Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra

<p>This study focuses on direct measurements of CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> turbulent eddy covariance fluxes in tundra ecosystems on the Svalbard is...

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Main Authors: A. Donateo, D. Famulari, D. Giovannelli, A. Mariani, M. Mazzola, S. Decesari, G. Pappaccogli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-06-01
Series:Biogeosciences
Online Access:https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/2889/2025/bg-22-2889-2025.pdf
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author A. Donateo
D. Famulari
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
A. Mariani
M. Mazzola
S. Decesari
G. Pappaccogli
G. Pappaccogli
author_facet A. Donateo
D. Famulari
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
A. Mariani
M. Mazzola
S. Decesari
G. Pappaccogli
G. Pappaccogli
author_sort A. Donateo
collection DOAJ
description <p>This study focuses on direct measurements of CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> turbulent eddy covariance fluxes in tundra ecosystems on the Svalbard islands over a 2-year period. Our results reveal dynamic interactions between climatic conditions and ecosystem activities such as photosynthesis and microbial activity. During summer, pronounced carbon uptake fluxes indicate increased photosynthesis and microbial methane consumption, while during the freezing seasons very little exchange was recorded, signifying reduced activity. The observed net summertime methane uptake is correlated with the activation and aeration of soil microorganisms, and it declines in winter due to the presence of snow cover and because of the negative soil temperature which triggers the freezing process of the active layer water content but then rebounds during the melting period. The CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> fluxes are not significantly correlated with soil and air temperature but are instead associated with wind velocity, which plays a role in the speed of soil drying. Non-growing-season emissions accounted for about 58 % of the annual CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> budget, characterized by large pulse emissions. The analysis of the impact of thermal anomalies on CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> exchange fluxes underscores that high positive (<span class="inline-formula">&gt;5</span> °C) thermal anomalies may contribute to an increased positive flux in both summer and winter periods, effectively reducing the net annual uptake. These findings contribute valuable insights to our understanding of the dynamics of greenhouse gases in tundra ecosystems in the face of evolving climatic conditions. Further research is required to constrain the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in dry upland tundra ecosystems in order to develop an effective reference for models in response to climate change.</p>
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spelling doaj-art-eaccdffbbf664c2388efdf90b53613ef2025-08-20T03:16:11ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892025-06-01222889290810.5194/bg-22-2889-2025Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundraA. Donateo0D. Famulari1D. Giovannelli2D. Giovannelli3D. Giovannelli4D. Giovannelli5D. Giovannelli6A. Mariani7M. Mazzola8S. Decesari9G. Pappaccogli10G. Pappaccogli11National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), 73100, Lecce, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of BioEconomy (CNR-IBE), 40129, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biology, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80126, Naples, ItalyInstitute for Marine Biological and Biotechnological Resources, National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IRBIM), Ancona, ItalyMarine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USATokyo Institute of Technology, Earth-Life Science Institute, ELSI, Tokyo, JapanDepartment of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USAGeoSystems s.r.l., 50122, Florence, ItalyInstitute of Polar Sciences (CNR-ISP), National Research Council of Italy, 40129, Bologna, ItalyInstitute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), National Research Council of Italy, 40129, Bologna, ItalyNational Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (CNR-ISAC), 73100, Lecce, ItalyJRC – ENI-CNR Aldo Pontremoli, 73100, Lecce, Italy<p>This study focuses on direct measurements of CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> turbulent eddy covariance fluxes in tundra ecosystems on the Svalbard islands over a 2-year period. Our results reveal dynamic interactions between climatic conditions and ecosystem activities such as photosynthesis and microbial activity. During summer, pronounced carbon uptake fluxes indicate increased photosynthesis and microbial methane consumption, while during the freezing seasons very little exchange was recorded, signifying reduced activity. The observed net summertime methane uptake is correlated with the activation and aeration of soil microorganisms, and it declines in winter due to the presence of snow cover and because of the negative soil temperature which triggers the freezing process of the active layer water content but then rebounds during the melting period. The CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> fluxes are not significantly correlated with soil and air temperature but are instead associated with wind velocity, which plays a role in the speed of soil drying. Non-growing-season emissions accounted for about 58 % of the annual CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> budget, characterized by large pulse emissions. The analysis of the impact of thermal anomalies on CO<span class="inline-formula"><sub>2</sub></span> and CH<span class="inline-formula"><sub>4</sub></span> exchange fluxes underscores that high positive (<span class="inline-formula">&gt;5</span> °C) thermal anomalies may contribute to an increased positive flux in both summer and winter periods, effectively reducing the net annual uptake. These findings contribute valuable insights to our understanding of the dynamics of greenhouse gases in tundra ecosystems in the face of evolving climatic conditions. Further research is required to constrain the sources and sinks of greenhouse gases in dry upland tundra ecosystems in order to develop an effective reference for models in response to climate change.</p>https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/2889/2025/bg-22-2889-2025.pdf
spellingShingle A. Donateo
D. Famulari
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
D. Giovannelli
A. Mariani
M. Mazzola
S. Decesari
G. Pappaccogli
G. Pappaccogli
Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra
Biogeosciences
title Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra
title_full Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra
title_fullStr Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra
title_full_unstemmed Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra
title_short Observations of methane net sinks in the upland Arctic tundra
title_sort observations of methane net sinks in the upland arctic tundra
url https://bg.copernicus.org/articles/22/2889/2025/bg-22-2889-2025.pdf
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