Aerobic oxidation of methane significantly reduces global diffusive methane emissions from shallow marine waters

Shi-Hai Mao, Hong-Hai Zhang, Guang-Chao Zhuang (), Xiao-Jun Li, Qiao Liu, Zhen Zhou, Wei-Lei Wang, Chun-Yang Li, Ke-Yu Lu, Xi-Ting Liu, Andrew Montgomery, Samantha B. Joye, Yu-Zhong Zhang and Gui-Peng Yang ()
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Shi-Hai Mao: Ocean University of China
Hong-Hai Zhang: Ocean University of China
Guang-Chao Zhuang: Ocean University of China
Xiao-Jun Li: Ocean University of China
Qiao Liu: Ocean University of China
Zhen Zhou: Ocean University of China
Wei-Lei Wang: Xiamen University
Chun-Yang Li: Ocean University of China
Ke-Yu Lu: University College London
Xi-Ting Liu: Ocean University of China
Andrew Montgomery: Montana State University
Samantha B. Joye: University of Georgia
Yu-Zhong Zhang: Ocean University of China
Gui-Peng Yang: Ocean University of China

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Methane is supersaturated in surface seawater and shallow coastal waters dominate global ocean methane emissions to the atmosphere. Aerobic methane oxidation (MOx) can reduce atmospheric evasion, but the magnitude and control of MOx remain poorly understood. Here we investigate methane sources and fates in the East China Sea and map global MOx rates in shallow waters by training machine-learning models. We show methane is produced during methylphosphonate decomposition under phosphate-limiting conditions and sedimentary release is also source of methane. High MOx rates observed in these productive coastal waters are correlated with methanotrophic activity and biomass. By merging the measured MOx rates with methane concentrations and other variables from a global database, we predict MOx rates and estimate that half of methane, amounting to 1.8 ± 2.7 Tg, is consumed annually in near-shore waters (

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35082-y

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