An active atmospheric methane sink in high Arctic mineral cryosols

• Published in: The ISME Journal
• Main Authors: Lau, Maggie CY, Stackhouse, B., Layton, Alice, Chauhan, Archana, Vishnivetskaya, T., Chourey, Karuna, Mykytczuk, N., Bennett, Phil, Lamarche-Gagnon, G, Burton, N, Renholm, J., Ronholm, J, Pollard, W.H., Omelon, C.R., Medvigy, David, Hettich, Robert {Bob} L, Pffifner, Susan, Whyte, L.G., Onstott, T. C.
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; Arctic; Global warming
• Online Access: http://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1213309; https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1213309; https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2015.13

The transition of Arctic carbon-rich cryosols into methane (CH₄)-emitting wetlands due to global warming is a rising concern. However, the spatially predominant mineral cryosols and their CH₄ emission potential are poorly understood. Fluxes measured in situ and estimated under laboratory conditions coupled with -omics analysis indicate (1) mineral cryosols in the Canadian high Arctic contain atmospheric CH₄-oxidizing bacteria; (2) the atmospheric CH⁺ uptake flux increases with ground temperature; and, as a result, (3) the atmospheric CH₄ sink strength will increase by a factor of 5-30 as the Arctic warms by 5-15 °C over a century. We demonstrated that acidic mineral cryosols have previously unrecognized potential of negative CH₄ feedback.