scholarly journals Methane dynamics in three different Siberian water bodies under winter and summer conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2047-2061
Author(s):  
Ingeborg Bussmann ◽  
Irina Fedorova ◽  
Bennet Juhls ◽  
Pier Paul Overduin ◽  
Matthias Winkel
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Methane Concentration ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
Arctic Lakes ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Lena River ◽  
Methane Concentrations

Abstract. Arctic regions and their water bodies are affected by a rapidly warming climate. Arctic lakes and small ponds are known to act as an important source of atmospheric methane. However, not much is known about other types of water bodies in permafrost regions, which include major rivers and coastal bays as a transition type between freshwater and marine environments. We monitored dissolved methane concentrations in three different water bodies (Lena River, Tiksi Bay, and Lake Golzovoye, Siberia, Russia) over a period of 2 years. Sampling was carried out under ice cover (April) and in open water (July–August). The methane oxidation (MOX) rate and the fractional turnover rate (k′) in water and melted ice samples from the late winter of 2017 was determined with the radiotracer method. In the Lena River winter methane concentrations were a quarter of the summer concentrations (8 nmol L−1 vs. 31 nmol L−1), and mean winter MOX rate was low (0.023 nmol L−1 d−1). In contrast, Tiksi Bay winter methane concentrations were 10 times higher than in summer (103 nmol L−1 vs. 13 nmol L−1). Winter MOX rates showed a median of 0.305 nmol L−1 d−1. In Lake Golzovoye, median methane concentrations in winter were 40 times higher than in summer (1957 nmol L−1 vs. 49 nmol L−1). However, MOX was much higher in the lake (2.95 nmol L−1 d−1) than in either the river or bay. The temperature had a strong influence on the MOX (Q10=2.72±0.69). In summer water temperatures ranged from 7–14 ∘C and in winter from −0.7 to 1.3 ∘C. In the ice cores a median methane concentration of 9 nM was observed, with no gradient between the ice surface and the bottom layer at the ice–water interface. MOX in the (melted) ice cores was mostly below the detection limit. Comparing methane concentrations in the ice with the underlaying water column revealed methane concentration in the water column 100–1000 times higher. The winter situation seemed to favor a methane accumulation under ice, especially in the lake with a stagnant water body. While on the other hand, in the Lena River with its flowing water, no methane accumulation under ice was observed. In a changing, warming Arctic, a shorter ice cover period is predicted. With respect to our study this would imply a shortened time for methane to accumulate below the ice and a shorter time for the less efficient winter MOX. Especially for lakes, an extended time of ice-free conditions could reduce the methane flux from the Arctic water bodies.

scholarly journals Seasonal methane dynamics in three different Siberian water bodies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingeborg Bussmann ◽  
Irina Fedorova ◽  
Bennet Juhls ◽  
Pier Paul Overduin ◽  
Matthias Winkel
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Methane Oxidation ◽  
Methane Concentration ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Arctic Lakes ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Atmospheric Methane ◽  
Lena River ◽  
Methane Concentrations

Abstract. Arctic regions and their water bodies are being affected by the most rapid climate warming on Earth. Arctic lakes and small ponds are known to act as an important source of atmospheric methane. However, not much is known about other types of water bodies in permafrost regions, which include major rivers and coastal bays as a transition type between freshwater and marine environments. We monitored dissolved methane concentrations in three different water bodies (Lena River, Tiksi Bay and Lake Golzovoye, Siberia, Russia) over a period of two years. Sampling was carried out under ice cover (April) and in open water (July/August). The methane oxidation (MOX) rate in water and melted ice samples from the late winter of 2017 was also investigated. In the Lena River winter methane concentrations were a quarter of the summer concentrations (8 vs 31 nmol L−1) and mean winter MOX rate was low (0.023 nmol L−1 d−1). In contrast, Tiksi Bay winter methane concentrations were 10-times higher than in summer (103 vs 13 nmol L−1). Winter MOX rates showed a median of 0.305 nmol L−1 d−1. In Lake Golzovoye, median methane concentrations in winter were 40-times higher than in summer (1957 vs 49 nmol L−1). However, MOX was much higher in the lake (2.95 nmol L−1 d−1) than in either the river or bay. The temperature had a strong influence on the MOX, (Q10 = 2.72 ± 0.69) compared to temperate environments. In the ice cores a median methane concentration of 9 nM was observed, with no gradient between the ice surface and the bottom layer at the ice-water-interface. MOX in the (melted) ice cores was mostly below the detection limit. Comparing methane concentrations in the ice with the underlaying water column revealed 100 – 1000-times higher methane concentration in the water column. The winter situation seemed to favor a methane accumulation under ice, especially in the lake with a stagnant water body. While on the other hand, in the Lena River with its flowing water no methane accumulation under ice was observed. Methane oxidation rate was not able to counteract this winter time accumulation.

