主要研究 researcher part of team that finds northern lakes are a major contributor

2016年1月12日,星期二

Naturally occurring emissions of a 温室气体 from far northern bodies of water may be larger than previously thought. New research shows that freshwater lakes and ponds at high northern latitudes are one of the largest natural sources of methane, 一个更有效的, 或有效, 温室气体.

A team comprised of researchers from universities in Sweden and the United States, 包括永利app新版本官网地址, compiled data from previously reported measurements of emissions and found that the boreal and arctic lakes and ponds were a dominant source of methane. They estimated that annual emissions from the over 700 northern bodies of water included in the study will increase by 20 to 54 percent before the end of the century if ice-free seasons are extended by 20 days. 这项研究是 发表于《永利app新版本官网地址》.

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瑞典的湖泊和池塘(图片来源:Michael Palace)

“Much of the focus of methane emissions in these regions has been on the wetlands but this review puts the spotlight on the lakes and ponds,露丝·瓦纳说, 地球研究所的副教授, 海洋, 和空间(EOS), 以及联合国大学地球科学系. “The naturally occurring methane being released from these northern lakes and ponds is significant and should be taken into account when talking about understanding climate change.”

The statistical analysis was made with data from 41 individual studies that reported methane fluxes based on measurements from a total of 733 lakes and ponds north of the 50th parallel including small ponds formed by beavers to large lakes formed by permafrost thaw or ice-sheets. Through their analysis the researchers were able to more accurately estimate emissions on a larger scale.

Researchers point to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris, emphasizing that as we move forward with plans to reduce manmade emissions that it’s vital to also be aware of how natural resources contribute to the overall warming effect, 允许更明智的政策决定. They point out that the length of the ice-free season across the Arctic has continued to increase since the 1850s. The release of the methane from the lakes and ponds creates a cyclical effect; Arctic warming triggers permafrost thaw which leads to the formation of new lakes and ponds and therefore creating more sources for naturally occurring methane emissions.

The research was a joint effort by members of the Permafrost Carbon Network including Martin Wik (Stockholm University), 露丝·瓦纳(主要研究), 戴维, Katey Walter Anthony (University of Alaska Fairbanks) and Sally MacIntyre (University of California, 圣芭芭拉分校).

这项研究是 funded by the National Science Foundation and the Swedish Research Council.