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Title: Modeling methane emissions from arctic lakes: Model development and site‐level study

Journal Article · · Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/2014MS000344· OSTI ID:1295956
 [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Department of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana USA
  2. Department of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana USA, Department of Agronomy Purdue University West Lafayette Indiana USA
  3. Water and Environmental Research Center, University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks Alaska USA

Abstract To date, methane emissions from lakes in the pan‐arctic region are poorly quantified. In order to investigate the response of methane emissions from this region to global warming, a process‐based climate‐sensitive lake biogeochemical model was developed. The processes of methane production, oxidation, and transport were modeled within a one‐dimensional sediment and water column. The sizes of 14 C‐enriched and 14 C‐depleted carbon pools were explicitly parameterized. The model was validated using observational data from five lakes located in Siberia and Alaska, representing a large variety of environmental conditions in the arctic. The model simulations agreed well with the measured water temperature and dissolved CH 4 concentration (mean error less than 1°C and 0.2 μM, respectively). The modeled CH 4 fluxes were consistent with observations in these lakes. We found that bubbling‐rate‐controlling nitrogen (N 2 ) stripping was the most important factor in determining CH 4 fraction in bubbles. Lake depth and ice cover thickness in shallow waters were also controlling factors. This study demonstrated that the thawing of Pleistocene‐aged organic‐rich yedoma can fuel sediment methanogenesis by supplying a large quantity of labile organic carbon. Observations and modeling results both confirmed that methane emission rate at thermokarst margins of yedoma lakes was much larger (up to 538 mg CH 4 m −2 d −1 ) than that at nonthermokarst zones in the same lakes and a nonyedoma, nonthermokarst lake (less than 42 mg CH 4 m −2 d −1 ). The seasonal variability of methane emissions can be explained primarily by energy input and organic carbon availability.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
1295956
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1295957
Journal Information:
Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, Journal Name: Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems Vol. 7 Journal Issue: 2; ISSN 1942-2466
Publisher:
American Geophysical Union (AGU)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 58 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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