November 2025
As part of our NSF-funded research on invasive hydrilla and carbon cycling, we've been monitoring greenhouse gases in the Connecticut River at Thompsonville, Connecticut.
This summer, we deployed an instrument called a gas equilibrator that allows us to continuously measure dissolved carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) in river water. The system pumps water from the river into a chamber, where it is sprayed through air. Gases dissolved in the water exchange with the air, which is then analyzed using a highly sensitive gas analyzer.
Why measure gases continuously? Traditional water sampling provides a snapshot of conditions at the time a sample is collected. However, greenhouse gas concentrations can change substantially over hours or days in response to factors such as sunlight, temperature, and river discharge. Continuous measurements help us capture this variability.
Thompsonville is located upstream of our hydrilla study sites and provides important context for understanding greenhouse gas dynamics throughout the river. We're now working to evaluate these measurements and compare them with our traditional water samples.