Full-scale evaluation of methane production under oxic conditions in a mesotrophic lake

D. Donis (), S. Flury, A. Stöckli, J. E. Spangenberg, D. Vachon and D. F. McGinnis ()
Additional contact information
D. Donis: Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66
S. Flury: Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66
A. Stöckli: Canton Argovia, Department of Civil Engineering, Transportation and Environment, Entfelderstrasse 22
J. E. Spangenberg: Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), University of Lausanne, Building GEOPOLIS
D. Vachon: Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66
D. F. McGinnis: Aquatic Physics Group, Department F.-A. Forel for Environmental and Aquatic Sciences (DEFSE), Faculty of Science, University of Geneva, Boulevard Carl Vogt 66

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Oxic lake surface waters are frequently oversaturated with methane (CH4). The contribution to the global CH4 cycle is significant, thus leading to an increasing number of studies and stimulating debates. Here we show, using a mass balance, on a temperate, mesotrophic lake, that ~90% of CH4 emissions to the atmosphere is due to CH4 produced within the oxic surface mixed layer (SML) during the stratified period, while the often observed CH4 maximum at the thermocline represents only a physically driven accumulation. Negligible surface CH4 oxidation suggests that the produced 110 ± 60 nmol CH4 L−1 d−1 efficiently escapes to the atmosphere. Stable carbon isotope ratios indicate that CH4 in the SML is distinct from sedimentary CH4 production, suggesting alternative pathways and precursors. Our approach reveals CH4 production in the epilimnion that is currently overlooked, and that research on possible mechanisms behind the methane paradox should additionally focus on the lake surface layer.

Date: 2017
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-01648-4 Abstract (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01648-4

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.nature.com/ncomms/

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01648-4

Access Statistics for this article

Nature Communications is currently edited by Nathalie Le Bot, Enda Bergin and Fiona Gillespie

More articles in Nature Communications from Nature
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().