated for 49 days and sampled weekly. Time series data were generated for headspace gas concentrations, porewater chemistry, and total soil naphthalene concentrations, which are included in this dataset. Results and findings from analysis of this data are reported in Chapter 3 of The influence of soil moisture, oxygen, and temperature on naphthalene biodegradation and soil respiration (MSc thesis, pending submission, DOI: TBD).