Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-360
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2022-360
23 May 2022
 | 23 May 2022

An update on dissolved methane distribution in the North subtropical Atlantic Ocean

Anna Kolomijeca, Lukas Marx, Sarah Reynolds, Thierry Cariou, Edward Mawji, and Cedric Boulart

Abstract. Methane (CH4) is the second most produced greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, however the role of the open ocean in its natural cycle remains poorly constrained. Accumulating evidence indicates that a significant part of oceanic CH4 is produced in oxygenated surface waters as a by-product of phytoplanktonic activity. The subtropical North Atlantic Ocean between 26° N 80’W and 26° N 18’W was investigated for the distribution of dissolved CH4 concentrations and associated air-sea fluxes during winter 2020. Water samples from 64 stations were collected from the upper water column up to depths of 400 m. The upper oxic mixed-layer was oversaturated in dissolved CH4 with concentrations ranging between 3–7 nmol/l, with the highest values of 7–10 nmol/l found to the east of the transect, consistent with other subtropical regions of the world’s oceans. The high anomalies of dissolved CH4 appeared to be associated to phosphorus depleted waters and to a peak of regions of elevated phytoplankton abundance. Further investigations indicated a correlation between CH4 anomalies, phosphate depletion and the abundance of two ubiquitous pico-cyanobacteria, Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus, although other phytoplanktonic phyla cannot be excluded. The calculation of air-sea fluxes confirms the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean as a source of CH4, mainly produced by phytoplanktonic activity in surface waters.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

14 Sep 2022
An update on dissolved methane distribution in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean
Anna Kolomijeca, Lukas Marx, Sarah Reynolds, Thierry Cariou, Edward Mawji, and Cedric Boulart
Ocean Sci., 18, 1377–1388, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1377-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1377-2022, 2022
Short summary
Anna Kolomijeca, Lukas Marx, Sarah Reynolds, Thierry Cariou, Edward Mawji, and Cedric Boulart

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-360', Leonard Ernst, 19 Jun 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Anna Kolomijeca, 11 Aug 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-360', Anonymous Referee #2, 25 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Anna Kolomijeca, 11 Aug 2022

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-360', Leonard Ernst, 19 Jun 2022
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Anna Kolomijeca, 11 Aug 2022
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2022-360', Anonymous Referee #2, 25 Jul 2022
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Anna Kolomijeca, 11 Aug 2022

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Anna Kolomijeca on behalf of the Authors (11 Aug 2022)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (11 Aug 2022) by Xinping Hu
AR by Anna Kolomijeca on behalf of the Authors (16 Aug 2022)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

14 Sep 2022
An update on dissolved methane distribution in the subtropical North Atlantic Ocean
Anna Kolomijeca, Lukas Marx, Sarah Reynolds, Thierry Cariou, Edward Mawji, and Cedric Boulart
Ocean Sci., 18, 1377–1388, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1377-2022,https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1377-2022, 2022
Short summary
Anna Kolomijeca, Lukas Marx, Sarah Reynolds, Thierry Cariou, Edward Mawji, and Cedric Boulart
Anna Kolomijeca, Lukas Marx, Sarah Reynolds, Thierry Cariou, Edward Mawji, and Cedric Boulart

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
More and more studies indicate that the Open Ocean can be a significant source of methane, the second greenhouse gas after CO2. Our study in the North subtropical Atlantic Ocean shows that a significant part of the methane flux to the atmosphere is related to cyanobacteria, a ubiquitous phytoplankton, that produce methane as part of their metabolic activity. This study is a response to the lack of data on the role of the oceans on the methane budget in the context of the climate change.