Understanding Methane Cycling in Icelandic Lakes

As the climate warms, it is critical to understand feedback mechanisms that will influence ecosystem greenhouse gas emissions.  Will increasing air temperatures lead to higher rates of microbial greenhouse has production and emission or will biotic uptake of these greenhouse gases be able to keep pace with increased production and thus mediate emission from natural sources?  That is the focus of a new research project supported by a grant awarded by National Geographic to Dr. Kristin Strock, Dr. Nicole Hayes, and Dr. Bridget Deemer.  This research project will develop predictive models that will relate methane cycling in Icelandic lakes to key environmental variables, including temperature.

 The difference in average temperature from 2005 to 2015 as compared to 1979 to 1989 in the region surrounding Iceland. Plots created using University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer.
Annual temperature over Iceland from 1979 to 2015. Plots created using University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer.

 

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