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Distribution of methane in the water column of the Baltic Sea
Author(s) -
Schmale O.,
Schneider von Deimling J.,
Gülzow W.,
Nausch G.,
Waniek J. J.,
Rehder G.
Publication year - 2010
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 - 10.1029/2010gl043115
Subject(s) - water column , methane , anoxic waters , oceanography , atmospheric methane , pelagic zone , seafloor spreading , bottom water , saturation (graph theory) , surface water , geology , environmental science , seawater , environmental chemistry , chemistry , greenhouse gas , mathematics , organic chemistry , combinatorics , environmental engineering
The distribution of dissolved methane in the water column of the Baltic Sea was extensively investigated. A strong correlation between the vertical density stratification, the distribution of oxygen, hydrogen sulfide, and methane has been identified. A widespread release of methane from the seafloor is indicated by increasing methane concentrations with water depth. The deep basins in the central Baltic Sea show the strongest methane enrichments in stagnant anoxic water bodies (max. 1086 nM and 504 nM, respectively), with a pronounced decrease towards the pelagic redoxcline and slightly elevated surface water concentrations (saturation values of 206% and 120%, respectively). In general the more limnic basins in the northern part of the Baltic are characterized by lower water column methane concentrations and surface water saturation values close to the atmospheric equilibrium (between 106% and 116%). In contrast, the shallow Western Baltic Sea is characterized by high saturation values up to 746%.