scholarly journals Exceptional summer warming leads to contrasting outcomes for methane cycling in small Arctic lakes of Greenland

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 559-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah B. Cadieux ◽  
Jeffrey R. White ◽  
Lisa M. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Thermal Stratification ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Methane Flux ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
Arctic Lakes ◽  
Stratified Lakes ◽  
Water Conditions ◽  
Methane Concentrations ◽  
Methane Dynamics

Abstract. In thermally stratified lakes, the greatest annual methane emissions typically occur during thermal overturn events. In July of 2012, Greenland experienced significant warming that resulted in substantial melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and enhanced runoff events. This unusual climate phenomenon provided an opportunity to examine the effects of short-term natural heating on lake thermal structure and methane dynamics and compare these observations with those from the following year, when temperatures were normal. Here, we focus on methane concentrations within the water column of five adjacent small lakes on the ice-free margin of southwestern Greenland under open-water and ice-covered conditions from 2012–2014. Enhanced warming of the epilimnion in the lakes under open-water conditions in 2012 led to strong thermal stability and the development of anoxic hypolimnia in each of the lakes. As a result, during open-water conditions, mean dissolved methane concentrations in the water column were significantly (p < 0.0001) greater in 2012 than in 2013. In all of the lakes, mean methane concentrations under ice-covered conditions were significantly (p < 0.0001) greater than under open-water conditions, suggesting spring overturn is currently the largest annual methane flux to the atmosphere. As the climate continues to warm, shorter ice cover durations are expected, which may reduce the winter inventory of methane and lead to a decrease in total methane flux during ice melt. Under open-water conditions, greater heat income and warming of lake surface waters will lead to increased thermal stratification and hypolimnetic anoxia, which will consequently result in increased water column inventories of methane. This stored methane will be susceptible to emissions during fall overturn, which may result in a shift in greatest annual efflux of methane from spring melt to fall overturn. The results of this study suggest that interannual variation in ground-level air temperatures may be the primary driver of changes in methane dynamics because it controls both the duration of ice cover and the strength of thermal stratification.

scholarly journals Methane Pathways in Winter Ice of Thermokarst Lakes, Lagoons and Coastal Waters in North Siberia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ines Spangenberg ◽  
Pier Paul Overduin ◽  
Ellen Damm ◽  
Ingeborg Bussmann ◽  
Hanno Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Closed System ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Equilibrium Concentration ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Freezing Process ◽  
Permafrost Region ◽  
Thermokarst Lakes ◽  
Methane Concentrations

Abstract. The thermokarst lakes of permafrost regions play a major role in the global carbon cycle. These lakes are sources of methane to the atmosphere but the methane flux is restricted by an ice cover for most of the year. We provide insights into the methane pathways in the winter ice cover on three different water bodies in a continuous permafrost region in Siberia. The first is a bay underlain by submarine permafrost (Tiksi Bay, TB), the second a shallow thermokarst lagoon (Polar Fox, PF) and the third a land-locked, freshwater thermokarst lake (Goltsovoye Lake, GL). In total, 11 ice cores were analyzed as records of the freezing process and methane pathways during the winter season. In TB, the hydrochemical parameters indicate an open system freezing. In contrast, PF was classified as a semi-closed system, where ice growth eventually cuts off exchange between the lagoon and the ocean. The GL is a closed system without connections to other water bodies. Ice on all water bodies was mostly methane-supersaturated with respect to the atmospheric equilibrium concentration, except of three cores from the lake. Generally, the TB ice had low methane concentrations (3.48–8.44 nM) compared to maximum concentrations of the PF ice (2.59–539 nM) and widely varying concentrations in the GL ice (0.02–14817 nM). Stable delta13CCH4 isotope signatures indicate that methane above the ice-water interface was oxidized to concentrations close to or below the calculated atmospheric equilibrium concentration in the ice of PF. We conclude that methane oxidation in ice may decrease methane concentrations during winter. Therefore, understanding seasonal effects to methane pathways in Arctic saline influenced or freshwater systems is critical to anticipate permafrost carbon feedbacks in course of global warming.

