Holocene variations in peatland methane cycling associated with the Asian summer monsoon system

Zheng, Y., Singarayer, J., Cheng, P., Yu, X., Liu, Z., Valdes, P. J. and Pancost, R. D. (2014) Holocene variations in peatland methane cycling associated with the Asian summer monsoon system. Nature Communications, 5. 4631. ISSN 2041-1723 doi: 10.1038/ncomms5631

Abstract/Summary

Atmospheric methane concentrations decreased during the early to middle Holocene; however, the governing mechanisms remain controversial. Although it has been suggested that the mid-Holocene minimum methane emissions are associated with hydrological change, direct evidence is lacking. Here we report a new independent approach, linking hydrological change in peat sediments from the Tibetan Plateau to changes in archaeal diether concentrations and diploptene delta C-13 values as tracers for methanogenesis and methanotrophy, respectively. A minimum in inferred methanogenesis occurred during the mid-Holocene, which, locally, corresponds with the driest conditions of the Holocene, reflecting a minimum in Asian monsoon precipitation. The close coupling between precipitation and methanogenesis is validated by climate simulations, which also suggest a regionally widespread impact. Importantly, the minimum in methanogenesis is associated with a maximum in methanotrophy. Therefore, methane emissions in the Tibetan Plateau region were apparently lower during the mid-Holocene and partially controlled by interactions of large-scale atmospheric circulation.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/39670
Identification Number/DOI	10.1038/ncomms5631
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Centre for Past Climate Change Science > School of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences > Department of Meteorology
Publisher	Nature Publishing Group
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