A mathematical model for positive permafrost carbon-climate feedback

• Published in: IMA Journal of Applied Mathematics
• Main Authors: Sudakov, Ivan, Vakulenko, Sergey A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford University Press 2015
• Subjects: permafrost; Tundra
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/28737/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/28737/1/Sudakov.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1093/imamat/hxu010

The permafrost methane emission problem is the focus of attention on different climate models. Here, we present a mathematical model for permafrost lake methane emission and its influence on the climate system. We model this process using the theory of non-linear phase transitions. Further, we find that a climate catastrophe possibility depends on a value of feedback connecting the methane concentration in the atmosphere and temperature, and on the tundra permafrost methane pool.We note that the permafrost lake model that we developed for the methane emission positive feedback loop problem is a conceptual climate model.