Rh-Chamber: A Novel Chamber Design for Gas Sampling in the Coastal Sediment and Water Surface

Abstract

This research aims to develop and test Rh-Chamber, an innovative gas sampling tool designed for coastal environments. The coastal environment is a dynamic ecosystem that plays an important role in the global biogeochemical cycle, especially in the production and release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Until now, existing gas sampling methods have limitations, especially in maintaining representative field conditions and capturing temporal dynamics of gas release. The Rh-Chamber comes as a highly flexible solution, allowing sampling both on coastal sediments and on the water surface. The design consists of a gas incubator, a float and a ballast, which allows the appliance to function optimally in various current and sediment conditions. Gas sampling is done manually using syiringe, with varying time intervals. The results show that Rh-Chamber provides better accuracy in measuring gas flux in coastal ecosystems than conventional methods. These innovations also have the potential to be used in climate change research, especially to evaluate the contribution of coastal ecosystems to greenhouse gas emissions. Although there are some limitations, such as the need for additional manpower in its operation in deeper waters, the Rh-Chamber makes a significant contribution to coastal environmental research.