Estimation of greenhouse gas flux from mud volcanoes in the Dushanzi area, southern Junggar Basin of Northwest China

Mud volcanoes are a direct manifestation of deep tectonic and subsurface fluid invasion activities near the earth surface. Such activity emits large amounts of greenhouse gases, predominantly methane, and is also responsible for an important part of the total geologic carbon flux to the atmosphere. However, there is little research on estimation of greenhouse gas flux from mud volcanoes in China. The mud volcanoes in the Dushanzi area of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are typical and very active, emitting various types of greenhouse gases. We used a sealed chamber connected to a methane detector to measure the in situ gas emission rate and estimate flux. Based on well-known research methods, experience with greenhouse gas emissions from mud volcanoes abroad, and gas composition data, we estimated total flux of those gases emitted from the Dushanzi mud volcanoes. Greenhouse gas fluxes from macro-seeps in areas DSZ-01 and DSZ-03 exceeded 161 t/a. Flux by micro-seepage in areas DSZ-01 (314 m 2 ), DSZ-02 (8400 m 2 ), and DSZ-03 (314 m 2 ) was 16.6 t/a.