Interfield and intrafield variability of methyl halide emissions from rice paddies

[1] Methyl halide gases are important sources of atmospheric inorganic halogen radicals. We measured methyl halide emissions from three rice fields over two full growing seasons. Rice paddy emissions of methyl chloride, methyl bromide and methyl iodide are insignificant until field flooding. Rice growth stage determines methyl bromide and methyl iodide emissions while methyl chloride emissions are comparable between planted and unplanted plots. Houston, Texas, and Maxwell, California, field integrated seasonal fluxes of methyl chloride, methyl bromide and methyl iodide are consistent (values range from 2.3 to 3.9, 0.8 to 1.1, and 28.1 to 62.0 mg m−2, respectively) despite differences in multiple field parameters. We also examined field emission variability using 12 chamber placements. Methyl bromide and methyl iodide emissions within homogenous rice paddies require at least three replicates to determine field mean fluxes within 20%, and for methyl chloride emissions, over 10 replications per field are necessary.