Large tundra methane burst during onset of freezing

Mikhail Mastepanov, Charlotte Sigsgaard, Edward J. Dlugokencky, Sander Houweling, Lena Ström, Mikkel P. Tamstorf and Torben R. Christensen ()
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Mikhail Mastepanov: GeoBiosphere Science Centre, Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden
Charlotte Sigsgaard: Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Voldgade 10, DK-1350 Copenhagen, Denmark
Edward J. Dlugokencky: NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA
Sander Houweling: SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research, Sorbonnelaan 2, 3584 CA Utrecht, The Netherlands
Lena Ström: GeoBiosphere Science Centre, Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden
Mikkel P. Tamstorf: National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Torben R. Christensen: GeoBiosphere Science Centre, Physical Geography and Ecosystems Analysis, Lund University, Sölvegatan 12, 22362, Lund, Sweden

Nature, 2008, vol. 456, issue 7222, 628-630

Abstract: Permafrost methane: Arctic emissions revisited A late-autumn 'shoulder' is a regular feature of the seasonal cycles of atmospheric methane at high latitudes, but the sources of this burst of methane remain obscure. Mastepanov et al. now report methane flux measurements from a high Arctic setting during the onset of soil freezing. The total emissions during this freeze-in period are roughly equal to the amount of methane emitted during the entire summer season. Including the observed methane burst in an atmospheric chemistry and transport model improves agreement between the simulated seasonal cycle and atmospheric data from latitudes north of 600N. These results suggest that permafrost-associated freeze-in bursts of methane from tundra regions may be an important, previously unrecognized component of the seasonal distribution of methane emissions at high latitudes.

Date: 2008
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DOI: 10.1038/nature07464

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