Methane processes in the coastal sediments and water column of the Baltic Sea

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. In aquatic systems, microbes in anoxic sediments are the main methane producers. However, due to effective oxidative filters in the sediments and the water column, most of the methane produced does not end up in the atmosphere. This study explores methane dynamics in the Baltic Sea from the open sea, to estuaries and specific microbial processes. Major inflow cycles control methane dynamics in the open Baltic by bringing oxygen to the deep basins, where methane typically accumulates in large amounts during stagnation. The introduction of oxygen during a major inflow in 2014–2015 caused the disappearance of methane from the deep basins due to a combination of oxidation and displacement. However, the effects of the inflow were short-lived and methane started accumulating again in less than a year after the inflow. The coastal areas were more dynamic, and the primary source of methane varied with distance offshore. Near the river mouth of the studied estuarine system, methane brought in by the river was the most important source, whereas further offshore sedimentary methanogenesis fuelled by a legacy of eutrophication was the primary source. Atmospheric fluxes of methane were highest near the river mouth and decreased seawards, while bathymetry was the main control of sedimentary fluxes. Seasonality had a strong effect on methane dynamics, with methane concentrations generally increasing towards winter. However, as in the open Baltic, displacement also played a role at times, removing large amounts of methane at a time. While aerobic methane oxidation in the water column was the primary sink offshore, in the coastal areas anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) was by far the most important sink. Offshore, sulphate mediated AOM is expected to be the most important type of AOM. However in this study, metal mediated AOM was an equally important sink in the sediments. Both rates of AOM, and microbial community abundances, were highest below the main sulfidic zone in the sediment, pointing towards non-sulphate AOM pathways. Overall, eutrophication has had a large impact on methane dynam ics in the Baltic Sea. The legacy of past eutrophication fuels methanogenesis in the coastal areas to this day, despite reductions in nutrient and organic matter input from land, leading to enhanced atmospheric flux of methane. In the future, climate change will likely exacerbate methane emissions from the Baltic Sea.

Grantor dc:publisher

Helsingin yliopisto

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Myllykangas, Jukka-Pekka

• akvaattiset tieteet

Statement dc:rights

• Julkaisu on tekijänoikeussäännösten alainen. Teosta voi lukea ja tulostaa henkilökohtaista käyttöä varten. Käyttö kaupallisiin tarkoituksiin on kielletty.
• This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
• Publikationen är skyddad av upphovsrätten. Den får läsas och skrivas ut för personligt bruk. Användning i kommersiellt syfte är förbjuden.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10138/315095

OAI record oai:identifier

https://helda.helsinki.fi/server/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Ahelda.helsinki.fi%3A10138%2F315095