North Siberian Lakes: A Methane Source Fueled by Pleistocene Carbon

摘要

The sizes of major sources and sinks of atmospheric methane (CH_4), an important greenhouse gas, are poorly known. CH_4 from north Siberian lakes contributes ～1.5 teragrams CH_4 year~(-1) to observed winter increases in atmospheric CH_4 concentration at high northern latitudes. CH_4 emitted from these lakes in winter had a radiocarbon age of 27,200 years and was derived largely from Pleistocene-aged carbon.