Methane-Burping Lakes: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Permafrost and Arctic Lakes

Did you know that lakes 'burp' methane? In this episode we head to Stordalen, one of the world’s most important permafrost and thaw pond sites, to find out how lakes and melting permafrost pools are emitting greenhouse gasses. With global warming causing more permafrost to thaw, carbon previously locked away in frozen soils becomes available to the organisms in the environment and can be released as greenhouse gasses. First we’re looking at dissolved carbon dioxide and methane transfer into the air from surface water with researchers from Arizona State University & Umea University, and how that varies with different vegetation in lakes, and then we’re speaking to a student from the University of New Hampshire about ebullition - the bubbles of methane produced by microbes in lakes. Finally, we head to Riksgränsen to use Radon gas as a tracer to measure the movement of groundwater into lakes and see whether methane enters the lake environment from its water catchment area, with a team from Umea University.   Listener Survey  After listening, please consider taking part in a short listener survey. It'll take less than 10 minutes, all responses are anonymous and the data collected will form part of Emma Brisdion's MSc thesis. Take the survey: https://uwe.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9zeSl7JQcD5xnx3   More episodes and information can be found here.   Based at the Abisko Scientific Research Station, this podcast takes you into the field with scientists as they investigate climate change in an Arctic environment.   Get in touch: Tweet @ArcticCIRC  Emma @emmabrisdion Email: arcticcircinterns@gmail.com   Produced in partnership with the Climate Impacts Research Centre, Umea University.   Vector graphic: Freepik Music: Mark Skinner

Om Podcasten

A climate change podcast from the front lines of Arctic climate research. Based at the Abisko Scientific Research Station in northern Sweden, each episode we'll join a different team of scientists out in the field as they conduct their research in the arctic environment. From carbon emissions from changing soil types as the permafrost thaws to the movement of plant species' range as the warmer winters and longer growing seasons change their environment, we'll find out how their cutting-edge research helps us to understand climate change better.