Analysis of spatiotemporal distribution of methane column concentration and emission source in permafrost area of Northeast China based on AIRS data

Abstract

Northeast China has the largest high-latitude permafrost distribution zone in China. With the intensification of global warming, the carbon stored in the permafrost will gradually thaw and release in the form of methane gas to air, thus increasing the methane column concentration in the near-surface troposphere. However, at present, the spatiotemporal distribution and emission source of methane column concentration in the near-surface troposphere are not clear. In this paper, using the AIRS (Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) remote sensing data from Aqua satellite, we analyzed the distribution and change trend of the methane column concentration in the near-surface troposphere in Northeast China from 2003 to 2021, and combined with the national meteorological and field monitoring data, we studied the emission mechanism and emission source of surface methane in the permafrost area of Northeast China. Study results show that: the permafrost zone in Northeast China has a high methane emission capacity in four seasons, and the methane column concentration shows a significant double-peak seasonal variation. The first peak appears in summer (June to August) and the maximum appears in August, the second peak appears in winter (December to February) and the maximum appears in December. However, the maximum average growth rate of near-surface methane column concentration in Northeast China appeared in spring (5.378ppbv/a), the reason is that the carbon stored under the permafrost is gradually exposed and released in the form of methane. The emission sources include microbial action, methane transported by wetland groundwater, geological methane (metastable methane hydrate, steady-state methane hydrate and thermogenic methane produced in the deep underground or coal seams) stored in frozen layer. The study provide data and technical support for the estimation of carbon emissions in permafrost areas in Northeast China.