Pelagic Methane Sink Enhanced by Benthic Methanotrophs Ejected From a Gas Seep

Jordan, Sebastian; Gräwe, Ulf; Treude, Tina; Lee, Eefke M. van der; Deimling, Jens Schneider von; Rehder, Gregor; Schmale, Oliver

doi:10.1029/2021gl094819

Cited by 5 publications

References 37 publications

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Tidal and seasonal influence on cold seep activity and methanotroph efficiency in the North Sea

de Groot,

Menoud,

van Bleijswijk

et al. 2024

Commun Earth Environ

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The ocean’s methane emission to the atmosphere is dominated by continental shelves where cold seeps are globally common features. Seeps emit methane into the hydrosphere, but temporal variations and controls of seep activity and the efficiency of the microbial methane filter in the water column are scarce. Here we address these knowledge gaps by measuring whole water column methane inventories and methanotrophic activity at a temporal resolution of 2 hours at a North Sea cold seep (Doggerbank) in summer and autumn. We found that bottom water methane inventories were 68% (summer) and 11% (autumn) higher during low tide compared to high tide coinciding with increased methanotrophic activity. The activity of methanotrophs was reduced during autumn when the water column was fully mixed and matched by higher methane emissions to the atmosphere. Our results show that tides are underappreciated controls on seepage and methanotrophic activity and methane sea–atmosphere fluxes.

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Tidal and seasonal influence on cold seep activity and methanotroph efficiency in the North Sea

de Groot,

Menoud,

van Bleijswijk

et al. 2024

Commun Earth Environ

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Advances in understanding of air–sea exchange and cycling of greenhouse gases in the upper ocean

Bange,

Mongwe,

Shutler

et al. 2024

Elem Sci Anth

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The air–sea exchange and oceanic cycling of greenhouse gases (GHG), including carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO2), are fundamental in controlling the evolution of the Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and climate. Significant advances have been made over the last 10 years in understanding, instrumentation and methods, as well as deciphering the production and consumption pathways of GHG in the upper ocean (including the surface and subsurface ocean down to approximately 1000 m). The global ocean under current conditions is now well established as a major sink for CO2, a major source for N2O and a minor source for both CH4 and CO. The importance of the ocean as a sink or source of NOx is largely unknown so far. There are still considerable uncertainties about the processes and their major drivers controlling the distributions of N2O, CH4, CO, and NOx in the upper ocean. Without having a fundamental understanding of oceanic GHG production and consumption pathways, our knowledge about the effects of ongoing major oceanic changes—warming, acidification, deoxygenation, and eutrophication—on the oceanic cycling and air–sea exchange of GHG remains rudimentary at best. We suggest that only through a comprehensive, coordinated, and interdisciplinary approach that includes data collection by global observation networks as well as joint process studies can the necessary data be generated to (1) identify the relevant microbial and phytoplankton communities, (2) quantify the rates of ocean GHG production and consumption pathways, (3) comprehend their major drivers, and (4) decipher economic and cultural implications of mitigation solutions.

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Tidal and seasonal controls on cold seep activity and the efficiency of water column methanotrophs

Menoud¹,

Bleijswijk²,

Hernando-Morales³

et al. 2023

Preprint

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The ocean’s methane emission to the atmosphere is dominated by continental shelves where cold seeps are globally common features. Seeps emit methane into the hydrosphere, but knowledge on variations and controls of seep activity and the efficiency of the microbial methane filter in the water column is scarce. Here we address this knowledge gap by measuring whole water column methane inventories and methanotrophic activity at a temporal resolution of 2 hours at a North Sea cold seep (Doggerbank) in summer and autumn. We found that methane inventories were 40% higher at low tide compared to high tide concurrent with an elevated activity of methanotrophs. The activity of methanotrophs was reduced during autumn when the water column was fully mixed and matched by higher methane emissions to the atmosphere. Our results show that tides are underappreciated controls on seepage, methanotrophic activity and sea–atmosphere fluxes.

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Pelagic Methane Sink Enhanced by Benthic Methanotrophs Ejected From a Gas Seep

Cited by 5 publications

References 37 publications

Tidal and seasonal influence on cold seep activity and methanotroph efficiency in the North Sea

Tidal and seasonal influence on cold seep activity and methanotroph efficiency in the North Sea

Advances in understanding of air–sea exchange and cycling of greenhouse gases in the upper ocean

Tidal and seasonal controls on cold seep activity and the efficiency of water column methanotrophs

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