Using δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4 to constrain Arctic methane emissions

Warwick, Nicola J., Cain, Michelle L., Fisher, Rebecca, France, James L., Lowry, David, Michel, Sylvia E., Nisbet, Euan G., Vaughn, Bruce H., White, James W.C. and Pyle, John A. (2016) Using δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4 to constrain Arctic methane emissions. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 16. pp. 14891-14908. ISSN 1680-7324

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Abstract

We present a global methane modelling study assessing the sensitivity of Arctic atmospheric CH4 mole fractions, δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4 to uncertainties in Arctic methane sources. Model simulations include methane tracers tagged by source and isotopic composition and are compared with atmospheric data at four northern high-latitude measurement sites. We find the model's ability to capture the magnitude and phase of observed seasonal cycles of CH4 mixing ratios, δ13C-CH4 and δD-CH4 at northern high latitudes is much improved using a later spring kick-off and autumn decline in northern high-latitude wetland emissions than predicted by most process models. Results from our model simulations indicate that recent predictions of large methane emissions from thawing submarine permafrost in the East Siberian Arctic Shelf region could only be reconciled with global-scale atmospheric observations by making large adjustments to high-latitude anthropogenic or wetland emission inventories.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
Related URLs:	http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/14891/...
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	02 Dec 2016 00:02
Last Modified:	21 Oct 2022 08:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/61579
DOI:	10.5194/acp-16-14891-2016

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