SP3: Dynamics of permafrost & methane

Effects of permafrost thawing and formation on the methane fluxes in
heterogeneous tundra landscapes (from Pedon to Landscape)

The main objective of this subproject (SP3) is to assess the impact of current and future permafrost thawing and formation on methane (CH₄) budgets in heterogeneous tundra landscapes. At the pedon to landscape scale on Disko Island in Western Greenland, we are investigating along a geomorphological gradient how climate change alters various controlling variables of CH₄ fluxes, e.g., snow cover, soil moisture, soil temperature, soil chemical properties, and vegetation cover.

The results contribute to the understanding of how permafrost degradation and aggradation affect CH₄ fluxes between soil, vegetation, and atmosphere in heterogeneous tundra landscapes. Furthermore, the factors controlling CH₄ emissions from widespread water bodies in the tundra of Greenland will be investigated. To achieve the objectives, extensive measurements and sampling will be carried out in cooperation with SP2 in the tundra of Greenland and extensive analyses will be performed in the laboratory on the collected soil samples.

Project lead

• Lars Kutzbach, University of Hamburg

Project initiators

• Julia Boike, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Potsdam
• Lars Kutzbach, University of Hamburg
• Torsten Sachs, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam

Further subproject participants

• Niko Bornemann, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Potsdam
• Jannika Gottuk, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Potsdam
• Karl Kemper, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam
• Simone Stünzi, Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Potsdam
• Michael W. Thayne, German Research Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam
• Selina Undeutsch, University of Hamburg