Premium
Rising methane emissions from northern wetlands associated with sea ice decline
Author(s) -
Parmentier FransJan W.,
Zhang Wenxin,
Mi Yanjiao,
Zhu Xudong,
Huissteden Jacobus,
Hayes Daniel J.,
Zhuang Qianlai,
Christensen Torben R.,
McGuire A. David
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2015gl065013
Subject(s) - environmental science , methane , atmospheric methane , sea ice , arctic geoengineering , methane emissions , biogeochemical cycle , greenhouse gas , climate change , arctic , cryosphere , arctic sea ice decline , global warming , climatology , arctic ice pack , atmospheric sciences , wetland , oceanography , antarctic sea ice , geology , ecology , biology
The Arctic is rapidly transitioning toward a seasonal sea ice‐free state, perhaps one of the most apparent examples of climate change in the world. This dramatic change has numerous consequences, including a large increase in air temperatures, which in turn may affect terrestrial methane emissions. Nonetheless, terrestrial and marine environments are seldom jointly analyzed. By comparing satellite observations of Arctic sea ice concentrations to methane emissions simulated by three process‐based biogeochemical models, this study shows that rising wetland methane emissions are associated with sea ice retreat. Our analyses indicate that simulated high‐latitude emissions for 2005–2010 were, on average, 1.7 Tg CH 4 yr −1 higher compared to 1981–1990 due to a sea ice‐induced, autumn‐focused, warming. Since these results suggest a continued rise in methane emissions with future sea ice decline, observation programs need to include measurements during the autumn to further investigate the impact of this spatial connection on terrestrial methane emissions.