The main goal is to determine whether the Arctic methane budget has started to change in response to increased surface temperatures. This requires thorough understanding and quantification of methane emissions from both biological and geological sources and reservoirs, which will likely become even more active in the future as surface warming continues to take place. Of particular importance is careful and realistic assessment of the vulnerability of Arctic methane sources to regional climate change and the potential hazards and consequences of such changes.

The team will evaluate the importance of Arctic methane in the global budget by using models to produce Arctic methane emission maps, and to assess the causes of changes in Arctic methane.

This affiliated project, also funded by NERC, directly links to ‘Objective 2′ of the Arctic Research Programme – to quantify processes leading to Arctic methane and carbon dioxide release – and has additional links to the Cambridge University-led ‘MAMM’ project. Several field seasons during summer, autumn, winter and spring using a greenhouse gas analyser will be undertaken in Norway, Finland, Spitsbergen, European Russia, Siberia and Canada.

Image credits: British Antarctic Survey.