Environmental and Seasonal Variability of High Latitude Methane Emissions Based on Earth Observation Data and Atmospheric Inverse Modelling

• DOI: 10.3390/rs15245719
• Publication Date: 2023-12-13T17:00:37Z
• Authors: Anttoni Erkkilä; Maria Tenkanen; Aki Tsuruta; Kimmo Rautiainen; Tuula Aalto
• Keywords: Thermokarst; Atmospheric methane; Seasonality

Drivers of natural high-latitude biogenic methane fluxes were studied by combining atmospheric inversion modelling results (CTE-CH4 model) with datasets on permafrost (ESA Permafrost CCI), climate (Köppen–Geiger classes) and wetland classes (BAWLD) seasonality soil freezing SMOS F/T) for the years 2011–2019. The highest emissions found in southern parts study region, while areas continuous permafrost, tundra climate, wetlands had lowest emissions. magnitude flux per area followed order zones excluding non-permafrost, having smallest sporadic largest. Fens higher than bogs thaw period, but colder seasons. period when status is between complete frozen contributed to annual more warmest regions other regions. In coldest areas, lower closer wintertime values elsewhere. Emissions during periods smaller those winter periods, comparable warm contribution total emission varied from 86% 97% suggesting that longest did not contribute significantly budget.