Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment
Glacial groundwater can mobilize deep-seated methane from beneath glaciers and permafrost in the Arctic, leading to atmospheric emissions of this greenhouse gas. We present a temporal, hydro-chemical dataset of methane-rich groundwater collected during two melt seasons from a high Arctic glacial for...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2024.1340399/full |
| _version_ | 1797322435545006080 |
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| author | Gabrielle E. Kleber Gabrielle E. Kleber Gabrielle E. Kleber Leonard Magerl Alexandra V. Turchyn Kelly Redeker Stefan Thiele Martin Liira Martin Liira Koit Herodes Lise Øvreås Andrew Hodson Andrew Hodson |
| author_facet | Gabrielle E. Kleber Gabrielle E. Kleber Gabrielle E. Kleber Leonard Magerl Alexandra V. Turchyn Kelly Redeker Stefan Thiele Martin Liira Martin Liira Koit Herodes Lise Øvreås Andrew Hodson Andrew Hodson |
| author_sort | Gabrielle E. Kleber |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glacial groundwater can mobilize deep-seated methane from beneath glaciers and permafrost in the Arctic, leading to atmospheric emissions of this greenhouse gas. We present a temporal, hydro-chemical dataset of methane-rich groundwater collected during two melt seasons from a high Arctic glacial forefield to explore the seasonal dynamics of methane emissions. We use methane and ion concentrations and the isotopic composition of water and methane to investigate the sources of groundwater and the origin of the methane that the groundwater transports to the surface. Our results suggest two sources of groundwater, one shallow and one deep, which mix, and moderate methane dynamics. During summer, deep methane-rich groundwater is diluted by shallow oxygenated groundwater, leading to some microbial methane oxidation prior to its emergence at the surface. Characterization of the microbial compositions in the groundwater shows that microbial activity is an important seasonal methane sink along this flow-path. In the groundwater pool studied, we found that potential methane emissions were reduced by an average of 29% (±14%) throughout the summer due to microbial oxidation. During winter, deep groundwater remains active while many shallow systems shut down due to freezing, reducing subsurface methane oxidation, and potentially permitting larger methane emissions. Our results suggest that ratios of the different groundwater sources will change in the future as aquifer capacities and recharge volumes increase in a warming climate. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T05:13:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-92dae62744bd4ed18009edc19c40915e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T05:13:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-92dae62744bd4ed18009edc19c40915e2024-02-07T05:16:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632024-02-011210.3389/feart.2024.13403991340399Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchmentGabrielle E. Kleber0Gabrielle E. Kleber1Gabrielle E. Kleber2Leonard Magerl3Alexandra V. Turchyn4Kelly Redeker5Stefan Thiele6Martin Liira7Martin Liira8Koit Herodes9Lise Øvreås10Andrew Hodson11Andrew Hodson12Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United KingdomArctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, NorwayDepartment of Geology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Geology, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United KingdomDepartment of Biology, University of York, York, United KingdomDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Geology, University of Tartu, Tartu, EstoniaThe Geological Survey of Estonia, Rakvere, EstoniaInstitute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, EstoniaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayArctic Geology, University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS), Longyearbyen, NorwayDepartment of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Sogndal, NorwayGlacial groundwater can mobilize deep-seated methane from beneath glaciers and permafrost in the Arctic, leading to atmospheric emissions of this greenhouse gas. We present a temporal, hydro-chemical dataset of methane-rich groundwater collected during two melt seasons from a high Arctic glacial forefield to explore the seasonal dynamics of methane emissions. We use methane and ion concentrations and the isotopic composition of water and methane to investigate the sources of groundwater and the origin of the methane that the groundwater transports to the surface. Our results suggest two sources of groundwater, one shallow and one deep, which mix, and moderate methane dynamics. During summer, deep methane-rich groundwater is diluted by shallow oxygenated groundwater, leading to some microbial methane oxidation prior to its emergence at the surface. Characterization of the microbial compositions in the groundwater shows that microbial activity is an important seasonal methane sink along this flow-path. In the groundwater pool studied, we found that potential methane emissions were reduced by an average of 29% (±14%) throughout the summer due to microbial oxidation. During winter, deep groundwater remains active while many shallow systems shut down due to freezing, reducing subsurface methane oxidation, and potentially permitting larger methane emissions. Our results suggest that ratios of the different groundwater sources will change in the future as aquifer capacities and recharge volumes increase in a warming climate.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2024.1340399/fullmethanegroundwaterSvalbardglacierbiogeochemistrycryosphere |
| spellingShingle | Gabrielle E. Kleber Gabrielle E. Kleber Gabrielle E. Kleber Leonard Magerl Alexandra V. Turchyn Kelly Redeker Stefan Thiele Martin Liira Martin Liira Koit Herodes Lise Øvreås Andrew Hodson Andrew Hodson Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment Frontiers in Earth Science methane groundwater Svalbard glacier biogeochemistry cryosphere |
| title | Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment |
| title_full | Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment |
| title_fullStr | Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment |
| title_short | Shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high Arctic glacial catchment |
| title_sort | shallow and deep groundwater moderate methane dynamics in a high arctic glacial catchment |
| topic | methane groundwater Svalbard glacier biogeochemistry cryosphere |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2024.1340399/full |
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