Methane uptake in forest soils

Researchers report significant decreases in methane uptake by forest soils. Forest soils are a major sink for atmospheric methane, which has increased in recent decades. However, how global environmental change influences forest methane uptake remains unclear. Xiangyin Ni and Peter M. Groffman measured soil-to-atmosphere fluxes of net methane in temperate forests at research sites in Maryland and New Hampshire. The measurements were made from 1998 to 2016 in Maryland and from 2002 to 2015 in New Hampshire. The researchers found that both sites exhibited significant decreases in annual methane uptake and propose that the decrease might be related to precipitation increases and soil hydrological flux. Additionally, a literature analysis that included more than 300 articles revealed that methane uptake in forest soils, particularly in latitudes with precipitation increases, decreased on average by 77% worldwide from 1988 to 2015. The findings suggest that forest methane uptake might be declining around the globe, according to the authors.

Article #18-07377: "Declines in methane uptake in forest soils," by Xiangyin Ni and Peter M. Groffman.

MEDIA CONTACT: Peter M. Groffman, City University of New York Advanced Science Research Center and Brooklyn College Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, NY; tel: 212-413-3143, 845-797-4832; e-mail: <peter.groffman@asrc.cuny.edu>

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