Phytoplankton of cold-water lake ecosystems under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-49
Author(s):  
Andrey N. Sharov
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Arctic Lakes ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Large Lakes ◽  
Arctic Water ◽  
The North ◽  
Natural And Anthropogenic Factors

Based on the study of the spatio-temporal aspects of the development of phytoplankton in the lakes of the North and North-West of the European territory of Russia (large lakes – Imandra, Onega and Chudsko-Pskovskoye and small lakes of the Arctic and Subarctic), the features of its structure and dynamics under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors (eutrophication, heavy metal pollution, acidification, thermification). The species composition and quantitative characteristics of phytoplankton of large lakes of the North of Russia, small arctic lakes and lakes of subarctic regions are studied. It has been shown that diatoms predominate in arctic water bodies according to species diversity, and green and diatoms predominate in boreal ones. By biomass, diatoms dominate mainly in all cold-water lakes, with the exception of small arctic lakes, where golden algae lead. The features of the reorganization of phytoplankton in response to the action of anthropogenic factors are revealed. It is proved that in the northern water bodies the complex action of heavy metals and nutrients does not lead to inhibition of phytoplankton, and the effect of acidification in combination with heavy metals enhances the toxic effect of the latter. A feature of the response to acidification is an increase in the variability of the dynamics of the biomass of phytoplankton. It has been shown that in different types of lakes of East Antarctica under severe climate conditions under light and biogenic limitation, redistribution of autotrophic components in the formation of the biota of water bodies occurs: against the background of a decrease in the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton, the role of microphytobenthos and periphyton increases.

The potential of using Sentinel-1 and ALOS PALSAR-2 data for characterizing West Siberian lake ice backscatter anomalies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georg Pointner ◽  
Annett Bartsch
Keyword(s):  
Thick Layer ◽  
Arctic Lakes ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Alos Palsar ◽  
Lake Ice ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
L Band ◽  
Ice Regime ◽  
Sar Imagery

&lt;p&gt;Millions of lakes and ponds occupy large areas of the Arctic discontinuous and continuous permafrost zones. During most of the year, the surfaces of these lakes remain covered by a thick layer of ice. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data have shown to be useful for studying the ice on Arctic lakes, especially for monitoring lake ice phenology and the grounding state of the ice (ice frozen to the lakebed versus floating lake ice). Significant backscatter is often observed from the floating ice regime in C-band due to scattering on a rough ice-water interface.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Recent research has revealed features of anomalously low backscatter in Sentinel-1 C-band SAR imagery on some of the West Siberian lakes that likely belong to the floating ice regime. These anomalies are characterized by prominent shapes and sizes and seem to expand throughout late winter and/or spring. It is currently assumed that some of these features are related to strong emissions of natural gas (methane from hydrocarbon reservoirs), making it important to assess their origin in detail and understand the associated mechanisms. However, in-situ data are still missing.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here, we assess the potential of the combined use of C-band Sentinel-1 (freely available) and L-band ALOS PALSAR-2 data&amp;#160; (available through JAXA PI agreement #3068002) to study the backscatter anomalies. We highlight the differences between observed backscatter from the two sensors with respect to different surface types (ground-fast lake ice, floating lake ice and anomalies) and investigate backscatter differences between frozen and melting conditions. Further, polarimetric classification is performed on L-band PALSAR-2 imagery, which reveals differences in scattering mechanisms between anomalies and floating lake ice.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Seasonal dynamics of methane in the water column of two subtropical lakes differing in trophic status

2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
CC. Marinho ◽  
C. Palma Silva ◽  
EF. Albertoni ◽  
CR. Trindade ◽  
FA. Esteves
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Methane Concentration ◽  
Trophic Status ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Subtropical Lakes ◽  
Production And Consumption ◽  
Higher Temperature ◽  
Methane Concentrations ◽  
Methane Dynamics

