Methane fluxes from the sea to the atmosphere across the Siberian shelf seas
The Laptev and East Siberian Seas have been proposed as a substantial source of methane (CH4) to the atmosphere. During summer 2014, we made unique high-resolution simultaneous measurements of CH4 in the atmosphere above, and surface waters of, the Laptev and East Siberian Seas. Turbulence-driven se...
Published in: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för geologiska vetenskaper
2016
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-133242 https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068977 |
Summary: | The Laptev and East Siberian Seas have been proposed as a substantial source of methane (CH4) to the atmosphere. During summer 2014, we made unique high-resolution simultaneous measurements of CH4 in the atmosphere above, and surface waters of, the Laptev and East Siberian Seas. Turbulence-driven sea-air fluxes along the ship's track were derived from these observations; an average diffusive flux of 2.99mgm(-2) d(-1) was calculated for the Laptev Sea and for the ice-free portions of the western East Siberian Sea, 3.80mgm(-2)d(-1). Although seafloor bubble plumes were observed at two locations in the study area, our calculations suggest that regionally, turbulence-driven diffusive flux alone accounts for the observed atmospheric CH4 enhancements, with only a local, limited role for bubble fluxes, in contrast to earlier reports. CH4 in subice seawater in certain areas suggests that a short-lived flux also occurs annually at ice-out. |
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