A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils

Abstract Recent field studies have documented a surprisingly strong and consistent methane sink in arctic mineral soils, thought to be due to high‐affinity methanotrophy. However, the distinctive physiology of these methanotrophs is poorly represented in mechanistic methane models. We developed a ne...

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Main Authors: Youmi Oh, Brandon Stackhouse, Maggie C. Y. Lau, Xiangtao Xu, Anna T. Trugman, Jonathan Moch, Tullis C. Onstott, Christian J. Jørgensen, Ludovica D'Imperio, Bo Elberling, Craig A. Emmerton, Vincent L. St. Louis, David Medvigy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-05-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069049
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author Youmi Oh
Brandon Stackhouse
Maggie C. Y. Lau
Xiangtao Xu
Anna T. Trugman
Jonathan Moch
Tullis C. Onstott
Christian J. Jørgensen
Ludovica D'Imperio
Bo Elberling
Craig A. Emmerton
Vincent L. St. Louis
David Medvigy
author_facet Youmi Oh
Brandon Stackhouse
Maggie C. Y. Lau
Xiangtao Xu
Anna T. Trugman
Jonathan Moch
Tullis C. Onstott
Christian J. Jørgensen
Ludovica D'Imperio
Bo Elberling
Craig A. Emmerton
Vincent L. St. Louis
David Medvigy
author_sort Youmi Oh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Recent field studies have documented a surprisingly strong and consistent methane sink in arctic mineral soils, thought to be due to high‐affinity methanotrophy. However, the distinctive physiology of these methanotrophs is poorly represented in mechanistic methane models. We developed a new model, constrained by microcosm experiments, to simulate the activity of high‐affinity methanotrophs. The model was tested against soil core‐thawing experiments and field‐based measurements of methane fluxes and was compared to conventional mechanistic methane models. Our simulations show that high‐affinity methanotrophy can be an important component of the net methane flux from arctic mineral soils. Simulations without this process overestimate methane emissions. Furthermore, simulations of methane flux seasonality are improved by dynamic simulation of active microbial biomass. Because a large fraction of the Arctic is characterized by mineral soils, high‐affinity methanotrophy will likely have a strong effect on its net methane flux.
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spelling doaj-art-9db54237f9cd43d28f929bea21b4eaed2025-08-20T03:10:24ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-05-0143105143515010.1002/2016GL069049A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soilsYoumi Oh0Brandon Stackhouse1Maggie C. Y. Lau2Xiangtao Xu3Anna T. Trugman4Jonathan Moch5Tullis C. Onstott6Christian J. Jørgensen7Ludovica D'Imperio8Bo Elberling9Craig A. Emmerton10Vincent L. St. Louis11David Medvigy12Program in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USADepartment of Geosciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USADepartment of Geosciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USADepartment of Geosciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USAProgram in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USADepartment of Geosciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USADepartment of Geosciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USACenter for Permafrost (CENPERM), Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkCenter for Permafrost (CENPERM), Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkCenter for Permafrost (CENPERM), Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management University of Copenhagen Copenhagen DenmarkDepartment of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaProgram in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Princeton University Princeton New Jersey USAAbstract Recent field studies have documented a surprisingly strong and consistent methane sink in arctic mineral soils, thought to be due to high‐affinity methanotrophy. However, the distinctive physiology of these methanotrophs is poorly represented in mechanistic methane models. We developed a new model, constrained by microcosm experiments, to simulate the activity of high‐affinity methanotrophs. The model was tested against soil core‐thawing experiments and field‐based measurements of methane fluxes and was compared to conventional mechanistic methane models. Our simulations show that high‐affinity methanotrophy can be an important component of the net methane flux from arctic mineral soils. Simulations without this process overestimate methane emissions. Furthermore, simulations of methane flux seasonality are improved by dynamic simulation of active microbial biomass. Because a large fraction of the Arctic is characterized by mineral soils, high‐affinity methanotrophy will likely have a strong effect on its net methane flux.https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069049methane modelsarcticterrestrial methane sinkhigh‐affinity methanotrophymicrobial biomass changesmineral cryosols
spellingShingle Youmi Oh
Brandon Stackhouse
Maggie C. Y. Lau
Xiangtao Xu
Anna T. Trugman
Jonathan Moch
Tullis C. Onstott
Christian J. Jørgensen
Ludovica D'Imperio
Bo Elberling
Craig A. Emmerton
Vincent L. St. Louis
David Medvigy
A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils
Geophysical Research Letters
methane models
arctic
terrestrial methane sink
high‐affinity methanotrophy
microbial biomass changes
mineral cryosols
title A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils
title_full A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils
title_fullStr A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils
title_full_unstemmed A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils
title_short A scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils
title_sort scalable model for methane consumption in arctic mineral soils
topic methane models
arctic
terrestrial methane sink
high‐affinity methanotrophy
microbial biomass changes
mineral cryosols
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL069049
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