Alterations in methane concentration in the water column of aquatic systems is closely linked to the processes of production and consumption of this gas, i.e., methanogenesis and methanotrophy respectively. The aim of this research is to evaluate methane dynamics through diurnal variation in the concentration of this gas in the water column of two lakes differing in trophic status at the campus of Fundação Universidade do Rio Grande (FURG). In two sampling periods (November 2001 and July 2002) methane concentrations in the water column were significantly higher (3.66 and 0.41 μmoles.L-1, respectively) at Lago dos Biguás, with mesoeutrophic features when related to Lago Polegar (1.43 and 0.19 μmoles.L-1, respectively) which has oligotrophic features. The higher methane concentrations were detected in November 2001 when higher temperature was also detected. The results highlighted the importance of trophic status as well as seasonality for the methane dynamics in these ecosystems.

scholarly journals Wintertime Methane Emission From the Barents and Kara Seas and Sea of Okhotsk: Satellite Evidence.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonid Yurganov ◽  
Dustin Carroll ◽  
Andrey Pnyushkov ◽  
Igor Polyakov ◽  
Hong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Water Column ◽  
Mixed Layer Depth ◽  
Deep Ocean ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Atmospheric Methane ◽  
Arctic Seas ◽  
Ir Radiation

&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Existence of strong seabed sources of methane, including gas hydrates, in the Arctic and sub-Arctic seas with proven oil/gas deposits &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;i&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;s well documented. Enhanced concentrations of dissolved methane in &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;deep layers&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; are widely observed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Many of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;marine&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; sources are highly sensitive to climate change; however, the Arctic methane sea-to-air flux remains poorly understood&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;harsh&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; natural conditions prevent in-situ measurements during winter. Satellite remote sensing, based on terrestrial outgoing Thermal IR radiation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;measurements&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;, provides a novel alternative to those efforts. We present year-round methane data from 3 orbital sounders since 2002. Those data confirm that negligible amounts of methane are fluxed from the seabed to the atmosphere during summer. In summer, the water column is strongly stratified from sea-ice melt &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;and solar warming. As a result, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; ~90% of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;dissolved &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;methane is oxidized by bacteria. Conversely, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;some &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;marine areas are characterized by positive atmospheric methane anomalies that begin in November. During winter, ocean stratification weakens&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;convection and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;winter storms &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;mix the water column efficiently&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;. We also find that the amplitudes of the seasonal cycles over Kara and Okhotsk Seas have increased during last 18 years&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;due to winter concentration growth. There may be several factors &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;responsible for sea-air flux&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;growing emission from clathrates due to warming&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;, changes in methane transport from the seabed to the surface, changes in microbial &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;oxidation&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;ice cover, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;etc&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;. Finally, &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;methane&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt; remote sensing results are compared to available observations of temperature in deep ocean layers, estimates of Mixed Layer Depth, and satellite microwave sea-ice cover measurements.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Bioindication of the water salinity dynamics by the microalgae communities in the Lena River Delta, Laptev Sea, Russian Arctic

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-28
Author(s):  
S. S. Barinova ◽  
V. A. Gabyshev ◽  
A. P. Ivanova ◽  
O. I. Gabysheva
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Water Salinity ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Laptev Sea ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Lena River ◽  
Lena River Delta ◽  
The Laptev Sea

The Lena River in the Laptev Sea forms a vast delta, one of the largest in the world. The Ust-Lensky State Nature Reserve saves biodiversity on the Lena Delta territory beyond the Arctic Circle, in the zone of continuous permafrost. In recent years, large-scale plans for the development of extractive industries are implemented in this Russian Arctic sector. In this regard, the study of biodiversity and bioindication properties of aquatic organisms in the Lena River estuary area is becoming more and more relevant. This study aims to identify the species composition of microalgae in lotic and lentic water bodies of the Lena River Delta and use their indicator property for water salinity. It was a trace indicator of species distribution over the delta and their dynamics along the delta main watercourses to assess the impact of river waters on the Laptev Sea coastal areas. For this, all previously published materials on algae and chemical composition of the region waters as well as data obtained in recent years for the waters of the lower Lena reach were involved. In total, 700 species considered to 10 phyla were analyzed: Cyanobacteria (83), Euglenozoa (13), Ochrophyta (Chrysophyta, Xanthophyta) (41), Eustigmatophyta (4), Bacillariophyta (297), Miozoa (20), Cryptophyta (3), Rhodophyta (1), Chlorophyta (125), and Charophyta (111). The available materials of the field and reference observations were analyzed using several statistical methods. The study results indicate that hydrological conditions are the main factor regulating the spatial structure of the species composition of the microalgae communities in the Lena River Delta. The distribution of groups of salinity indicators across flowing water bodies reflects the effect of water salinity, and this allows suggesting possible sources of this effect. The mechanism of tracking the distribution of environmental indicators itself is a sensitive method, that reveals even their subtle changes in them; therefore, as an integral method, it can be helpful for further monitoring.

