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Aerobic oxidation of methane significantly reduces global diffusive methane emissions from shallow marine waters

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  • Shi-Hai Mao

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    Ocean University of China)

  • Hong-Hai Zhang

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    Ocean University of China)

  • Guang-Chao Zhuang

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    Ocean University of China)

  • Xiao-Jun Li

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    Ocean University of China)

  • Qiao Liu

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    Ocean University of China)

  • Zhen Zhou

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    Ocean University of China)

  • Wei-Lei Wang

    (Xiamen University)

  • Chun-Yang Li

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Ke-Yu Lu

    (University College London)

  • Xi-Ting Liu

    (Ocean University of China)

  • Andrew Montgomery

    (Montana State University)

  • Samantha B. Joye

    (University of Georgia)

  • Yu-Zhong Zhang

    (Ocean University of China
    Shandong University)

  • Gui-Peng Yang

    (Ocean University of China
    Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology
    Ocean University of China)

Abstract

Methane is supersaturated in surface seawater and shallow coastal waters dominate global ocean methane emissions to the atmosphere. Aerobic methane oxidation (MOx) can reduce atmospheric evasion, but the magnitude and control of MOx remain poorly understood. Here we investigate methane sources and fates in the East China Sea and map global MOx rates in shallow waters by training machine-learning models. We show methane is produced during methylphosphonate decomposition under phosphate-limiting conditions and sedimentary release is also source of methane. High MOx rates observed in these productive coastal waters are correlated with methanotrophic activity and biomass. By merging the measured MOx rates with methane concentrations and other variables from a global database, we predict MOx rates and estimate that half of methane, amounting to 1.8 ± 2.7 Tg, is consumed annually in near-shore waters (

Suggested Citation

  • Shi-Hai Mao & Hong-Hai Zhang & Guang-Chao Zhuang & Xiao-Jun Li & Qiao Liu & Zhen Zhou & Wei-Lei Wang & Chun-Yang Li & Ke-Yu Lu & Xi-Ting Liu & Andrew Montgomery & Samantha B. Joye & Yu-Zhong Zhang & G, 2022. "Aerobic oxidation of methane significantly reduces global diffusive methane emissions from shallow marine waters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-35082-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35082-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Siddhesh S. Kamat & Howard J. Williams & Frank M. Raushel, 2011. "Intermediates in the transformation of phosphonates to phosphate by bacteria," Nature, Nature, vol. 480(7378), pages 570-573, December.
    2. Thomas Weber & Nicola A. Wiseman & Annette Kock, 2019. "Global ocean methane emissions dominated by shallow coastal waters," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
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