scholarly journals A Regional Seasonal Forecast Model of Arctic Minimum Sea Ice Extent: Reflected Solar Radiation vs. Late Winter Coastal Divergence

2021 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Rachel Kim ◽  
Bruno Tremblay ◽  
Charles Brunette ◽  
Robert Newton
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Sea Ice ◽  
Open Water ◽  
Forecast Model ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Coupled Models ◽  
Sea Ice Extent ◽  
Predictive Skill

AbstractThinning sea ice cover in the Arctic is associated with larger interannual variability in the minimum Sea Ice Extent (SIE). The current generation of forced or fully coupled models, however, have difficulty predicting SIE anomalies from the long-term trend, highlighting the need to better identify the mechanisms involved in the seasonal evolution of sea ice cover. One such mechanism is Coastal Divergence (CD), a proxy for ice thickness anomalies based on late winter ice motion, quantified using Lagrangian ice tracking. CD gains predictive skill through the positive feedback of surface albedo anomalies, mirrored in Reflected Solar Radiation (RSR), during melt season. Exploring the dynamic and thermodynamic contributions to minimum SIE predictability, RSR, initial SIE (iSIE) and CD are compared as predictors using a regional seasonal sea ice forecast model for July 1, June 1 and May 1 forecast dates for all Arctic peripheral seas. The predictive skill of June RSR anomalies mainly originates from open water fraction at the surface, i.e. June iSIE and June RSR have equal predictive skill for most seas. The finding is supported by the surprising positive correlation found between June Melt Pond Fraction (MPF) and June RSR in all peripheral seas: MPF anomalies indicate presence of ice or open water that is key to creating minimum SIE anomalies. This contradicts models that show correlation between melt onset, MPF and the minimum SIE. A hindcast model shows that for a May 1 forecast, CD anomalies have better predictive skill than RSR anomalies for most peripheral seas.

Phytoplankton of cold-water lake ecosystems under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-49
Author(s):  
Andrey N. Sharov
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Arctic Lakes ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Large Lakes ◽  
Arctic Water ◽  
The North ◽  
Natural And Anthropogenic Factors

Based on the study of the spatio-temporal aspects of the development of phytoplankton in the lakes of the North and North-West of the European territory of Russia (large lakes – Imandra, Onega and Chudsko-Pskovskoye and small lakes of the Arctic and Subarctic), the features of its structure and dynamics under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors (eutrophication, heavy metal pollution, acidification, thermification). The species composition and quantitative characteristics of phytoplankton of large lakes of the North of Russia, small arctic lakes and lakes of subarctic regions are studied. It has been shown that diatoms predominate in arctic water bodies according to species diversity, and green and diatoms predominate in boreal ones. By biomass, diatoms dominate mainly in all cold-water lakes, with the exception of small arctic lakes, where golden algae lead. The features of the reorganization of phytoplankton in response to the action of anthropogenic factors are revealed. It is proved that in the northern water bodies the complex action of heavy metals and nutrients does not lead to inhibition of phytoplankton, and the effect of acidification in combination with heavy metals enhances the toxic effect of the latter. A feature of the response to acidification is an increase in the variability of the dynamics of the biomass of phytoplankton. It has been shown that in different types of lakes of East Antarctica under severe climate conditions under light and biogenic limitation, redistribution of autotrophic components in the formation of the biota of water bodies occurs: against the background of a decrease in the abundance and diversity of phytoplankton, the role of microphytobenthos and periphyton increases.

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